Authors
Kira J. Mason '16, Gettysburg College
Location
CUB Ballroom
Session
Poster Presentations
Start Time
4-29-2016 4:30 PM
End Time
4-29-2016 6:15 PM
Supervising Faculty Member
Christopher Barlett
Department
Psychology
Description
Most widely-accepted models for aggression do not explicitly address an important variable that roots in evolutionary psychology: the presence of a potential mate. The current research investigates whether the presence of an attractive or unattractive member of the opposite sex influences hypothetical aggression. Participants (N = 1035) imagined themselves in front of an attractive or non-attractive member of the opposite sex (accompanied by pictures of corresponding attractiveness levels), and indicate their aggressive intentions after a provocation, or not. Results from the 2(sex) x 2(attractiveness) ANOVA showed that males viewing an image of an attractive female aggressed more when provoked than males viewing a non-attractive female. These effects were absent for females.
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Psychology Commons
The Peacock Effect: The Influence of the Opposite Sex on Aggressive Behavior
CUB Ballroom
Most widely-accepted models for aggression do not explicitly address an important variable that roots in evolutionary psychology: the presence of a potential mate. The current research investigates whether the presence of an attractive or unattractive member of the opposite sex influences hypothetical aggression. Participants (N = 1035) imagined themselves in front of an attractive or non-attractive member of the opposite sex (accompanied by pictures of corresponding attractiveness levels), and indicate their aggressive intentions after a provocation, or not. Results from the 2(sex) x 2(attractiveness) ANOVA showed that males viewing an image of an attractive female aggressed more when provoked than males viewing a non-attractive female. These effects were absent for females.
Comments
Psychology Honors Research