What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to investigate how the gender of both the subject and target influences aggression in different scenarios.

March 1, 1994

Gender of Subject and Target as Mediators of Aggression1

Key Points

The aim is to investigate how the gender of both the subject and target influences aggression in different scenarios.
Studied responses from 414 undergraduates to four anger-inducing scenarios.
Compared aggression levels between males and females based on the target's gender and situational context.
Analyzed expected approval from friends, feelings of guilt, and polite communication.
Males showed higher aggression in non-dating scenarios compared to females, expecting more approval from friends.
In dating scenarios, females displayed greater aggression and sought approval, while males felt more guilt and used polite communication.
Aggression levels were influenced by the target's gender and situational context.

Abstract

The effects of gender of the subject and the target of aggression were studied by examining responses of 414 undergraduates to four anger‐inducing scenarios. As predicted, in the three scenarios not involving dating, males tended to be more aggressive and to expect more approval of aggression from their friends than did females; more aggression was directed against a male, and friends approved more of aggression against a male than a female target. Also as predicted, in the scenario involving a romantic partner, females were more aggressive than males and expected more approval for aggression from friends; males were more likely than females to feel guilty, apologize, and speak politely to their dates. The results suggest that the relationship between gender and aggression is influenced by situational context, friends' anticipated reactions, feelings of guilt, and expectancies of successful outcomes.

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