Gender differences in social representations of aggression: the phenomenological experience of differences in inhibitory control?

British Journal of Psychology
Helen DriscollA Campbell

Abstract

Women are more likely than men to experience acts of aggression as expressive (a loss of self-control) than as instrumental (control over others). We propose that this might arise from differences in behavioural restraint. If women have better inhibitory control, aggressive behaviour should occur less frequently yet should be experienced as more emotionally 'out of control' because women can tolerate higher levels of anger before inhibitory control is breached. Participants (N = 606) aged 13-24 completed the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) and Expagg. A more expressive view of aggression was associated with higher levels of STAXI anger control and higher levels of MPQ constraint. However, it was the harm avoidance component of constraint, rather than control versus impulsivity, that was the stronger predictor. While behavioural inhibition is built on an infrastructure of fear, the latter may be more important in explaining gender differences in social representations of aggression.

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Citations

May 9, 2012·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Matthew D DiDonato, Sheri A Berenbaum
Aug 12, 2009·Aggressive Behavior·Gennady G KnyazevJaroslav Yu Slobodskoj-Plusnin
Jun 20, 2007·Journal of Personality·Nicholas Tester, Anne Campbell
Jun 15, 2007·The British Journal of Social Psychology·John ArcherChristina L Power
Nov 30, 2011·International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice·F KapsaliC Papageorgiou
Sep 9, 2016·Aggressive Behavior·Elizabeth A BatesNicola Graham-Kevan
Jun 24, 2008·Neurocase·Daniel StrüberGerhard Roth
Jul 6, 2017·PloS One·Lynda G Boothroyd, Catharine P Cross
Aug 25, 2018·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Christie TetreaultLauren T Bolam
Sep 13, 2007·Aggressive Behavior·Anne Campbell, Steven Muncer
Mar 15, 2008·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·Sarah E Romans, Rose F Clarkson
May 6, 2019·Psychopharmacology·Mrudhula KomanduriCon Stough
Jul 1, 2012·Aggressive Behavior·Catharine P Cross, Anne Campbell

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