title: Understanding impulsive aggression: Angry rumination and reduced self-control capacity are mechanisms underlying the provocation-aggression relationship.
abstract: Interpersonal provocation is a common and robust antecedent to aggression. Four studies identified angry rumination and reduced self-control as mechanisms underlying the provocation-aggression relationship. Following provocation, participants demonstrated decreased self-control on an unpleasant task relative to a control condition (Study 1). When provoked, rumination reduced self-control and increased aggression. This effect was mediated by reduced self-control capacity (Study 2). State rumination following provocation, but not anger per se, mediated the effect of trait rumination on aggression (Study 3). Bolstering self-regulatory resources by consuming a glucose beverage improved performance on a measure of inhibitory control following rumination (Study 4). These findings suggest that rumination following an anger-inducing provocation reduces self-control and increases aggression. Bolstering self-regulatory resources may reduce this adverse effect.
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. t.denson@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Denson
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friese
authors.forename: Aryun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D000786:Anger; D002140:California; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose