Predicting laboratory aggression against female and male targets: Implications for sexual aggression

Abstract

This study assessed the ability of several variables to predict men's laboratory aggression against female and male victims. The predictors were chosen on the basis of their associations with sexual aggression against women in naturalistic settings. On the whole, these variables successfully predicted laboratory aggression against the female target but were not similarly related to aggression against the male. The data supported the view that specific factors uniquely contribute to aggression against women. It is suggested that, at least in part, such aggression needs to be examined within the larger context of sexist relations.