Aggression Links

As a social psychologist, my primary area of expertise is in human aggression. My interest in aggression began when I read Graham & Gurr's Violence in American History for an undergraduate honors course during my first year of college. My own research has focused on two areas: cognitive priming effects of aggressive cues (e.g., weapons, video games, aggressive lyrics), and the role of individual differences in trait aggressiveness on aggressive behavior. The research by scholars in this area has not only contributed to our understanding of the causes of aggression from a theoretical standpoint, but has provided us with some tools for more effectively addressing social problems related to aggression and violence in their various guises. The following links are just a sampling of some of the applications of research in this exciting area.

• Aggression and Violence. This is a chapter by Craig Anderson that provides a very general overview of aggression research. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.

• Symposium on the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis. These articles appeared in Psychological Review in 1941. From the Classics in the History of Psychology website.

• Bandura's classic Bobo doll experiment. From the Classics in the History of Psychology website.

• Does the gun pull the trigger? Automatic priming effects of weapon pictures and weapon names. Anderson, Benjamin, and Bartholow (1998) present evidence of a weapons priming effect. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.

• Letting Out Aggression May Be Bad Advice. Summarizes Brad Bushman's work on catharsis.

• You're OK, I'm Terriffic: 'Self-Esteem' Backfires. Unjustified Feelings of Self-Worth Cause Aggression. The title says it all. Nice summary of the research.

• Minnessota Center Against Violence and Abuse Home Page. Tons of interesting links for anyone interested in aggression and violence prevention.