title: Excuses, excuses: a meta-analytic review of how mitigating information can change aggression and an exploration of moderating variables.
abstract: Research in the aggression domain has been mixed regarding the effectiveness of using mitigating information (e.g., excuses, apologies) to reduce aggressive behavior after a provocation. Aggression theory (e.g., general aggression model) posits that mitigating information may cues re-appraisal processes to potentially change aggressive behavior. If re-appraisal processes are engaged, aggressive behavior is likely to decrease. Currently, no published study has synthesized the literature to test such theoretical claims. The current study used meta-analysis to test this effect and examine the influence of several possible moderators. Results showed a significant negative effect size, suggesting that mitigating information does indeed reduce aggressive behavior after a provocation. However, these results were qualified by several significant moderators. Results showed that mitigating information reduces aggression when (a) the information did not come from an apology, (b) the non-apologetic mitigating information was high quality, and c) the provocation was mild (vs. strong). Theoretical extensions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Barlett
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological
keywords: aggression; aggressive behavior; mitigating information