Picture Frustration Test Research Articles

Choice of conflict resolution strategies in negative emotional states

The article presents the results of checking the hypothesis that the choice of conflict resolution strategy depends on the negative emotional states (anxiety, frustration, aggression, rigidity). The Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration test, «Anxiety. Frustration. Aggression. Rigidity (AFAR)» test, Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) have been used for diagnosis of participants` psychological features. Students of Ukrainian universities have formed the sample. Correlational analysis was performed (SPSS 17.0) to identify the associations between emotional states and behavioral reactions. An association has been established between the state of rigidity and the application of the competing strategy (negative), avoiding (positive); between the state of frustration and the frequency of application of competing (negative), accommodating (positive). The results showed that the possibility of implementing a strategy of avoiding in a state of rigidity is associated with unpreparedness for extrapunitive reaction and expectations that the situation will resolve itself (impaunitive reaction). Therefore, the connections between negative emotional states and the choice of poorly productive conflict resolution strategies may depend on protective mechanisms that are activated in a state of frustration.

Self-harm and aggression in patients with anorexia nervosa

IntroductionAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex condition with high comorbidity.ObjectivesThis study aims to verify whether patients with AN are more aggressive towards themselves than towards others; namely, we measure the levels of autoaggressive/aggressive ideation, negative emotions regarding self/others, as well as self-harm behavior.Methods10 female patients with AN (2 of them also had bulimia nervosa) and 20 female participants of the control group were presented with Structured Interview, Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (P‐F), Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, I-structural Test of Ammon, Boyko Communication Aggression Inventory, Boyko Self-directed Emotion Accumulation Inventory (BSEAI). Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used.ResultsTable 1Structured interview indicatorControl groupAN patientsSuicide attempts10%60%Self-harm behavior35%60%Piercing/tattoos20%50%Depression (self-report)40%90%There were no significant differences in aggression levels between groups. However, patients with AN showed less extrapunitive reactions: blaming others, requiring others to resolve the situation (P-F, р=0.013) and more intropunitive reactions: self-blame, feeling responsible/guilty for the situation (P-F, р=0.031). AN patients had more self-directed negative emotions and impulses (BSEAI, р=0.01), more self-harm behavior (see table 1). There were no correlations between autoaggression and aggression scales in the control group, but there were 9 correlations between them in the AN group (p<0.05, r>0.76).ConclusionsPatients with AN are more inclined to self-blame, negative ideas about themselves, self-harm behavior, but have the same aggression level as the control group. The interconnection of aggression and autoaggression is different in patients with anorexia nervosa compared to the control group.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Picture-Frustration Test to Assess Environmental Attitudes of Residents Exposed to Aircraft Noise from Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport

Expanding transport systems for life convenience and preserving the natural environment are essential but conflicting human activities. The operational expansion after the opening of a new terminal building at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport was followed by changes in aircraft noise exposure. A series of socio-acoustic surveys were conducted around the airport, revealing different levels of noise annoyance responses in the surveyed sites. To clarify this discrepancy and to explore people’s true feelings, the Picture-Frustration test was conducted to assess attitudes toward the airport, aircraft noise, living environment, and awareness of environmental protection in the communities around the airport. A total of 321 responses were obtained. The results showed a significant variation in attitudes toward the airport and natural environment among residents in different areas. Urban residents preferred natural environment more than those living in rural and mixed sites, who desired harmony between nature and life convenience. Residents in rural sites raised more complaints about aircraft noise effects on sleep than those in the other sites. Factors of occupations and gardening activities did not affect residents’ attitudes toward the airport. The attitudes of the participants varied depending on the exposure noise levels. It was suggested that using multiple questioning methods is necessary to certify the true opinions and aspirations of people living in the project area and ensure sustainable development.

Procrastination as a personal factor in young patients with mental disorders

IntroductionMany of contemporary studies of procrastination were conducted with healthy students. Only a few investigators analyzed procrastination's connection with personal features (self-esteem), socio-psychological parameters (aggression, well-being). Researchers do not consider procrastination as a personal factor in patients with different mental disorders. Most of procrastination's researches are related to affective spectrum disorders (depression), often found in the student's environment.ObjectivesMale and female students (aged 18–25). Normal group–61. Experimental group - 54 patients of psychiatric clinic, divided to diagnosis: schizophrenia F20.01, bipolar disorder F31 and personality disorder F60.AimsStudy of procrastination combined with personal characteristics (self-esteem, aggression) on young people: normal and with endogenous pathology.MethodsProcrastination assessment scale-students (PASS) by L.J. Solomon, E.D. Rothblum; Rosenzweig Picture Frustration Test; E. Wagner's The Hand Test; Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; Self-esteem by Dembo-Rubinstein. Multiple linear regressions were used as method of data assessment.ResultsAssessment of obtained data allowed to distinguish some different models of connections parameters of PASS and other tests. These models differ in comparing groups. Healthy students: multidimensional model of communication procrastination and personality parameters harmoniously combined personal and socio-psychological parameters. Schizophrenia: fewer models, mostly one-dimensional structure (identified only communication based on personal parameters). Bipolar disorder: one or two dimensional model (include mainly characteristics of aggression and self-rated health). Personality disorders: some mono and multi-dimensional models, their structure and content are very close to normative sample.ConclusionsProcrastination is consider as common phenomenon at young people.Connections PASS and personal features differ according to disease.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

A violation of emotion regulation as a central link in pathogenesis of stress-induced hypertension

IntroductionEssential hypertension (EH) is one of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system. Today, scientists discover more and more patients whose BP values during work appear to be higher than those values during free time. This form of EH is called “hypertension at work”.ObjectiveTo study the role emotion dysregulation in the pathogenesis of EH.Materials and methodsA projective study of emotion regulation was undertaken with our modified version of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (Zinchernko, Pervichko). At the second stage of the study, the simulation of emotional stress with the aspiration level modelling was carried out. The level of state anxiety, BP values and levels of catecholamines, renin and angiotonin I were taken before and after the experiment. Eighty-five patients with “hypertension at work” (mean age: 45.9 ± 2.8), 85 patients with “classical” EH (mean age: 47.4 ± 4.5 years) and 82 healthy subjects (mean age: 44.9 ± 3.1) took part in the study.Results“Hypertension at work” patients significantly more frequently than patients from the second group and healthy subjects are more prone to rumination, disasterization and repression of their emotions. They will seldom employ the strategy of subjective-objective interactive transformations; their edibility to actualize new meanings in traumatic situations is diminished. We showed that emotion regulation strategies in “hypertension in the work” patients were ineffective in overcoming the emotional tension and created the conditions for chronization of high blood pressure, and could be considerded as the central link in pathogenesis of stress-induced hypertension.ConclusionThe results contributes to enrich our understanding of etiology and pathogenesis of EH.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Glucocorticoid activeness in patients with mitral valve prolapse and autonomic dysfunction

BackgroundUrgency of psychophysiological examination of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients is suggested by a high incidence of anxiety disorders among these patients.ObjectivesTo study glucocorticoid function activity and emotional stress resistance in MVP patients with autonomic dysfunction (AD).MethodsThe trait anxiety level (TA) was assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger). Emotional stress resistance was undertaken with our modified version of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (Zinchenko, Pervichko). The cortisol level in blood plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay technique with radioimmune assay kit of cortisol in human blood plasma ‘KORT-3N’ (Belarus). There were 32 MVP patients (mean age was 28.5 ± 1.6 years) and 15 healthy people (mean age was 27.5 ± 1.3 years) who took part in the study.ResultsAmong reactions to frustration revealed by MVP patients the following categories are dominating: extrapunitive (Е), ego-defensive (ED), and obstacle-dominance (OD). There was revealed a direct correlations: TA and Е (r = 0.49, Р < 0.001); TA and ED (r = 0.46, Р < 0.01); TA and indexes of AD (r = 0.43, Р < 0.01).There was displayed a higher level of cortisol in MVP patients with severe grade of AD, against the level revealed by patients with average grade of AD (433.9 ± 78.0 mmol/L vs. 299.3 ± 42.9 mmol/L; Р < 0.05). Direct correlations were established between the cortisol level and the level of TA (r = 0.45; Р < 0.01); between the frequency of E-reactions in Modified Rosenzweig Test and cortisol level (r = 0.42; Р < 0.01).ConclusionAlong with low stress resistance, registered AD and high level of TA, MVP patients reveal higher indexes of cortisol in blood plasma.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Rosenzweig picture-frustration test modification for a study of emotion regulation strategies among the patients with stress-induced hypertension

IntroductionEmotion regulation (ER) efficiency dwells among the most pressing issues of contemporary psychology and psychiatry. Further development of the methods of reliable assessments for ER makes it the task of current importance.ObjectiveTo modify Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test for the study of ER in health and in disease.MethodsIn the initial stage of testing participants had to look through a succession of Rosenzweig's pictures, and select potentially traumatizing situations.In the second stage they answered the following questions:– what would you say in this particular situation?– what would you have in mind, saying this?– could you think of an answer that would taper down the traumatizing character of the situation in your own perception? (Zinchenko, Pervichko, 2014).A total of 85 patients with stress-induced hypertension (mean age was 45.9 ± 2.8) and 82 healthy subjects (mean age was 44.9 ± 3.1) took part in the study.ResultsWe came to distinguish among four classes of ER strategies: internal, cognitively non-mediated; internal, cognitively transforming; external, cognitively non-mediated; and external, cognitively transforming (Pervichko, 2015). Hypertensive patients significantly more frequently than healthy subjects reveal wider set of emotionally grave events (19.8% vs 11.2%, P < 0.001), they are more prone to rumination, disasterization (19.0% vs 11.1%, P < 0.001) and suppression in display of their emotions (31.9% vs 20.2%, P < 0.001). The patients will seldom employ the strategy of interactive subject–subject transformations; their capability to actualize new meanings in traumatic situations is diminished.ConclusionsApplication of the described modification of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test allows to distinguish and classify various ER strategies, and to demonstrate peculiarities in ER related behaviour of hypertensive patients as opposed to healthy subjects.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Emotion regulation strategies in adolescents with mitral valve prolapse

IntroductionTwo thirds of adolescents with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) show signs of anxiety disorders. They display difficulty in emotion regulation (Van Der Ham et al., 2003; Scordo, 2007).ObjectiveTo investigate into emotion regulation strategies in MVP adolescents.MethodsA projective study of emotion regulation was undertaken with our modified version of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (Zinchenko, Pervichko, 2014). Thirty-six adolescents with MVP (mean age was 17.1 ± 0.8 years) and 40 healthy adolescents (mean age was 16.7 ± 0.6 years) took part in the study.ResultsMVP adolescents significantly more frequently (P < 0.001) would mark Rosenzweig's situations as potentially traumatizing. Ego-defence (E-D) and extrapunitive (E) reactions appear to be significantly (P < 0.05) more frequent among MVP adolescents. MVP adolescents are more than healthy subjects prone to avoid open verbal revelations of their thoughts and feelings that emerge in the situation of frustration. Content analysis of responses conditioned by cognitive control (when the task was to taper off arbitrarily the traumatizing effect of the situation) revealed that suppression of emotions was displayed by MVP adolescents in 52% of answers, and for healthy participants - 29% of answers (P < 0.001). Cognitive reappraisal strategy was displayed by MVP adolescents in 27% of answers, and for healthy participants – 38% of answers (P < 0.05). Twenty-one percent of answers of MVP adolescents and 33% of answers of healthy participants suggested cognitive transformation of emotional experience and actualization of new meanings in traumatic situations (P < 0.05).ConclusionsMVP adolescents appear to be more sensitive of frustrations and differ from healthy peers in more frequent use of the strategy of suppression of emotions.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

EPA-0260 – Health value conflict as predisposition of risky behavior among adolescents

Current research is devoted to problem of risky behavior among adolescents. Explanation and prediction of risky behavior are indispensable conditions for development of effective prophylactic programmes for healthy lifestyle. Research aims to study conflict of values and motivations as a disposition towards risky behavior demonstration during adolescence. Research proposes a Model of Health Value to explain health behavior among healthy adolescents and adolescents suffering from conduct disorders (demonstrating risky behaviors). Model includes investigation of cognitive and emotional attitudes towards health, health motivation and behavior. 32 male Russian adolescents suffering from conduct disorders and 32 healthy male adolescents (aged 15–17 years) participated in research. Psychodiagnostic methods were used to analyse cognitive attitude towards health (Health Locus of Control, Questionnaire of factors influencing health, Questionnaire of motivation choice) as well as projective methods (Picture Frustration Test, Unfinished sentences). Clinical interview was conducted with all adolescents, suffering from conduct disorders. Among healthy adolescents Health Value is one of the most important values, while for adolescents suffering from conduct disorders it occupies lower positions in hierarchy of values (because of values of pleasures, achievements and self-affirmation). Adolescents suffering from conduct disorders declare importance of health and at the same time demonstrate positive emotional attitude towards risky behavior, passivity in frustration situations and less differentiated cognitive attitudes towards health. Conflict of values is aggravated among adolescents with conduct disorders because of exaggerated importance of values of self-affirmation. This conflict plays an important role in risky behavior demonstration.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio correlates with aggressive behavior in professional soccer players.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that high levels of testosterone during prenatal life, testified by a low second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), as well as in adulthood affect the aggressive behavior of professional soccer players. Using 18 male professional players from a first level Italian Soccer Team we calculated: i) the 2D:4D ratio of the right hand, ii) the number of yellow and red cards per game, iii) the mean salivary testosterone concentration (Sal/T) and iv) the handling of aggressive impulses as assessed by the Picture Frustration test (PFT). Soccer players with a lower 2D:4D ratio had a higher number of fouls per game. A significant negative correlation was observed between Sal/T and 2D:4D ratio, as well as between 2D:4D ratio and the aggressiveness of players. By contrast, a significant positive correlation of Sal/T and fouls/game score and PFT was detected. No significant correlation was detected between 2D:4D or Sal/T and the playing position of players. Results of this study revealed that in professional soccer players, aggressive behavior, with the consequent increased risk of fouls during the game, is more likely to occur in individuals with high testosterone levels, not only in adulthood, but also during their intrauterine life.

К ПРОБЛЕМЕ ДИАГНОСТИКИ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ КРЕАТИВНОСТИ

The article presents the analysis results of possible approaches to determination and diagnostics of social (communicative) creativity of a personality and a group. The interest to the phenomena of social creativity has generated the problem of its identification, fixation, evaluation and measurement. The article shows the absence of standard methods of social creativity diagnostics. It explains the opportunity of behavioral creativity diagnostics with the use of indirect methods based on reconstruction and modeling of communicative situations, that must have non-standard, problem and conflict character. The article shows that direct quantitative methods of creative communication diagnostics are interconnected with irreversible consequences of researcher’s interference into the creative process. The author pays her attention to the most appropriate variants of communicative creativity diagnostics, that have been presented by I. E. Strelkova, in particular, to the modified variant of S. Rosenzweig picture frustration test. The article presents modified test approbation data. The applied aspect of the problem being investigated can be realized in psycho-diagnostic practice of psychological services as well as in development of training programs of creative communication effectiveness.

Vocal cord dysfunction: dealing with aggressivity.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is characterised by recurrent attacks of paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords during inspiration, accompanied clinically by dyspnoea attacks with inspiratory stridor lasting between minutes and hours. The aim of the study is to evaluate the self-perception of patients suffering from VCD and how they deal with aggressivity. The Giessen Test (GT) and the Picture Frustration Test (PFT) were used on 6 patients with VCD. Five variables show significant differences between the patients with VCD and the values of the normative groups. VCD-patients show an idealized image of themselves, ie relaxed, open, sociable, and capable of devotion. They do not reject accusations against them by others and rarely make self-criticism. In conflicts they behave passively, thus blocking their expression of aggressivity. In many cases organic disposition and trigger stimuli are thought to be responsible for provoking dyspnoea attacks in VCD. However, the self-perception of patients and their way of dealing with aggressivity strongly suggests that psychosocial factors play a great role in the development of VCD. This requires not only symptom-orientated therapy but also psychological counselling.

Vocal cord dysfunction: dealing with aggressivity.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is characterised by recurrent attacks of paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords during inspiration, accompanied clinically by dyspnoea attacks with inspiratory stridor lasting between minutes and hours. The aim of the study is to evaluate the self-perception of patients suffering from VCD and how they deal with aggressivity. The Giessen Test (GT) and the Picture Frustration Test (PFT) were used on 6 patients with VCD. Five variables show significant differences between the patients with VCD and the values of the normative groups. VCD-patients show an idealized image of themselves, ie relaxed, open, sociable, and capable of devotion. They do not reject accusations against them by others and rarely make self-criticism. In conflicts they behave passively, thus blocking their expression of aggressivity. In many cases organic disposition and trigger stimuli are thought to be responsible for provoking dyspnoea attacks in VCD. However, the self-perception of patients and their way of dealing with aggressivity strongly suggests that psychosocial factors play a great role in the development of VCD. This requires not only symptom-orientated therapy but also psychological counselling.

An Update in Thinking About Nonorganic Voice Disorders

To describe and evaluate psychosocial factors in nonorganic voice disorders (NVDs). Nonorganic voice disorders are presumed to be the result of increased muscular tension that is caused to varying extents by vocal misuse and emotional stress. It is therefore necessary to include both of these in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with voice disorders. Clinical survey. Academic tertiary referral center. To evaluate psychosocial factors in NVDs, a sample of 74 patients with NVDs was examined psychologically using the Giessen Test and Picture Frustration Test. The results were compared with a control group of 19 patients with an organic dysphonia (vocal cord paralysis). Six scales of the Giessen Test (social response, dominance, control, underlying mood, permeability, and social potency), 3 reaction types of the Picture Frustration Test (obstacle dominance, ego defense, and need persistence), and 3 aggression categories of the Picture Frustration Test (extrapunitivity, intropunitivity, and impunitivity). The most striking significant difference between the 2 groups was that in conflict situations, patients with NVDs sought a quick solution or expected other people to provide one, which prevented them from understanding the underlying causes of the conflict. Only if the psychosocial aspects are taken into account can patients with NVD be offered a therapy that treats the causes of the voice disorder. It must be decided individually whether and when a voice training approach or a more psychological-psychotherapeutical approach is preferable.

If my complaints could passions move: An interlanguage study of aggression

This study explores the use of the “Picture Frustration Test” (Rosenzweig, 1978a,b) which is a psychological test to measure aggression to elicit complaints by Japanese students in both Japanese and English. A significant number of subjects responded to stress or frustration using the same direction of aggression in both languages but the type of aggression was different. In L1 it was extrapeditive, which is similar to Olshtain and Weinbach's (1993) expression of annoyance or disapproval, severity level 1. However, in L2 it was extrapersistive, which is similar to Olshtain and Weinbach's accusation and warning, level 4 or 5. In the case of one situation, there was an effect for order of language.

Jealousy, general creativity, and coping with social frustration during the menstrual cycle.

Sensitivity to feelings of jealousy in women (n = 16) at three phases of their menstrual cycle differing in serum hormone concentrations (menses, preovulatory phase, midluteal phase) was investigated. Nonspecific electrodermal activity indicating sympathetic excitation was measured while subjects listened to stories and imagined situations inducing (i) nonsexual jealousy (the partner forms a deep emotional attachment to another woman), (ii) sexual jealousy (the partner has sexual intercourse with another woman), and (iii) no jealousy (social interaction lacking intense emotionality). Subjective ratings of the intensity of jealousy during both stories of jealousy were also assessed. In addition, changes in cognitive coping abilities, in general, and in the context of socially frustrating events, were assessed by tests of divergent thinking (creativity) and the Rosenzweig Picture Frustration Test. Frequency of nonspecific electrodermal reactions was generally enhanced during the preovulatory phase. This increase was particularly strong when the women listened to stories inducing nonsexual jealousy, i.e., a story characterized by cues of a complete loss of the partner's investment. Rated jealousy tended to be enhanced during the ovulatory phase, especially after the story of nonsexual jealousy. These changes in emotionality were paralleled by an improved divergent thinking performance and less aggressive coping with socially frustrating events around the time of ovulation.

High‐dose anabolic steroids in strength athletes: Effects upon hostility and aggression

AbstractSix male strength athletes, three illicit anabolic steroid users and three non‐steroid users were monitored over several months as they underwent normal training and competition routines. Subjects completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, Buss‐Durke Hostility Inventory and the Rosenweig Picture Frustration Test on four occasions: two on‐drug periods and two off‐drug periods for the steroid users and equivalent test periods for the non‐users. Steroid presence was monitored objectively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Whilst those drugs declared by the athletes were confirmed in the “on‐drug” samples and most of the “off‐drug” samples, clear steroid traces were apparent in some supposed off‐drug sessions. This complicated data interpretation and may partially explain why steroid users were significantly more hostile and aggressive at all times compared to the non‐users. Despite this, self‐rated aggression did increase significantly in steroid users during their acknowledged on‐drug periods. Multiple drug use or “stacking” in particular caused severe hostility/aggression; one steroid user also admitted to attempted murder during a previous steroid‐taking phase.

Suppressed Aggression and Hyperdynamic Cardiovascular Regulation in Normotensive Offspring of Essential Hypertensive Parents

To trace a possible association between suppressed aggression and enhanced responses of the cardiovascular system and plasma catecholamines in a "prehypertensive" state, two groups of 24 subjects with either normal blood pressure and no family history of hypertension or normal blood pressure and a positive family history of hypertension were matched for sex and age (18-24 years). Suppressed aggression was defined by the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration test, a projective assessment of reactions to everyday stress. Before, during, as well as after application of mental stressors (Stroop color-word conflict test and mental arithmetic), the responses of blood pressure, heart rate, and venous plasma catecholamines were measured. Offspring of hypertensive parents with suppressed aggression (n = 10) had significantly higher heart rates and diastolic blood pressures than offspring of hypertensive parents without suppressed aggression (n = 14), using analyses of covariance for repeated measures to eliminate the influence of anxiety. Plasma norepinephrine responses tended to be greater in the offspring with suppressed aggression. The results suggest that in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents, a behavioral pattern with suppressed aggression promotes a hyperdynamic cardiovascular state and enhances the hypertensive developmental process.

Suppressed Aggression and Hyperdynamic Cardiovascular Regulation in Normotensive Offspring of Essential Hypertensive Parents

To trace a possible association between suppressed aggression and enhanced responses of the cardiovascular system and plasma catecholamines in a "prehypertensive" state, two groups of 24 subjects with either normal blood pressure and no family history of hypertension or normal blood pressure and a positive family history of hypertension were matched for sex and age (18-24 years). Suppressed aggression was defined by the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration test, a projective assessment of reactions to everyday stress. Before, during, as well as after application of mental stressors (Stroop color-word conflict test and mental arithmetic), the responses of blood pressure, heart rate, and venous plasma catecholamines were measured. Offspring of hypertensive parents with suppressed aggression (n = 10) had significantly higher heart rates and diastolic blood pressures than offspring of hypertensive parents without suppressed aggression (n = 14), using analyses of covariance for repeated measures to eliminate the influence of anxiety. Plasma norepinephrine responses tended to be greater in the offspring with suppressed aggression. The results suggest that in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents, a behavioral pattern with suppressed aggression promotes a hyperdynamic cardiovascular state and enhances the hypertensive developmental process.

The effect of humor on aggression catharsis in the classroom.

Two studies were designed to measure the cathartic effects of humor on aggressive responses. In the first study, two versions (easy and difficult) of Raven's intelligence test were administered to two groups of high school students. Only the easy version could be solved in the alloted time. Rosenzweig's (1951) Picture Frustration test was then administered and the students' aggressive responses were scored. Results showed that those who did not solve the problems had significantly higher scores on aggressivity than did the others. The second study, using four different groups, was planned according to a modified Solomon design. Two of the four groups of students completed the difficult part of the Raven test, and then two video-tapes were presented: a humorous one to two groups and a neutral one to the others. Finally, the Rosenzweig Picture Frustration test was administered to all four groups. An analysis of variance computed on the aggressivity scores showed one significant difference: frustrated students who viewed the humorous videotape had lower scores than those viewing the neutral one.