Hostile Interpretation Research Articles

Interpretation bias modification for hostility to facilitate smoking cessation in a sample with elevated trait anger: A randomized trial

Problematic anger is linked with multiple adverse smoking outcomes, including cigarette dependence, heavy smoking, and cessation failure. A smoking cessation intervention that directly targets anger and its maintenance factors may increase rates of smoking cessation. We examined the efficacy of an interpretation bias modification for hostility (IBM-H) to facilitate smoking cessation in smokers with elevated trait anger. Participants were 100 daily smokers (mean age = 38, 62% female, 55% white) with elevated anger were randomly assigned to eight computerized sessions of either IBM-H or a health and relaxation video control condition (HRVC). Participants in both conditions attempted to quit at mid-treatment. Measures of hostility, anger, and smoking were administered at pre-, mid-, post-treatment, as well as at up to three-month follow-up. Compared to HRVC, IBM-H led to greater reductions in hostile interpretation bias, both at posttreatment and follow-up. IBM-H also led to statistically significant reductions in hostility only at posttreatment, and trait anger only at three-month follow-up. Both conditions experienced reductions in smoking, although they did not differ in quit success. We discuss these findings in the context of literature on anger and smoking cessation and provide directions for future research.

The impact of patients’ hostile attribution bias on aggression in doctor-patient interactions

BackgroundDoctor-patient conflict is trending in social attention research. However, the existing literature rarely explores whether a patient's hostile attribution bias (HAB) in the doctor-patient interaction affects the aggression level against doctors. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the relationship and mechanism between different types of HAB and aggression in patients. MethodIn Study 1, 80 patients completed the word sentence association paradigm for hostility (WSAP-Hostility), and their explicit and implicit aggression levels were measured using the hot sauce paradigm and the single-category implicit association test (SC-IAT), respectively. In Study 2, 63 patients were randomly divided into an experimental (rejection) and a control group. Their state hostile attribution bias (SHAB) was activated through social rejection materials. They completed the SHAB questionnaire and anger expression inventory, and their explicit and implicit aggression levels were measured as in Study 1. ResultsIn both studies, results indicated that patients' trait and state HAB were significantly related to explicit aggression but not implicit aggression. Hostile interpretation positively predicted explicit aggression, whereas benign interpretation had a negative predictive effect on explicit aggression. Patients’ anger played a mediating role between SHAB and explicit aggression. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that patients' HAB affects explicit aggression toward doctors and anger plays a mediating role.

The Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification on Hostile Interpretation Bias and Aggressive Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification on Hostile Interpretation Bias and Aggressive Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hostile and threatening interpretation biases in adolescent inpatients are specific to callous-unemotional traits and social anxiety

Psychopathological syndromes, such as disruptive behavior and anxiety disorders in adolescence, are characterized by distorted cognitions and problematic behavior. Biased interpretations of ambiguous social situations can elicit both aggressive and avoidance behavior. Yet, it is not well understood whether different interpretation biases are specific to different syndromes, or whether they can co-occur. We assessed both hostile and threatening interpretation biases in identical social situations, and proposed that they are uniquely related to callous-unemotional (CU) traits and social anxiety, respectively. We also explored the role of gender and age herein. The sample consisted of 390 inpatients between 10 and 18 years of age with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Hostile and threatening interpretations were assessed with the Ambiguous Social Scenario Task (ASST) consisting of 10 written vignettes. Both CU-traits and social anxiety were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Results showed that, overall, CU-traits were related to more hostile interpretations, whereas social anxiety was related to more threatening interpretations. In addition, in boys, hostile and threatening interpretations correlated significantly positive with each other. Age was not related to interpretation biases. Together, these results generally support the content-specificity of interpretation biases in concepts relevant to disruptive behavior disorders and anxiety disorders, and indicate that different interpretation biases can co-occur specifically in boys.

Hostile interpretation as a transdiagnostic factor for cooccurring anxiety in boys with aggressive behavior problems

AbstractMany children with aggressive behavior problems also suffer from anxiety. This cooccurrence may perhaps be explained by transdiagnostic factors. Identifying these factors seems crucial, as they may be important targets to treat these cooccurring problems effectively. This two‐study paper investigates whether hostile interpretation of others’ intentions is a transdiagnostic factor for cooccurring aggression and anxiety problems, examining two samples of boys in middle childhood. We assessed boys’ aggression and anxiety using teacher‐report in Study 1 (N = 84, Mage = 10.10), and parent‐report in Study 2 (N = 115, Mage = 10.55). In both studies, we assessed hostile interpretation using vignettes describing ambiguous provocations by peers. Both studies revealed a strong association between aggression and anxiety problems, underscoring the necessity to examine factors that can explain this cooccurrence. However, in neither study was this association reduced when we added hostile interpretation to the model, suggesting that hostile interpretation did not function as a transdiagnostic factor in our samples. One possible explanation for these findings is that hostile interpretation predicts both aggression and anxiety problems, but in different children. We, therefore, encourage scholars to conduct more research to explain the high comorbidity of aggression and anxiety problems in children. Future research should also examine hostile interpretation as predictor or transdiagnostic factor for aggression and anxiety problems in more diverse population, including girls and other age groups.

Development and refinement of the mobile anger reduction intervention for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Problematic anger is commonly reported among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is associated with numerous psychosocial impairments. There is a clear need to develop innovative and effective anger interventions. One of the cognitive mechanisms associated with anger is the hostile interpretation bias, which is the tendency to interpret ambiguous interpersonal situations as hostile. The current study presents a successive cohort design methodology to develop and refine a mobile treatment application, entitled Mobile Anger Reduction Intervention (MARI), which uses interpretation bias modification techniques to modify hostile interpretation bias. Two cohorts (total N = 13) of veterans with PTSD and problematic anger used the MARI application for 4 weeks. After each cohort, qualitative and quantitative data were used to modify the MARI application. The intervention is described, as well as the qualitative and quantitative findings and subsequent changes made to the mobile application based on participant feedback. Treatment adherence was high (90% of participants completed all sessions). Participants reported that they found the treatment helpful and easy to use and experienced improvements in hostile interpretation bias and problematic anger. This study demonstrates the utility of a successive cohort treatment design for the development of mobile interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Transgenerational transmission of hostility bias from father to son. How to effectively reduce hostile interpretations of social encounters? information about the research project

Making hostile attributions, that is, interpreting the behaviour of others as intentional and hostile, increases the likelihood of aggression. Hostile attributional style begins to form in childhood and is related, among others, to the quality of the parental relationship. The aim of the current project is to examine: whether the fathers attributional style predicts the sons attributional style; what role perceived personality resemblance plays in the transmission of the tendency to make hostile attributions from father to son; and whether there are effective ways to reduce hostile attributions. The project involves research with diverse methods and techniques. The final goal of the research is not only to improve knowledge of hostile attributions but also to provide practitioners with effective tools for working with adolescents displaying a tendency to make them.

Specific interpretation biases as a function of social anxiety and callous-unemotional traits in a community and a clinical adolescent sample

BackgroundThreatening and hostile interpretation biases are seen as causal and maintaining mechanisms of childhood anxiety and aggression, respectively. However, it is unclear whether these interpretation biases are specific to distinct problems or whether they are general psychopathological phenomena. The specificity versus pervasiveness of interpretation biases could also differ depending on mental health status. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated whether social anxiety and callous-unemotional (CU) traits were uniquely related to threatening and hostile interpretation biases, respectively, in both a community and a clinical sample of adolescents.MethodsA total of 161 adolescents between 10 to 15 years of age participated. The community sample consisted of 88 participants and the clinical sample consisted of 73 inpatients with a variety of psychological disorders. Social anxiety and CU-traits were assessed with self-report questionnaires. The Ambiguous Social Scenario Task was used to measure both threatening and hostile interpretations in response to written vignettes.ResultsResults showed that social anxiety was uniquely related to more threatening interpretations, while CU-traits were uniquely related to more hostile interpretations. These relationships were replicated for the community sample. For the clinical sample, only the link between social anxiety and threatening interpretations was significant. Explorative analyses showed that adolescents with externalizing disorders scored higher on hostile interpretations than adolescents with internalizing disorders.ConclusionsOverall, these results support the content-specificity of threatening interpretation biases in social anxiety and of hostile interpretation biases in CU-traits. Better understanding the roles of interpretation biases in different psychopathologies might open avenues for tailored prevention and intervention paradigms.

Taking Back Control: Findings on the Cognitive, Behavioral, and Motivational Consequences of Victim Sensitivity

Being duped is an aversive experience which people are motivated to avoid. For this reason, especially people with a high fear of exploitation (i.e., people high in victim sensitivity; VS) often behave pre-emptively selfish and defensive in socially uncertain situations. Because the cognitive and motivational processes underlying such defensiveness have received little attention so far, we conducted two studies aiming to close this research gap. In Study 1 (n = 84), we used virtual reality technology to examine whether social distancing, hostile interpretations of an interaction partner’s intentions and behavior, and legitimizing cognitions regarding own selfish reactions (as elements of a suspicious mindset) mediate the effect of VS on uncooperativeness. Results did not show the expected mediation, but VS was still related to hostile information processing and fear of exploitation. In Study 2 (n = 273), we extended these findings by showing that defensive reactions of people high in VS can be attenuated if a sense of control is reinforced. Together, the two studies crucially expand our knowledge of the defensive motivational system in victim-sensitive individuals.

Development and Evaluation of an Online Intervention for Reducing Hostile Interpretation Bias: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Hostility is a trait-level construct characterized by a generally suspicious and cynical view of other people that results in a tendency to interpret ambiguous social situations in hostile or threatening ways. Cognitive behavioral treatments for hostility have high dropout rates, which may be due to hostile beliefs interfering with treatment engagement. As such, there is a need for an alternative approach to prevent dropout and enhance engagement. The current study therefore developed and tested a 1-session, 40-minute online intervention targeting hostility. It was hypothesized that the hostility intervention would be rated as acceptable as indexed by self-report and completion rates. It was also hypothesized that the hostility intervention would be associated with greater reductions in hostility as compared to a control intervention. Finally, it was hypothesized there would be indirect effects of intervention condition on anger and aggression via changes in hostility.Undergraduates (N = 101) who reported elevated hostility and hazardous alcohol use were randomized to complete either the hostility intervention or a control condition targeting physical health habits. Results showed that individuals randomized to the hostility intervention found the intervention to be highly acceptable and all participants completed the intervention in its entirety. The hostility intervention was associated with significantly faster reductions in hostile interpretations than the control condition with medium to large effects. There were significant indirect effects of intervention condition on month one follow-up anger and aggression via changes in hostile cognitions. This proof-of-concept study provides initial evidence that a brief, single-session intervention may be a promising approach for reducing hostility and its correlates.

Do Violent Video Games Reduce Aggression? The Roles of Prosociality and Cooperation

ABSTRACT Video games have become an integral part of people’s daily life. Though detrimental outcomes of negative game factors have been demonstrated across previous studies, the effects of prevalently-exist positive game factors, for example, prosociality and cooperation, remain unclear. This study examined the effects of positive game factors in violent video games on aggressive behavior by exploring prosociality and cooperation. Based on the General Learning Model, Experiment 1 examined the effect of prosociality on aggressive behavior and the mediating role of perceived violence in the game. Experiment 2 examined the relation between cooperation in violent video games and aggressive behavior, the mediating role of hostile interpretation bias, and the moderating role of the game result. The results of Experiment 1 showed that prosociality did not influence aggressive behavior. The results of Experiment 2 showed that cooperation decreased aggressive behavior. Additionally, Experiment 2 also found that the hostile interpretation bias mediated the relation between cooperation and aggressive behavior, and win/lose results moderate the relationship between cooperation and aggressive behavior. Considering the questions raised by post hoc sensitivity analysis, future studies could investigate the effects of positive game factors in violent video games on aggressive behavior with a larger sample size.

The Development and Validation of the First German Open Scale of Social Information Processing

Introduction: This study introduces the first German Open Scale of Social Information Processing (GOSSIP) and evaluates its psychometric properties. Even though social information processing (SIP) and its important role in developmental psychopathology is a rising field of interest, model-based standardized assessment tools are still scarce. Methods: GOSSIP was developed to assess SI processes in boys and girls aged eight to 21 years. First, 61 vignettes (combinations of pictures and short written descriptions of the situation depicted) were evaluated by an expert group and piloted with 48 healthy participants (aged 8–21). The best-rated vignettes were then implemented in a Web-based application. 191 participants completed GOSSIP. Of those, 76 answered additional questionnaires to assess their social skills and psychopathology. Internal consistencies for the emotional and cognitive GOSSIP scales were determined. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify subgroups of children and adolescents characterized by specific SIP profiles (i.e., patterns of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to the GOSSIP). Furthermore, the external validity of the participants’ attribution tendencies in GOSSIP was evaluated in real life by smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA). Results: The internal consistencies for the emotional and cognitive scales (angry, ashamed, physical aggression, pro-social response, revenge, and outcome expectancy) were good to excellent. The scales of hostile interpretation, relation aggression, sadness, and exclusion showed borderline/acceptable internal consistency. Correlation analysis confirmed convergent validity with self-reported social skills and external validity with ratings of aggressive and pro-social behaviors. The LPA revealed three profiles as the best fit of the data. The first group is named “aggressors,” the second “social-emotional group,” and a third named “ashamed-internalizing group.” However, no significant association was found between the attribution tendencies derived from GOSSIP and EMA data. Discussion/Conclusion: GOSSIP is the first model-based German Web-based assessment for several SIP mechanisms that showed overall adequate psychometric properties. GOSSIP can be used to classify individuals into SIP profiles that differ in terms of their cognitive and emotional response tendencies and therefore could contribute to the development of targeted interventions. Integrating assessments of emotional responses into GOSSIP revealed an important role of “shame” in SIP and the development of psychopathology. Furthermore, the lack of external validity between GOSSIP and EMA calls into question how attribution tendencies are best assessed in future studies.

Hoću sve i hoću sada - iracionalna uverenja i osobine mračne tetrade kod muškaraca

The Dark Tetrad (DT) - an umbrella term for four socially aversive traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism) gained a lot of research interest. However, little is known about how these traits are related to cognitive constructs such as hostile interpretation bias (HIB) and low frustration tolerance (LFT). In an attempt to explain what could contribute to understanding the development of DT, the present study aimed to combine two different theoretical perspectives: a theory underlying CBT and a trait-based model of personality. The study used a community sample of men (N = 612) to test whether LFT (a) predicts HIB and the expression of DT traits and (b) has an indirect, mediated by HIB, effect on DT traits. Results showed a significant direct effect of LFT on all four DT traits. Also, the indirect effect was significant in all four tested models. It might be that, by seeking schema confirmation, individuals gradually develop a stable pattern of behavioral, emotional, motivational reactions, labeled as (DT) traits. HIB seems to be an integral part of the assimilation process, by mediating the relationship between LFT and all four DT traits.

Hostile Attribution Biases in Vulnerable Narcissists Depends on the Socio-Relational Context

Abstract. Narcissism, especially the vulnerable kind, is associated with anger and hostility. In a sample of outpatients, group psychotherapy ( N = 74) and community members ( N = 153), we replicated and extended previous work linking vulnerable, but not grandiose, narcissism to hostile attributions across different socio-relational contexts. We also examined if the level of ambiguity of social situations, assessed from the other-referent position, influences the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and attributing hostile intentionality, and whether narcissistic individuals distinguish hostile interpretations, depending on the level of ambiguity of the scene. In ambiguous vignettes, assessed from the self-referent position, higher levels of vulnerable narcissism were associated with a greater tendency to infer more attributions of hostile intentions with people with whom there was no close relationship (except for authority in the patient group). In the case of visual scenes, the positive relationship between vulnerable narcissism and attributed hostile intentionality appeared in accidental scenes, but not in hostile and ambiguous ones. In addition, the higher the vulnerable narcissism the lower the ability to differentiate between contextual nuances (e.g., the level of ambiguity). We replicated previous research indicating a relationship between vulnerable narcissism and hostile attribution bias, but shed new light on the phenomenon of this bias in that it appears to depend on the socio-relational context and the level of ambiguity of the situation.

Interactive virtual reality assessment of aggressive social information processing in boys with behaviour problems: A pilot study.

Children's aggressive behaviour is partly determined by how they process social information (e.g., making hostile interpretations or aiming to seek revenge). Such aggressive social information processing (SIP) may be most evident if children are emotionally engaged in actual social interactions. Current methods to assess aggressive SIP, however, often ask children to reflect on hypothetical vignettes. This pilot study therefore examined a new method that actually involves children in emotionally engaging social interactions: interactive virtual reality (VR). We developed a virtual classroom where children could play games with virtual peers. A sample of boys (N = 32; ages 8–13) from regular and special education reported on their SIP in distinct VR contexts (i.e., neutral, instrumental gain and provocation). They also completed a standard vignette‐based assessment of SIP. Results demonstrated good convergent validity of interactive VR assessment of SIP, as indicated by significant moderate to large correlations of VR‐assessed SIP with vignette‐assessed SIP for all SIP variables except anger. Interactive VR showed improved measurement sensitivity (i.e., larger variances in SIP compared to vignettes) for aggressive responding, but not for other SIP variables. Discriminant validity (i.e., distinct SIP patterns across contexts) of interactive VR was supported for provocation contexts, but not for instrumental gain contexts. Last, children were more enthusiastic about the VR assessment compared to the vignette‐based assessment. These findings suggest that interactive VR may be a promising tool, allowing for the assessment of children's aggressive SIP in standardized yet emotionally engaging social interactions.

Interpretation bias modification for hostility: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Hostility is a transdiagnostic phenomenon that can have a profound negative impact on interpersonal functioning and psychopathological severity. Evidence suggests that cognitive bias modification for interpretation bias (CBM-I) potentially reduces hostility. However, stringent efficacy studies in people with clinical levels of hostility are currently lacking. Method: The present study investigated the effects of CBM-I in two studies: one feasibility study (Study 1) in a mixed clinical-community sample of men (N = 29), and one randomized clinical study (Study 2) in a mixed-gender sample with clinical levels of hostility (N = 135), pre-registered at https://osf.io/r46jn. We expected that CBM-I would relate to a larger increase in benign interpretation bias and larger reductions in hostile interpretation bias, hostility symptoms and traits, and general psychiatric symptoms at post-intervention compared to an active control (AC) condition. We also explored the beneficial carry-over effects of CBM-I on working alliance in subsequent psychotherapy 5 weeks after finishing CBM-I (n = 17). Results: Results showed that CBM-I increased benign interpretation bias in both studies and partially reduced hostile interpretation bias in Study 2, but not in Study 1. Findings of Study 2 also showed greater reductions in behavioral (but not self-reported) aggression in CBM-I relative to control, but no condition differences were found in self-report hostility measures and general psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: Overall, we found modest support for CBM-I as an intervention for hostility, with some evidence of its efficacy for hostile interpretation bias and aggression. We discuss study limitations as well as directions for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Modification of hostile interpretation bias and self-reported aggression in juvenile delinquents: A randomized controlled trial

Background/ObjectiveThe social information processing model holds that aggressive behavior is closely related to the hostile interpretation of ambiguous social cues, suggesting the possibility that an intervention that reduces hostile interpretations could reduce aggression. This study in Mainland China evaluated the remediating effects of cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) on the hostile interpretation bias and self-reported aggressive behaviors of male juvenile delinquents, taking into account initial hostile interpretation bias as a possible moderator of the intervention effect. MethodFifty-six male juvenile delinquents aged 16-18 were recruited and randomly assigned to the CBM-I group (n = 28) or the Waiting-List group (n = 28). Interpretation bias and self-reported aggressive behavior were assessed at pre-test and post-test. ResultsThe positive interpretations of participants in the CBM-I group were significantly increased compared with participants in the Waiting-List group. The intervention effect of CBM-I on self-reported physical aggression was significant only for juvenile delinquents with high pre-test hostile interpretation bias. ConclusionsCBM-I can significantly improve the positive interpretation bias of juvenile delinquents, and reduce the self-reported physical aggression for some male juvenile delinquents. The results have implications for providing low-cost and high-efficiency intervention for juvenile delinquents’ self-reported aggression behavior.

The Relationship Between Hostile Interpretation Bias and Symptoms of Depression and Social Anxiety: a Replication Across Two Samples

Cognitive models of social anxiety and depression posit that hostile interpretation bias may be a symptom of, and act as a maintenance factor for, these disorders. Social anxiety and depression are also associated with increased experience of angry and irritable mood. To investigate whether hostile interpretation bias is related to symptoms of the disorder or to irritability, the current study investigated the degree to which state irritable mood may influence these relationships. In two samples, MTurk workers (Sample 1, n = 145) and college students (Sample 2, n = 387), we assessed depression symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, irritable mood, and hostile interpretation bias. In sample 1, depression and social anxiety symptoms were positively associated with hostile interpretation bias. When statistically controlling for irritable mood, depression symptoms no longer significantly predicted hostile interpretation bias. However, social anxiety remained a significant predictor of hostile interpretation bias even when controlling for irritable mood. The pattern of results was identical in sample 2. Results indicate that the association between depression symptoms and hostile interpretation bias may be accounted for by irritable mood, but social anxiety symptoms have a unique association with hostile interpretation bias even when including irritable mood. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Using Interpretation Bias Modification to Reduce Anger in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Difficulty controlling anger is the most commonly reported reintegration concern among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the mechanisms associated with problematic anger is a tendency to interpret ambiguous interpersonal situations as hostile, known as the hostile interpretation bias (HIB). A computer-based interpretation bias modification (IBM) intervention has been shown to successfully reduce HIB and anger but has not been tested in veterans with PTSD. The current study was a pilot trial of this IBM intervention modified to address problematic anger among veterans with PTSD. Veterans with PTSD and a high level of anger (N = 7) completed eight sessions of IBM treatment over the course of 4 weeks. Participants completed self-report questionnaires at pre- and posttreatment assessment visits, as well as a treatment acceptability interview at posttreatment. Veterans experienced large reductions in hostile interpretation bias and anger from pre- to posttreatment, ds = 1.03-1.96, although these estimates may be unstable due to the small sample size. The feasibility for recruitment, retention, and treatment completion were high. Questionnaire and interview data demonstrated that most participants were satisfied with the treatment and found it helpful and easy to use. Overall, IBM for anger was feasible and acceptable to veterans with PTSD and was associated with reductions in hostile interpretations and self-reported anger outcomes. Further research examining this approach is warranted.

Trait irritability and social cue identification and interpretation in young adult females

Difficulty labeling facial expressions and tendencies to interpret ambiguous faces as hostile are potential mechanisms of irritability. However, most research into social cue processing and irritability has been conducted in pediatric populations, has not examined the role of affective context, and has not accounted for co-occurring constructs independently associated with social cue processing. The present study investigates how an experimental frustration manipulation impacts associations between trait irritability and social cue processing among non-clinical adult females (N = 100). Higher trait irritability was associated with difficulties identifying happy and disgust faces on a dynamic face task following frustration. Replicating prior work, higher trait irritability was associated with hostile interpretations of ambiguous social scenarios. These associations persisted after accounting for aggression, anxiety, and depression. These findings suggest that trait irritability and social cue processing associations in adults vary across tasks and affective contexts.