Aggression as a Source of Pleasure: The Influence of Intergroup Competition, Power Dynamics, and Dark Traits

Even nonaggressive individuals may experience aggression as pleasurable, yet the conditions that make aggression rewarding remain unclear. Eighty-five participants were randomly assigned to conditions varying in intergroup context and relative power before completing a minimal-groups procedure and a Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm. Participants facing an out-group opponent reported greater aggression-related pleasure than those facing an unspecified opponent, although aggressive behavior did not differ across intergroup conditions. Power had no significant effects. Dehumanization was unrelated to aggression, while Machiavellianism and Sadism were selectively associated with aggressive behavior. Findings suggest minimal social categorization may increase aggression-related pleasure without necessarily altering behavioral expression.