The effects of conflict and stress on sexual and aggressive behaviour in male mice.

Abstract

LAGERSPETZ, K. & HYVARINEN, S. The effects of conflict and stress on sexual and aggressive behaviour in male mice. Scand. J. Psychol., 1071, 12, 119–127. –A conflict consisting in a conditioned response performed in order to drink, coupled with electric shocks, did not affect aggressive and sexual behaviour in a neutral environment. Conditioning only or shocks only also did not have any effects. When tested in the shuttle box, the groups showed differences in behaviour. A generally higher level of activation was shown by the experimental groups. The results are discussed in terms of the concept of ‘experimental neurosis’.