A conceptualization pertaining to the "arousal" reducing concomitants of aggression is presented, along with supporting evidence. The paper suggests that hostility catharsis, when observed, may only be a special case of a more general set of behavioral-emotional learning processes involving the escape-avoidance paradigm. The possible relationships among aggressive behavior, autonomic conditioning, and cognitive processes are discussed. Implications for the treatment and control of problems of aggression are suggested and compared with those emanating from the hydraulic model.
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