The mediating effect of aggression motivation on the relationship between trait anger and reactive aggression: A longitudinal study

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2021.00788

Abstract

Abstract:

Trait anger is an important personality factor that affects reactive aggression. Reactive aggression is based on the motivation of aggression, but the mechanism of trait anger influencing reactive aggression is not clear. This study hypothesizes that trait anger can predict reactive aggression in a longitudinal way by enhancing the specific motivation of reactive aggression (e.g., hostile motivation) and the common motivation of reactive and proactive aggression (e.g., moral approval motivation). To test this hypothesis, a total of 1007 college students from 5 provinces and cities were investigated for trait anger, hostile attribution bias (representing hostile motivation), moral disengagement (representing moral approval motivation), reactive aggression, and proactive aggression. The results showed that: (1) after controlling for gender, trait anger at Wave 1 could predict the reactive aggression at Wave 3 through the hostile attribution bias and moral disengagement at Wave 2; (2) hostile attribution bias can only predict reactive aggression longitudinally, but cannot predict proactive aggression over time; (3) moral disengagement can predict reactive aggression and proactive aggression longitudinally. This result supports the motivation model of trait anger influencing reactive aggression, develops the theory and research on the relationship between personality and aggression, and plays an active role in revealing the motivation mechanism of reactive aggression.

Key words: trait anger, reactive aggression, aggression motivation, hostile attribution bias, moral disengagement

LI Rui, XIA Ling-Xiang. (2021). The mediating effect of aggression motivation on the relationship between trait anger and reactive aggression: A longitudinal study. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 53(7), 788-797.

Figures/Tables 2

References 52

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Variables	M	SD	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
1. T1 trait anger	1.65	0.40
2. T2 trait anger	1.67	0.42	0.64**
3. T3 trait anger	1.69	0.42	0.53**	0.62**
4. T1 hostile attribution bias	2.92	0.81	0.29**	0.18**	0.20**
5. T2 hostile attribution bias	2.88	0.81	0.27**	0.33**	0.28**	0.55**
6. T3 hostile attribution bias	3.05	0.87	0.26**	0.28**	0.32**	0.53**	0.63**
7. T1 moral disengagement	1.71	0.48	0.32**	0.23**	0.23**	0.27**	0.28**	0.24**
8. T2 moral disengagement	1.70	0.47	0.26**	0.33**	0.25**	0.21**	0.36**	0.29**	0.49**
9. T3 moral disengagement	1.71	0.50	0.25**	0.24**	0.28**	0.20**	0.30**	0.33**	0.52**	0.58**
10. T1 reactive aggression	2.76	0.89	0.58**	0.42**	0.38**	0.32**	0.27**	0.28**	0.41**	0.25**	0.27**
11. T2 reactive aggression	2.42	0.89	0.47**	0.57**	0.45**	0.24**	0.40**	0.36**	0.35**	0.43**	0.32**	0.59**
12. T3 reactive aggression	2.38	0.88	0.35**	0.42**	0.49**	0.24**	0.34**	0.45**	0.35**	0.37**	0.45**	0.51**	0.62**
13. T1 proactive aggression	1.32	0.52	0.39**	0.28**	0.29**	0.21**	0.15**	0.15**	0.54**	0.32**	0.39**	0.40**	0.28**	0.27**
14. T2 proactive aggression	1.38	0.63	0.25**	0.47**	0.24**	0.16**	0.25**	0.17**	0.33**	0.62**	0.34**	0.17**	0.47**	0.25**	0.46**
15. T3 proactive aggression	1.40	0.65	0.20**	0.27**	0.32**	0.14**	0.14**	0.22**	0.32**	0.32**	0.55**	0.17**	0.23**	0.48**	0.42**	0.44**

Variables	M	SD	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
1. T1 trait anger	1.65	0.40
2. T2 trait anger	1.67	0.42	0.64**
3. T3 trait anger	1.69	0.42	0.53**	0.62**
4. T1 hostile attribution bias	2.92	0.81	0.29**	0.18**	0.20**
5. T2 hostile attribution bias	2.88	0.81	0.27**	0.33**	0.28**	0.55**
6. T3 hostile attribution bias	3.05	0.87	0.26**	0.28**	0.32**	0.53**	0.63**
7. T1 moral disengagement	1.71	0.48	0.32**	0.23**	0.23**	0.27**	0.28**	0.24**
8. T2 moral disengagement	1.70	0.47	0.26**	0.33**	0.25**	0.21**	0.36**	0.29**	0.49**
9. T3 moral disengagement	1.71	0.50	0.25**	0.24**	0.28**	0.20**	0.30**	0.33**	0.52**	0.58**
10. T1 reactive aggression	2.76	0.89	0.58**	0.42**	0.38**	0.32**	0.27**	0.28**	0.41**	0.25**	0.27**
11. T2 reactive aggression	2.42	0.89	0.47**	0.57**	0.45**	0.24**	0.40**	0.36**	0.35**	0.43**	0.32**	0.59**
12. T3 reactive aggression	2.38	0.88	0.35**	0.42**	0.49**	0.24**	0.34**	0.45**	0.35**	0.37**	0.45**	0.51**	0.62**
13. T1 proactive aggression	1.32	0.52	0.39**	0.28**	0.29**	0.21**	0.15**	0.15**	0.54**	0.32**	0.39**	0.40**	0.28**	0.27**
14. T2 proactive aggression	1.38	0.63	0.25**	0.47**	0.24**	0.16**	0.25**	0.17**	0.33**	0.62**	0.34**	0.17**	0.47**	0.25**	0.46**
15. T3 proactive aggression	1.40	0.65	0.20**	0.27**	0.32**	0.14**	0.14**	0.22**	0.32**	0.32**	0.55**	0.17**	0.23**	0.48**	0.42**	0.44**