March 2, 2006

Annotated Citation #4

Research Methods Lab

Tuesday 9am

Anderson, K. B., Anderson, C. A., Dill, K. E., & Deuser, W. E. (1998). The interactive relations between trait hostility, pain, and aggressive thoughts. Aggressive Behavior, 24, 161-171.

Annotation

An experiment tested the relations of trait hostility and physical pain to aggressive thoughts and state hostility.  The experiment found an interaction between pain and trait hostility on aggressive thoughts.  Basically people with trait hostility were more likely to relate ambiguous words within the study (alley) with words of an aggressive nature (i.e. hit).  In the end state and trait hostility were positively related and trait hostility increased according to the experience of pain.

Reaction

            Pain seems to be operationally defined as a situation in which the person is found uncomfortable.  The operational definition also changes between situations during the experiment from what I have read.  The experiment interested me because it showed how someone’s irritability can increase by increasing the level of discomfort.  Situations such as a hot temperature, cultural factors, frustration, etc. can cause a person to become hostile and/or aggressive.  This study helps to show pain (i.e. discomfort) can cause slight or extreme agitation which can lead to hostility or aggressiveness.

Brodaty, H., & Low, L. (2003). Aggression in the elderly. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64, 36-43.

Kudryavtseva, N. N. (2000). An experimental approach to the study of learned aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 26, 241-256.