NATURALISTIC STUDIES OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR: AGGRESSIVE STIMULI, VICTIM VISIBILITY, AND HORN HONKING

Three studies extended laboratory research on aggression to a naturalistic setting which involved horn honking from drivers as a measure of aggression; the studies were adapted from Doob and Gross. The results from a survey (Study 1) of 59 drivers suggested that they were frequently irritated by and aggressive toward other drivers. A second study (using a 3 X 2 factorial design with 92 male drivers) indicated that manipulations of a rifle in an aggressive context and victim visibility (dehumanization) both significantly influenced horn honking rates subsequent to obstruction at a signal light. A third study was 137 male drivers and 63 female drivers examined the interactive effects of a rifle, an aggressively connotated bumper sticker, and individual subject characteristics (sex and an exploratory index of self-perceived status) on horn honking. The results for three studies in naturalistic settings offer possible extensions of laboratory based findings on aggression. The role of inhibitions in modifying the pattern of results was also discussed. /Author/

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  • Corporate Authors:

    American Psychological Association

    750 First Street, NE
    Washington, DC  United States  20002-4242
  • Authors:
    • Turner, C W
    • Layton, J F
    • Simons, L S
  • Publication Date: 1975-6

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00164948
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 7 1978 12:00AM