Aggressive Intent Research Articles

Accidental primacy: balancing and the path to power

Why did states fail to balance against the United States after the end of the Cold War? Scholars have neglected an important dynamic: the accidental nature of America’s rise to primacy. The United States became the sole superpower not by deliberately increasing its capabilities but due to the unexpected collapse of its rival, the USSR. The case illustrates that a state’s responsibility for its gains in power can vary significantly, with important consequences for subsequent balancing. Active or deliberate power increases tend to produce more balancing than passive power increases because they signal aggressive intentions, alter the dyadic power balance between the rising state and potential balancers, and trigger loss aversion.

Real-time social selection maintains honesty of a dynamic visual signal in cooperative fish.

Our understanding of animal communication has been largely driven by advances in theory since empirical evidence has been difficult to obtain. Costly signaling theory became the dominant paradigm explaining the evolution of honest signals, according to which communication reliability relies on differential costs imposed on signalers to distinguish animals of different quality. On the other hand, mathematical models disagree on the source of costs at the communication equilibrium. Here, we present an empirical framework to study the evolution of honest signals that generates predictions on the form, function, and sources of reliability of visual signals. We test these predictions on the facial color patterns of the cooperatively breeding Princess of Burundi cichlid, Neolamprologus brichardi. Using theoretical visual models and behavioral experiments we show that these patterns possess stable chromatic properties for efficient transmission in the aquatic environment, while dynamic changes in signal luminance are used by the fish to communicate switches in aggressive intent. By manipulating signal into out‐of‐equilibrium expression and simulating a cheater invasion, we demonstrate that social costs (receiver retaliation) promote the honesty of this dynamic conventional signal. By directly probing the sender of a signal in real time, social selection is likely to be the mechanism of choice shaping the evolution of inexpensive, yet reliable context‐dependent social signals in general.

Songbird chemical signals reflect uropygial gland androgen sensitivity and predict aggression: implications for the role of the periphery in chemosignaling.

Chemical signals can provide useful information to potential mates and rivals. The production mechanisms of these signals are poorly understood in birds, despite emerging evidence that volatile compounds from preen oil may serve as chemosignals. Steroid hormones, including testosterone (T), may influence the production of these signals, yet variation in circulating T only partly accounts for this variation. We hypothesized that odor is a T-mediated signal of an individual's phenotype, regulated in part by androgen sensitivity in the uropygial gland. We quantified natural variation in chemosignals, T, uropygial gland androgen sensitivity, and aggressive behavior in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). The interaction between circulating T and androgen receptor transcript abundance significantly correlated with volatile concentrations in male, but not female, preen oil. In both sexes, odorant variables correlated with aggressive response to an intruder. Our results suggest that preen oil volatiles could function as signals of aggressive intent, and, at least in males, may be regulated by local androgen receptor signaling in the uropygial gland. Because these behavioral and chemical traits have been linked with reproductive success, local regulation of androgen sensitivity in the periphery has the potential to be a target of selection in the evolution of avian olfactory signaling.

Effects of intergroup exclusion on individual needs threat and behavior tendencies.

This study explores the effects of intergroup exclusion on need-threat and the behavioral tendencies of excluded individuals. Results show that those excluded by in-group members perceived more threat to relational needs, while participants excluded by out-group members perceived more threat to efficacy needs. In addition, participants excluded by out-group members displayed significantly more aggression intention and less helping intention than those who were excluded by in-group members. This study indicates that the group relationship between excluders and the excluded will directly affect threat perception and behavioral responses.

The Influence of the Opposite Sex on Hypothetical Aggressive Inclinations.

Previous research has supported the hypothesis that the presence of a potential mate influences social behavior; however, there is a paucity of work that has extended this to the study of aggression. Thus, the current research had participants (N = 1,035) view a picture of an attractive or unattractive member of the opposite sex. Participants then imagined themselves in front of the imagined person in a social setting in which they were provoked or not before completing an assessment of aggressive intentions. Results from the 2 (sex of participant) × 2 (attractiveness of the picture) × 2 (provocation or not) analysis of variance showed that males viewing an image of an attractive female had higher aggressive intentions when provoked than males viewing a nonattractive female; however, these effects were not found for female participants.

Individual Versus Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Partner-Violent Men: A Preliminary Randomized Trial.

A randomized clinical trial tested the hypothesis that a flexible, case formulation-based, individual treatment approach integrating motivational interviewing strategies with cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) is more efficacious than a standardized group cognitive-behavioral approach (GCBT) for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). Forty-two men presenting for services at a community domestic violence agency were randomized to receive 20 sessions of ICBT or a 20-week group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program. Participants and their relationship partners completed assessments of relationship abuse and relationship functioning at baseline and quarterly follow-ups for 1 year. Treatment uptake and session attendance were significantly higher in ICBT than GCBT. However, contrary to the study hypothesis, GCBT produced consistently equivalent or greater benefits than ICBT. Participant self-reports revealed significant reductions in abusive behavior and injuries across conditions with no differential benefits between conditions. Victim partner reports revealed more favorable outcomes for group treatment, including a statistically significant difference in psychological aggression, and differences exceeding a medium effect size for physical assault, emotional abuse, and partner relationship adjustment. In response to hypothetical relationship scenarios, GCBT was associated with greater reductions than ICBT (exceeding a medium effect) in articulated cognitive distortions and aggressive intentions. Treatment competence ratings suggest that flexible, individualized administration of CBT creates challenges in session agenda setting, homework implementation, and formal aspects of relationship skills training. Although caution is needed in generalizing findings from this small-scale trial, the results suggest that the mutual support and positive social influence available in group intervention may be particularly helpful for IPV perpetrators.

Aggression in young men high in threat potential increases after hearing low-pitched male voices: two tests of the retaliation-cost model

Abstract Research suggests that male voice pitch is an honest dominance signal because it indexes men's physicality and because lower-pitched voices are more costly to develop and maintain. Rather than considering these signaler-dependent mechanisms, we tested a receiver-dependent mechanism hypothesized by M. Enquist's (1985) retaliation-cost model of aggressive signaling. The model predicts that, given a competitive scenario, low-pitched male voices will elicit aggression from male listeners (i.e., signal receivers) who are relatively high in threat potential. We confirmed this hypothesis in two experiments. Under a sexual but not control prime and after listening to low- but not average-pitched male voices, increases in heterosexual male participants' trait dominance predicted stronger aggressive cognitions (Experiment 1), and increases in male participants' handgrip strength predicted stronger aggressive intent (Experiment 2). These findings provide the first direct support for the retaliation-cost model in humans, extend research on the effects of male voice pitch on receiver psychology, and demonstrate an additional cost mechanism that explains why voice pitch is an honest signal of dominance in men.

The Seduction Script: Psychological and Cultural Norms of Interpersonal Approaches As Markers for Sexual Aggression and Abuse.

Hardly any subjects enjoy greater – public or private – interest than the art of flirtation and seduction. However, interpersonal approach behavior not only paves the way for sexual interaction and reproduction, but it simultaneously integrates non-sexual psychobiological and cultural standards regarding consensus and social norms. In the present paper, we use script theory, a concept that extends across psychological and cultural science, to assess behavioral options during interpersonal approaches. Specifically, we argue that approaches follow scripted event sequences that entail ambivalence as an essential communicative element. On the one hand, ambivalence may facilitate interpersonal approaches by maintaining and provoking situational uncertainty, so that the outcome of an action – even after several approaches and dates – remains ambiguous. On the other hand, ambivalence may increase the risk for sexual aggression or abuse, depending on the individual’s abilities, the circumstances, and the intentions of the interacting partners. Recognizing latent sequences of sexually aggressive behavior, in terms of their rigid structure and behavioral options, may thus enable individuals to use resources efficiently, avoid danger, and extricate themselves from assault situations. We conclude that interdisciplinary script knowledge about ambivalence as a core component of the seduction script may be helpful for counteracting subtly aggressive intentions and preventing sexual abuse. We discuss this with regard to the nature-nurture debate as well as phylogenetic and ontogenetic aspects of interpersonal approach behavior and its medial implementation.

Does the female cycle matter? Looking at aggressive intentions after social exclusion

Excluded people vary in their coping with social pain. The menstrual cycle has shown to moderate experiences related to pain. We therefore investigated the influence of the menstrual cycle on aggressive intentions in response to social exclusion. Results revealed no effect of the menstrual cycle alone. However when exploratory taking dispositional social anxiety into account, we found women low in social phobia to report more aggression in response to social exclusion in the luteal than in the non-luteal phase. In this phase, they indicated a similarly high aggression level than women high in social phobia who did not differ between the luteal and non-luteal phase. These findings are discussed within the framework of evolutionary adaption.

Predicting Past and Future Dating Violence From Implicit and Explicit Violence Attitudes: An Experimental Manipulation of Provocation in Close Relationships

This study examined implicit and explicit attitudes toward the use of violence and their capacity to predict past and future partner-directed aggression in a college dating sample. Implicit and explicit intimate partner violence (IPV) attitudes were measured and compared based on how well they identified self-reported past IPV and predicted expressed aggressive intent following a simulated dating scenario. Male and female participants (N = 106) completed self-report measures of IPV perpetration history and dating violence attitudes as well as an implicit association measure of violence attitudes. Participants were then randomly assigned to a simulated jealousy or neutral relationship scenario and subsequently indicated their desire to perpetrate physical aggression in response to it. The results indicated that implicit, but not explicit, violence attitudes predicted past-year physical IPV perpetration. Although implicit violence attitudes predicted laboratory aggression regardless of relationship provocation cues, the explicit violence attitudes only predicted aggression when relationship provocation was salient. These findings provide further evidence regarding the utility of an implicit attitudes measure in IPV risk assessment, suggest the need for additional research regarding their integration with self-report measures for predicting violence-related behavior, and have implications for investigations aimed at disrupting problematic violence attitudes.

Роман-фрагмент Інґеборґ Бахман “Реквієм за Фанні Ґольдман”: рецепція післявоєнної австрійської метрополії та провінції

The study analyzes the novel fragment of the outstanding Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973) “Requiem for Fanny Goldmann” (“Requiem fur Fanny Goldmann”) from the cycle “Death Styles” (“Todesarten”). The attention is paid to the spatial organization of the text in particular to the author’s depicting of the centre and periphery of the country with an emphasis on the historical and social features of the state’s development in the first half of the 20th century (dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy, Anschluss, Holocaust etc.). The special role of Vienna as a cultural metropolis of Austria after the Second World War is stressed. The family Wischnewski and married couple Goldmann represent both the generalized image of the Austrian capital city, which contrasted with the negative stereotyped image of a periphery. As a result this phenomenon is demonstrated in the relationship of the heroine Fanny Goldmann as the representative of the exquisite Viennese society with the character of the young writer Anton Marek from the remote province. Consequently I. Bachmann shows one of the possible variants of the correlation between centre and periphery, where the Austrian province manifests its aggressive intentions towards the Vienna from its point of view as a metropolis.

The Influence of Planned Aggression on the Journey to Homicide: An Examination Across Typology Classifications

We assessed the impact of planned aggression across homicide mobility types in Newark, New Jersey, from 1997 through 2007. Homicides where offenders traveled to victims’ resident/incident locales were more likely to involve aggressive intent, whereas homicides where victims traversed to offender/incident locales were less likely to involve planned aggression. Planned aggression was unrelated to geographically proximate (internal) homicides as well as geographically distinct (total mobility) homicides. Study findings show that routine activities and situational characteristics are not only important in explaining homicide patterns but also demonstrate that planned aggression meaningfully contributes to the routine activities and environmental criminology frameworks under specific geographic conditions.

Editorial

Editorial

Justification of violence by terrorist organisations: Comparing ISIS and PKK

The question of whether or not violence is an acceptable form of action to achieve social, political and economic goals is still an important topic of discussion for intellectuals. Analogous to this debate, another issue exists: the question of how groups relying on violence justify their actions. This article discusses the doctrinal and utilitarian justification of violence by terrorist organisations by examining and comparing two internationally recognised terrorist organisations — ISIS and PKK — directly and indirectly threatening the security of many states and destabilising international efforts to counterterrorism in Syria. In normal circumstances, the use of violence results in self-condemnation and self-sanction. However, terrorist organisations try to make their violent acts personally and socially acceptable by using diverse methods. Greater justification is needed in order to achieve “aggressive intentions.” The main division made in the literature is the distinction between normative and utilitarian justifications. Ideology and doctrine play the key roles in normative justification, whereas value-based calculations are at the core of utilitarian justification. Differences and similarities in the doctrines, the process of enemy creation, identity politics and rational calculations of violence are examined for both organisations. This discussion should not be confused either with discussions on the causes of existence or the goals of these terrorist organisations, or with the debate on the status of these groups. However, when trying to justify their acts, these organisations do make use of certain extant but latent discontent and deprivation that form a breeding ground for violent political action. Let the goal of Jihad be that the word of Allah becomes the highest —Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir We will also give our lives to the cause you have fallen for Every time we look at the black barrel [of our gun] we will remember you guerrilla —PKK propaganda song “Delila Ha Gerila”

Song rate as a signal of male aggressiveness during territorial contests in the wood warbler

Aggressive signaling is an important component in animal communication, as it provides an efficient mechanism for settling conflicts over resources between competitors. In songbirds, a number of singing behaviors have been proposed to be aggressive signals used in territory defense, including song rate. Although aggressive signaling in songbirds has received considerable research attention, adequate evidence for most putative aggressive signals is not available. In this study, we experimentally investigated whether the song rate of male wood warblers Phylloscopus sibilatrix is a signal of their aggressive intent in male–male interactions. We found that males responded differentially to simulated territorial intrusions depending on the song rate of an intruder. Moreover, males that continued to sing during territorial contests increased their song rates, and this behavior predicted the strength of aggressive escalation by the signaler. These results suggest that song rate is an aggressive signal during male–male interactions in the wood warbler. We also found high intra‐individual repeatability in the strength of aggressive response to simulated intrusions, likely reflecting differences in personality (aggressiveness) or quality of male wood warblers. We conclude that changes in singing rate may be an efficient mechanism of signaling immediate shifts in motivation of signalers during territorial contests, especially in species that lack large repertoires or have simple songs.

Cuttlefish perform multiple agonistic displays to communicate a hierarchy of threats

Many animals produce multiple displays during agonistic interactions, but the roles of these displays often remain ambiguous. The hierarchical signaling hypothesis has been proposed to explain their occurrence and posits that different displays convey different levels of aggressive intent, allowing signalers to communicate graded series of threats. This hypothesis suggests that low-risk signals, typically performed at the beginning stages of an interaction, are strong predictors of high-risk signals but weak predictors of physical aggression. High-risk signals, typically produced at later stages of an interaction, are strong predictors of physical aggression. We used giant Australian cuttlefish, Sepia apama, to test these predictions. We combined field observations and laboratory video playback experiments to determine whether (i) male cuttlefish produce specific sequences of displays, (ii) displays in early stages of an interaction predict displays in later stages of an interaction, and (iii) displays produced in later stages of an interaction provide reliable predictors of physical aggression. Field observations suggested that males progressed from low-risk to high-risk signals (i.e., visual signaling to physical aggression). Video playback results zrevealed that the low-risk frontal display, produced during early stages of an interaction, conveys reliable information about the cuttlefish’s intent to escalate to later stages of visual signaling. Both the shovel and lateral displays were produced during the later stages of signaling and were reliable predictors of subsequent physical aggression. Our study supports the hierarchical signaling hypothesis and provides new empirical insights into how cuttlefish use progressive visual signaling to convey increasing levels of threat. Many animals perform multiple displays during fights, but the roles of these displays often remain ambiguous. The hierarchical signaling hypothesis posits that animals produce multiple displays to convey different levels of aggressive intent, allowing signalers to communicate graded series of threats. We tested this hypothesis in giant Australian cuttlefish, Sepia apama. Specifically, we tested whether (i) displays in early stages of a fight predict displays in later stages of a fight and (ii) displays produced in later stages of a fight provide reliable predictors of physical aggression. Our results support these predictions and reveal that fighting cuttlefish progress from low-risk signals to high-risk signals to convey a hierarchy of threats. This study highlights the generality of hierarchical signaling during animal contests, as cuttlefish are evolutionary far removed from many of the species that have been reported to use this type of signaling.

“RUSSIAN THREAT” TO THE POST-SOVIET SPACE: MYTH OR REALITY?

The issue of "Russian threat" to the post-soviet space has been analyzed in the article. Due to significant geopolitical success of Russia in the post-soviet space and in particular in Central Asia there were frequent charges against her related to the alleged aggressive intentions. In western expert associations a myth about "the Russian threat" that appeared in the sixteenth century and therefore rightly can be considered archaic is actively promoting. For example, the objective analysis of the causes of the war in South Ossetia and transformational events in Ukraine contradict the claims about Russia's aggression in these areas. The war in South Ossetia of 2008 has presented completely where the Georgian aggression is clearly seen. A gradual war preparation, having been carried out by the Georgian political leadership since 2004 with the help of external support, proves it. Moreover, there is substantial growth of activity of NATO near the Russian borders, giving Russia the right to protect site stability and security which is directly related to its national security. The author comes to the conclusion that in such matters as the war in South Ossetia, the joining of Crimea to Russia, Russia's actions deliberately exaggerated by geopolitical opponents and distorted information is used in order to undermine the image of Russia and its friendly relations with post-soviet states. Inflating the Russian threat to the Central Asian states, for example Kazakhstan is baseless, as Russian-Central Asian relations are tested for durability time and are strategic in nature.

Threatening Men's Mate Value Influences Aggression Toward an Intrasexual Rival: The Moderating Role of Narcissism.

Correlational research has linked low mate value (MV)--one's worth as a mating partner to members of the opposite sex--with aggression in men. In 2 experiments, we examined the effects of self-perceived MV on men's reported willingness to aggress directly toward a hypothetical mate poacher (Experiment 1, N = 60) and observable aggression toward a same-sex rival in a laboratory paradigm (Experiment 2, N = 54). In both experiments, the roles of narcissism in moderating the effect of MV condition on subsequent aggression were examined. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that men randomly assigned to the low MV condition were significantly more willing to report aggressive intention than men in the high MV condition. This relationship was moderated by narcissism such that men in the low MV condition who were also high in narcissism were the most likely to aggress. Results of Experiment 2 similarly showed that men in the low MV condition relative to the high MV condition aggressed more toward a same-sex rival when they were high in narcissism. These findings support evolutionary hypotheses surrounding the importance of self-perceived MV in directing aggressive mating efforts, as situated in the framework of threatened egotism.

Modeling outcomes of violent video game play: Applying mental models and model matching to explain the relationship between user differences, game characteristics, enjoyment, and aggressive intentions

While much research on video games has focused on aggressive outcomes, the extant research has not come to consensus on the role of other factors, notably enjoyment, frustration and individual differences amongst players, in mediating the link between violent game play and aggression. This experimental design uses a mental models approach to examine game features (e.g., controller naturalness), player characteristics (e.g., first person shooter experience, sex, degree of competitiveness) and the game play experience (e.g., perceived game realism, immersion, game failure, frustration and enjoyment) to explain aggressive outcomes. Results from a revised path model suggest perceived realism, immersion, and experience with other first person shooters all positively predicted enjoyment while frustration negatively predicted game enjoyment. Frustration and enjoyment both predicted state aggression. The findings of this study support the application of mental models as a theoretical approach to unify thinking about violent games, contextual features of violent games, individual difference variables and differences in player perceptions and game experiences with regards to outcome aggression. Results are discussed in terms of the model matching hypothesis and implications for the comprehensive study of violent game play, including the importance of enjoyment and frustration, are also discussed.

IMPLEMENTING NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AMONG MANAGERS

Strategy implementation is an important aspect of innovation, as only 30% of planned strategies are matched by realised innovation outcomes. The present study investigates this in a setting of strategic implementation of New Product Development (NPD). In the implementation process, the managers’ characteristics are what lead to successful implementation of NPD. Managers’ characteristics affect the decision outcome. This study incorporates curiosity as a personal trait and NPD experience as a personal characteristic of the manager as moderating effects of the strategy implementation process of NPD. 131 NPD managers of Scandinavia SBUs participated in the study. Data were analysed using partial least squares regression. The study finds that managers influence the realised NPD strategy. NPD managers impose competence traps on strategy implementation. Curious NPD managers implementing aggressive strategic intentions create information overload in the NPD process, which decreases the new product novelty. In contrast, realisation of defensive strategic intentions makes experienced NPD managers focus on known NPD competences, thereby decreasing the new product novelty of NPD efforts. The study identified inadequately developed information competences among NPD managers. The result shows the importance of analysing how personal characteristics facilitate or hinder NPD strategy implementation. The competitive advantage of NPD efforts relies on such an analysis.