Linking Forms and Functions of Aggression in Adults to Justice and Rejection Sensitivity
- Objective: Research has linked individual differences in justice and rejection sensitivity to aggression in different age groups. However, different forms and functions of aggression have not been considered when investigating these links in adults. Furthermore, no attention has been paid to verbal aggression or the conjoint effects of justice and rejection sensitivity. Method: The present study assessed rejection sensitivity as well as victim, observer, and perpetrator justice sensitivity in 349 German adults. Links with self-reported forms (physical, relational, verbal) and functions (proactive, reactive) of aggression were examined. Results: In structural equation models controlling for age and gender, higher victim sensitivity predicted higher relational, proactive, and reactive aggression and higher observer sensitivity predicted higher physical and verbal aggression. In contrast, higher perpetrator sensitivity predicted lower physical, relational, verbal, and proactive aggression. Higher rejection sensitivity predicted higherObjective: Research has linked individual differences in justice and rejection sensitivity to aggression in different age groups. However, different forms and functions of aggression have not been considered when investigating these links in adults. Furthermore, no attention has been paid to verbal aggression or the conjoint effects of justice and rejection sensitivity. Method: The present study assessed rejection sensitivity as well as victim, observer, and perpetrator justice sensitivity in 349 German adults. Links with self-reported forms (physical, relational, verbal) and functions (proactive, reactive) of aggression were examined. Results: In structural equation models controlling for age and gender, higher victim sensitivity predicted higher relational, proactive, and reactive aggression and higher observer sensitivity predicted higher physical and verbal aggression. In contrast, higher perpetrator sensitivity predicted lower physical, relational, verbal, and proactive aggression. Higher rejection sensitivity predicted higher physical and reactive, but lower verbal aggression. Using a 2-dimensional definition of aggression considering forms and functions of aggression at the same time yielded similar results. There were marked gender differences. Conclusion: Justice and rejection sensitivity may explain individual differences in forms and functions of aggression in adults and should therefore be considered in the planning of preventive and intervention measures.…
Author details: | Rebecca BondüORCiDGND, Philipp RichterORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039200 |
ISSN: | 2152-0828 |
ISSN: | 2152-081X |
Title of parent work (English): | Psychology of violence |
Publisher: | American Psychological Association |
Place of publishing: | Washington |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Year of first publication: | 2016 |
Publication year: | 2016 |
Release date: | 2020/03/22 |
Tag: | justice sensitivity; physical aggression; proactive aggression; reactive aggression; rejection sensitivity |
Volume: | 6 |
Number of pages: | 11 |
First page: | 292 |
Last Page: | 302 |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Institution name at the time of the publication: | Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Exzellenzbereich Kognitionswissenschaften |