General Aggression Model Research Articles

Exploring the Link Between Cyber Victimization and Depression.

Cyber victimization is strongly and positively associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence. Identifying mechanisms of this association is imperative to benefit adolescents' mental health. Applying the General Aggression Model in a theoretically novel way, this study examined a complex mediational pathway between cyber victimization and depressive symptoms. Two hundred seventy-seven adolescent participants (M age = 15.84; 65.7% females) reported their own cyber victimization experiences, depressive symptoms, and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral attributions in response to a hypothetical cyber victimization scenario. Path analysis within structural equation modeling was used to test a model where cyber victimization predicted depressive symptoms through characterological self-blame cognitions, sadness emotions, and passive avoidance behaviors. Characterological self-blame was found to partially mediate the positive and significant association between cyber victimization and depressive symptoms. Sadness emotions and passive avoidance behaviors did not emerge as significant mediators. The findings implicate the importance of cognitions in explaining the association between cyber victimization and depression and suggest incorporating cognitive re-framing education into anti-cyberbullying prevention programs.

Cybergrooming Victimization Among Young People: A Systematic Review of Prevalence Rates, Risk Factors, and Outcomes

AbstractAdolescence is marked by a unique blend of factors, including adolescents’ exploration of their emerging sexuality and growing engagement with digital media. As adolescents increasingly navigate online spaces, cybergrooming victimization has emerged as a significant concern for the development and protection of young people. Yet, there is a lack of systematic analyses of the current state of research. To this end, the present systematic review aimed to integrate existing quantitative research on prevalence rates, risk factors, and outcomes of cybergrooming victimization, informed by an adaptation of the General Aggression Model. Studies providing self-reported data on cybergrooming victimization of people between the ages of 5 and 21 were included. A total of 34 studies met all inclusion criteria, with most focusing on adolescence. Reported prevalence rates were characterized by strong heterogeneity, which could largely be attributed to the underlying methodology. Overall, the included studies showed that at least one in ten young people experiences cybergrooming victimization. Findings further indicated that various factors, for example, being a girl, being older, engaging in risky behavior, displaying problematic Internet use, reporting lower mental well-being, and experiencing other types of victimization, are positively associated with cybergrooming victimization. However, most studies’ cross-sectional designs did not allow for an evidence-based classification into risk factors, outcomes, and co-occurrences, so findings were embedded in the proposed model based on theoretical considerations. In addition, there is a noted lack of studies that include diverse samples, particularly younger children, LGBTQIA+ youth, and young people with special educational needs. These findings emphasize that cybergrooming victimization is a prevalent phenomenon among young people that requires prevention and victim support addressing multiple domains.

The longitudinal associations between nonviolent/violent stressful life events, moral disengagement, and online aggression in Chinese young people through the lens of general aggression model.

The longitudinal associations between nonviolent/violent stressful life events, moral disengagement, and online aggression in Chinese young people through the lens of general aggression model.

Do Cyberbullying Victims Feel more Entitled to Bully Others Online? The Moderating Role of Gender.

Previous studies have found that adolescent cyberbullying victimization is associated with cyberbullying perpetration and have explored the potential mediating mechanisms between the two. Although some valuable research has been accumulated, further exploration is needed on the underlying mechanisms of why cyber victims are transformed into cyberbullying perpetrators. Based on the General Aggression Model of Cyberbullying and the Social Role Theory, this study examined the mediating role of psychological entitlement and the moderating role of gender on the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 836 adolescents, utilizing the cyberbullying victimization scale, cyberbullying perpetration scale, and psychological entitlement questionnaire. The results found that (a) cyberbullying victimization, psychological entitlement, and cyberbullying perpetration were significantly and positively correlated with each other; (b) after controlling for gender and age, cyberbullying victimization significantly and positively predicted cyberbullying perpetration and psychological entitlement mediated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration; (c) Gender moderates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, compared with the girls, cyberbullying victimization had a greater effect on cyberbullying perpetration among boys. The results of this study suggest that cyberbullying victims consider that they have more entitlement to bully others online. These findings support the General Aggression Model of Cyberbullying and provide new insights for the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying perpetration.

Effect of violence exposure on aggressive intervention in Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model

The present study was mainly based on the General Aggression Model and combined it with the Bystander Intervention Model to explore the mechanism of aggressive intervention. A total of 1018 college students (mean age 19.59 years) from five universities in China were recruited, who completed a series of questionnaires, mainly concluding violence environment exposure questionnaire, the normative beliefs about aggression scale, subscale of the aggressive intervention, trait anxiety scale and number of bystanders. The results showed that after controlling for social desirability and gender, violence exposure positively predicted aggressive intervention, and normative beliefs about aggression partially mediated between the two variables. The three-way interaction of normative beliefs about aggression, anxiety, and the number of bystanders negatively predicted aggressive intervention. Moreover, anxiety moderated the mediating effect. Specifically, when the level of anxiety was higher, the mediating effect was larger. The number of bystanders played as a secondary moderator. The moderating effect of anxiety decreased as the number of bystanders increased. The results suggest that the General Aggression Model remains a theoretical model for explaining aggressive intervention, and the combination of anxiety and the number of bystanders influences the process of GAM.

Serial Cascade Effects of Relative Deprivation and Anger Rumination on the Development of Social Aggression Over 2.5 Years in Emerging Adults.

Although the mechanisms of development of aggression have been focused on day by day, the complicated effects of distal and proximal factors on the development of social aggression in emerging adults have not been uncovered. A serial cascade model of aggression was proposed to address this issue. A longitudinal investigation over 2.5 years was conducted to test this model by exploring the serial cascade effects of relative deprivation (a representative of distal factors) and anger rumination (a representative of proximal factors) on the development of social aggression. A total of 1113 Chinese university students (Mage = 18.95 ± 0.96, 63.10% female) from six universities in five areas participated in this study. The results suggest that developmental trajectories and longitudinal changes in anger rumination mediate the relationship between developmental trajectories and longitudinal changes in relative deprivation and social aggression, and developmental trajectories and changes in relative deprivation mediate the longitudinal relationship between anger rumination and social aggression. These findings support the serial cascade effects of distal and proximal factors on the development of aggression and expand upon the general aggression model (GAM).

The mediating role of hostile attribution bias in social exclusion affecting aggressive behavior.

Aggression is one of the public social issues affecting campus harmony and stability, and social exclusion is an important interpersonal contextual factor among many factors affecting aggression. However, studies examining the influence of social exclusion on aggression and its mediating mechanism are not systematic enough. Based on the general aggression model (GAM), we intend to explore the role of hostile attribution bias (HAB) in both trait and state levels of social exclusion, which leads to aggression through a combination of questionnaire and experimental methods. Study 1 surveyed 388 current high school students (Mage = 16.09, SD = 1.01) and found that HAB mediates the relationship between long-term social exclusion (trait level) and aggression tendency. Study 2 experimented with 181 high school students (Mage = 16.95, SD = 1.13) to examine whether short-term social exclusion (state level) after initiating the Cyberball paradigm could still influence aggressive behavior through the mediating role of HAB. Results found that the mediating role of HAB still holds. The findings of the study further enrich the GAM and have important implications for a more targeted approach to aggression prevention and intervention.

Psychological responses to political hostility: a study on aggression, bullying, and well-being in Qatar

ABSTRACT In 2017, the Gulf crisis led to a blockade that severely restricted Qatar’s air, land, and sea access. This political crisis had far-reaching consequences, particularly affecting cross-national families and children. This qualitative analysis explores the effects of the blockade’s political instability on individuals and families, specifically for Qatari citizens married to non-Qatari spouses and their cross-national children. Applying the General Aggression Model and Social Learning Theory, we interviewed 24 individuals residing in Qatar from nations directly affected by the crisis (Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Two main themes emerged: first, the characteristics of aggressive and bullying behaviour, and second, the impacts on the well-being of cross-national families. The results showed that Qatari women and their children suffered disproportionately due to gender-based citizenship rights issues. The impacts on their well-being included heightened anxiety, depression, feelings of danger, uncertainty, and division within individuals, families, and communities. Recommendations include increasing collaborative efforts between governments, educational institutions, and community-based organizations, which are crucial to addressing aggressive and bullying behaviour across all age groups fostering a more harmonious and resilient society.

From Trolling Victimization to Reactive Trolling: Moderated Mediation Effects of Online Disinhibition and Motivations

Online trolling behavior is becoming prevalent and has received increasing attention. Although few qualitative studies demonstrated that victims of online trolling are more likely to troll others, quantitative evidence examining such a phenomenon is lacking. Drawing on the general aggression model, this study aimed to investigate how trolling victimization affects reactive trolling behaviors and the roles of two motivations (i.e., revenge and social recognition) and online disinhibition during the process. Results from an online survey in China ( N = 626) showed that online trolling victimization was positively associated with online reactive trolling and this relationship was mediated by revenge and social recognition motivations. Additionally, the indirect effect of trolling victimization on reactive trolling via revenge motivation was more pronounced when individuals had higher levels of online disinhibition. The findings of the study extend the existing literature on online trolling and provide insights into the mitigation of online trolling behaviors.

Social comparison and aggression: The mediating role of relative deprivation and moderating role of covert narcissism.

Social comparison is a universal social phenomenon that profoundly influences aggressive behaviours among young adults. Based on the general aggression model, this study investigated the relationship between social comparison and aggression, and the mediating role of relative deprivation. To further explore the mechanism underlying this influence, covert narcissism was examined as a moderator in this relationship, based on relative deprivation theory. The results from the current study using a total of 726 Chinese college students showed that social comparison was positively correlated with aggression, which was mediated by relative deprivation. Specifically, more frequent social comparison was associated with higher relative deprivation, which was, in turn, associated with higher aggression. Covert narcissism acted as a moderator in this model. Covert narcissism exacerbated the relationships between social comparison and relative deprivation and relative deprivation and aggression. Specifically, compared to individuals with low levels of covert narcissism, those with high levels of covert narcissism exhibited greater relative deprivation when subjected to the same social comparisons, subsequently displaying increased levels of aggression. This study deepens the understanding of the relationship between social comparison and aggression and provides an intervention direction and a theoretical basis for effectively preventing aggression in young adults.

Callous-unemotional traits and online aggressive behaviour: Mediated moderation by moral disengagement

This study investigated the role of moral disengagement in the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and online aggression. The study sample comprised 484 college students (female = 68.4%; mean age = 19.27 years, SD = 1.21 years). The students completed questionnaires on callous-unemotional traits, moral disengagement, and online aggressive behaviour. Following structural equation modelling (SEM), results revealed that moral disengagement was a partial mediator in the relationship between callous-unemotional and online aggression among college students. It was specifically associated with an increase in online aggression scores. Moral disengagement moderated the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and online aggression, so that when the level of moral disengagement was high, callous-unemotional traits were associated with higher online aggressive behaviour. The research findings are consistent with the general aggression model and trait theory. Based on these findings, moral engagement-oriented interventions would be important for reducing the risk of online aggression among college students with personality disorders.

Human aggression in everyday life: An empirical test of the general aggression model.

With the general aggression model (GAM), Anderson and Bushman (2002) provided an integrative framework to explain the complex nature of aggression. Based on the GAM, we examined whether personological and situational factors (interactively) have an impact on the person's internal state (consisting of aggressive cognition, affect, and physiological arousal), which in turn is assumed to lead to aggressive behaviour. In a large-scale experience sampling study, 403 participants answered 7558 questionnaires over a period of 2 weeks. As hypothesized, participants were more likely to exhibit an aggressive internal state the higher they scored on antagonistic personality traits (trait aggression, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism, anger rumination) and the more interpersonal, intrapersonal, and environmental triggers they experienced. Aggressive behaviour was positively related to trait aggression, psychopathy, sadism, anger rumination, and all situational triggers. Furthermore, the impact of antagonistic personality traits and situational triggers on aggressive behaviour was considerably reduced when the aggressive internal state was taken into account. Contrary to predictions, the relationship between antagonistic personality traits and the aggressive internal state was most pronounced when situational triggers were low. Overall, however, the process by which personal and situational variables predict aggression in daily life can be well explained by the GAM.

Ostracism of a highly neurotic target by individuals with different levels of agreeableness: The roles of empathy and personal cost

Ostracism is a common and psychologically damaging phenomenon. Based on the general aggression model, this study explored the role of ostracisers' agreeableness on their intention to ostracise highly neurotic targets and the underlying mechanisms in five studies. Studies 1a and 1b examined the relationship between ostracisers' agreeableness and ostracism intention when confronted with highly neurotic targets using questionnaires and experimental methods, respectively. The results showed that individuals with high agreeableness had significantly lower ostracism intentions towards highly neurotic targets than those with low agreeableness. Studies 2a and 2b verified the mediating role of empathy between agreeableness and ostracism. Study 3 verified the moderating role of personal costs between empathy for highly neurotic targets and ostracism. Empathy reduced ostracism intention when the cost of accepting highly neurotic targets was low, but failed to act as an intermediary when the cost was high. Ultimately, this study investigated the causes of ostracism from the perspective of ostracisers, which is conducive to a more comprehensive understanding of the generation of ostracism and reducing the harm caused by ostracism at its source.

Psychotherapy case formulation for patients with aggressive behaviours in clinical settings: an adaptation of the Multimodal Functional Model

Aggressive behaviours are commonly observed in clinical settings, making it crucial to employ advanced assessment tools to accurately evaluate the likelihood of such behaviour. This article aims to present an assessment framework for developing a psychotherapy case formulation for patients with aggressive behaviours within the context of clinical setting. Recognising the disparities in the usage of aggression, as well as the comorbid nature of aggressive behaviours in patients with various psychopathologies, we propose an integrative framework that addresses these inconsistencies. The framework utilises the Hunter et al.’s (2008) Multimodal Functional Model as a foundation to which we integrated seven other models that are the I3 Model, the Algebra of Aggression model, the General Aggression Model, the Social Information Processing model, the Response Evaluation and Decision model, the Integrative Cognitive Model, and the nosographic model of mental disorders according to DSM-5. All these models were integrated into a comprehensive and expanded version of the Hunter et al.’s multimodal functional analysis worksheet, which combines the bio-psycho-social modalities of behaviour analysis in five factors that are instigation, vulnerability, reinforcement, habit strength, and inhibition. Additionally, case study example is provided to illustrate the development of a case formulation, which serves as a foundation for establishing therapeutic goals and implementing appropriate interventions. By incorporating a comprehensive understanding of aggression and utilising an adaptation of the multimodal functional analysis worksheet, this approach provides clinicians with a robust foundation for formulating effective therapeutic strategies.

Leaders' Machiavellianism and subordinates' task performance: a multilevel investigation

PurposeThis study aims at analyzing the detrimental cross-level serial effects of leaders' Machiavellianism and abusive supervision on subordinates' burnout and task performance. The general aggression model and conservation of resources theory guide our research model.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed a multilevel design and used multisource data. The authors collected data from 50 bank branches located in Pakistan. A total of 50 branch supervisors participated, which yielded 200 supervisor-subordinate dyads. Machiavellianism was self-assessed by the supervisors who further rated the specific task performance of each of their respective subordinates. Burnout and abusive supervision ratings were provided by the subordinates. Abusive supervision scores were aggregated at the group level.FindingsMachiavellianism has an indirect negative effect on individual-level task performance through the serial cross-level mediating effects of abusive supervision at the group level and attendant individual-level burnout.Practical implicationsFindings provide practical implications for the management of task performance and human resources.Originality/valueThis study offers a comprehensive cross-level model to analyze the effect of Machiavellianism on group-level and individual-level outcomes known to affect the effectiveness of leaders.

Distinguishing pathways from bullying victimization to nonsuicidal self-injury and to cyberaggression: Do perceived ostracism and depression mediate their links?

Bullying victimization is related to increased aggressive behaviour, but little research considers both self- (e.g., nonsuicidal self-injury; NSSI) and other-directed (e.g., cyberaggression) outcomes. Moreover, little is known about the mediating mechanisms that underlie this relationship. Based on the General Aggression Model, the current study investigates the mediating roles of Perceived ostracism (PO) and depression in the relationship between bullying victimization and cyberaggression/NSSI among emerging adult. A total of 795 emerging adults (Mage=19.66years, SD=1.46; 59.9% female) completed a multimeasure questionnaire measuring the targeted variables at three time points over one year. Structural equation modelling was used to test temporal mediation. After controlling for gender, age, and family monthly income, bullying victimization was found to positively predict later cyberaggression and NSSI. Mediation analysis revealed that the longitudinal association between bullying victimization and cyberaggression was mediated by PO; the longitudinal association between bullying victimization and NSSI was mediated by depression and was sequentially mediated by PO and depression. These findings extend the theory, prevention and interventions to include both self- and other-directed aggressive behaviour in the bullying context. Future research and practice may benefit from an emphasis on PO and depression-focused psychological interventions.

Daily aggression domains differentially relate to daily affect and self-esteem.

How do daily fluctuations in aggression relate to daily variability in affect and self-esteem? Although research has examined how trait aggression relates to affect and self-esteem, state aggression has received little attention. To this end, we had 120 US undergraduates participate in a 14-day daily diary study where they responded to state-level measures of aggression, affect, and self-esteem. Crucially, we used multifaceted state measures of both aggression (anger, hostility, verbal aggression, physical aggression) and affect (positive vs. negative, activated vs. deactivated). Multilevel models revealed that daily anger and hostility related positively to daily negative affect and negatively to daily positive affect. Similarly, daily anger and hostility related negatively to daily self-esteem. In contrast, daily verbal and physical aggression were largely unrelated to daily affect and self-esteem; however, unexpectedly, daily physical aggression related positively to daily positive activated affect, but only when controlling for the other daily aggression domains. Overall, daily attitudinal aggression measures-anger and hostility-related to daily affect and self-esteem in theoretically consistent ways, whereas daily behavioral aggression measures-verbal and physical aggression-did not. Our findings support expanding the General Aggression Model to incorporate state-level processes.

The Relationship between Parenting Style of Parental Rejection and Cyberbullying in College Students: Two Moderating Models

In order to investigate the relationship between parenting style of parental rejection and cyberbullying behavior of college students, as well as the moderating effects of empathy and negative emotional facilitated attention between them, college students were investigated based on the general aggression model. In study 1, 320 students were investigated by questionnaire method to explore the relationship between the parenting style of parental rejection and cyberbullying behavior of college students, as well as the moderating effect of empathy. In study 2, 58 students were selected to adopt a 3(paired picture type: positive-positive, positive-negative consistent, positive-negative inconsistent) ×2 (detection point location: left and right) experimental design to explore the moderating effect of negative emotional facilitated attention on maternal rejection and cyberbullying behavior. The results showed that: (1) Parental rejection positively predicted college students' cyberbullying behavior; Empathy can significantly moderate the influence path on cyberbullying behavior of college students. (2) The interaction between the maternal rejection and the negative emotional facilitated attention was significant on the cyberbullying behavior of college students.

Does deviant peer affiliation accelerate adolescents' cyberbullying perpetration? Roles of moral disengagement and self‐control

AbstractCyberbullying perpetration has become an international public health concern among adolescents. Based on the general aggression model, the present study sought to examine whether deviant peer affiliation was significantly related to adolescents' cyberbullying perpetration, and whether moral disengagement mediated this association and self‐control moderated this mediation process. A total of 2286 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.46, SD = 0.93) completed a series of anonymous questionnaires regarding deviant peer affiliation, cyberbullying perpetration, moral disengagement, and self‐control. Results showed that adolescents who interacted with deviant peers were more likely to cyberbully others, which was mediated by moral disengagement. Self‐control moderated the association between deviant peer affiliation and moral disengagement and the relationship between moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration, but not the relationship between deviant peer affiliation and cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, compared to high self‐control adolescents, low self‐control adolescents with high deviant peer affiliation were more likely to develop high moral disengagement and further engage in cyberbullying perpetration. The present study contributes to our understanding of the key mechanisms underlying the association between deviant peer affiliation and adolescents' cyberbullying perpetration.

Associations between maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies and aggressive behavior: A systematic review

Aggression has been found to have negative consequences for the victims and the aggressors. The general aggression model explains the process that results in aggressive outcomes, and it emphasizes the role of emotion regulation. The purpose of this review was to systematically review available evidence on the relationship between the use of emotion regulation strategies and aggression. The Medline and PsycInfo databases were searched for articles in English and Spanish and 104 studies were identified. These studies examined associations between maladaptive and adaptive emotional regulation strategies with different types of aggressive behavior. Together, their results provide evidence that maladaptive strategies (e.g., rumination) were positively associated with aggression, while adaptive ones (e.g., mindfulness) were negatively associated. This relationship appears to be consistent across ages, populations, and types of aggression. Most of the studies explored the relationship between aggression and arumination, with several experimental and longitudinal studies supporting that this strategy leads to higher levels of aggression. However, most of the studies with adult samples used university participants, and only a few examined the simultaneous usage of adaptive and maladaptive strategies. Findings are discussed in relation to the general model of aggression and the clinical applications of emotion regulation strategies.