The relationship between altruism and aggression was investigated using behavioral measures for both variables. Results for 30 male college students supported previous findings indicating that these behaviors may be conceptualized as incompatible. Altruism was negatively correlated (— .56) with aggression and shown in other research to be positively correlated with favorable personality adjustment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BlockJ.MartinB. C.Predicting the behavior of children under frustration. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1955, 51, 281–285.
2.
BussA. H.The psychology of aggression. New York: Wiley, 1961.
3.
ButcherJ.Manifest aggression: MMPI correlates in normal boys. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1965, 29, 446–454.
4.
FriedrichsR. W.Alter versus ego: an exploratory assessment of altruism. American Sociological Review, 1960, 25, 496–508.
5.
GoreP. M.RotterJ. B.A personality correlate of social action. Journal of Personality, 1963, 31, 58–64.
6.
LivsonN.MussenP. H.The relation of ego control to overt aggression and dependency. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1957, 55, 66–71.
7.
MidlarskyE.Some antecedents of aiding under stress. Proceedings of the 76th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, 1968, 3, 385–386.
8.
MischelW.Preference for delayed reinforcement and social responsibility. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1961, 62, 1–7.
9.
MussenP. H.RutherfordE.HarrisS.KeaseyC. B.Honesty and altruism among preadolescents. Developmental Psychology, 1970, 3, 169–194.
10.
RosenbaumM. E.DecharmsR.Direct and vicarious reduction of hostility. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1960, 60, 105–111.
11.
RutherfordE.MussenP. H.Generosity in nursery school boys. Child Development, 1968, 39, 755–765.
12.
SlabyR.Aggressive and helpful verbalizations as regulators of behavioral aggression and altruism in children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Univer. of Wisconsin, 1971.
13.
StaubE.The effects of success and failure on children's sharing behavior. Paper presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Washington, DC, April, 1968.
14.
TurnerW. D.Altruism and its measurement in children. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1948, 43, 502–516.
15.
WagnerC.ManningS.WheelerL.Character structure and helping behavior. Journal of Experimental Research in Personality, 1971, 5, 37–42.
