Effects of Varying Explanations Given for a Provocation on Subsequent Hostility

Abstract

Groups of junior high school students were highly criticized by the experimenter for their supposedly poor performance on a creative task, and another person then gave varying explanations for the provocation. In addition to two control groups given no explanation, one group was told that E was sick and had problems (Sympathy condition), another group was told that he was a high achieving expert (Achiever condition), and a third group was told that he was habitually obnoxious (Habit condition). Three paper-and-pencil measures of hostility were employed as dependent measures. Results indicated that, when a provocation was said to be due to the instigator's illness or to his habitual ways, the victims rated themselves as feeling less hostility and anger, whereas when the explanation made reference to his achievement the subjects expressed more anger and hostility. In a parallel study, students rated the explanations on dimensions such as intentionality. The provocation was judged as the one least intentional in the Sympathy condition and the most intentional in the Achiever condition. Finally, some sex-typing effects were discussed.