title: Ego-depletion and aggressive behavior.
abstract: Multiple theoretical frameworks postulate that ego-depletion can influence aggressive behavior. Our experimental study assessed whether ego-depletion is related to aggressive behavioral change and whether provocation moderated this effect. Aggression was measured by asking participants to take raffle tickets from an ostensible partner. First, participants were randomly assigned to either high or low ego-depletion (by having them memorize a short or long number throughout the entire study) prior to engaging in the first ticket exchange. Participants were then either provoked (or not) by having their "partner" take more or fewer tickets than the partner originally requested. The ticket exchange occurred three times to assess behavioral change. Results showed that aggression was highest for ego depleted participants who were provoked. Implications are discussed in terms of the General Aggression Model and the Strength Model of Self-Control. Aggr. Behav. 42:533-541, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. cbarlett@gettysburg.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barlett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oliphant
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Dorian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aggression; ego-depletion