Using 16 male and 16 female subjects, this study investigated the effects of viewing justified filmed violence and the effects of catharsis on aggression, as measured by levels of shock and ratings of hostility. Berkowitz's position that the viewing of justified filmed violence reduces the threshold for aggression was supported by both the shock and the rating data. Data did not support his position that the direct expression of aggression and hostility against an insulting partner is likely to serve as a stimulus for further aggression. In fact the data obtained from the male subjects are consistent with the catharsis principle.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerkowitzL.Experimental investigations of hostility catharsis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1970, 35, 1–7.
2.
BerkowitzL.AliotoJ. T.The meaning of an observed event as a determinant of its aggressive consequences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 28, 206–217.
3.
BussA. H.The psychology of aggression. New York: Wiley, 1961.
4.
BussA. H.Physical aggression in relation to different frustrations. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1963, 67, 1–7.
5.
BussA. H.Instrumentality of aggression, feedback, and frustration as determinants of physical aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1966, 3, 153–162.
6.
CherryF.MitchellH. E.NelsonD. A.Helping or hurting? The aggression paradigm. Proceedings 81st Annual Convention, APA, 1973, 9, 117–118.
7.
GeenR. G.Effects of frustration, attack and prior training in aggressiveness upon aggressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1968, 9, 316–321.
8.
GeenR. G.BerkowitzL.Name-mediated aggressive cue properties. Journal of Personality, 1966, 456–465.
9.
GeenR. G.BerkowitzL.Some conditions facilitating the occurrence of aggression after the observation of violence. Journal of Personality, 1967, 35, 666–676.
10.
GeenR. G.StonnerD.ShopeG. L.The facilitation of aggression by aggression: A study in response inhibition and disinhibition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 31, 721–726.
11.
HokansonJ. T.Psychophysiological evaluation of the catharsis hypothesis. In MegargeeE. I.HokansonJ. E. (Eds.), The dynamics of aggression. New York: Harper & Row, 1970. Pp. 74–86.
12.
KohnM.The psychology of catharsis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1966, 3, 278–286.
13.
KonecniV. J.DoobA. N.Catharsis through displacement of aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 23, 379–387.
14.
LeakG. K.Effects of hostility arousal and aggressive humor on catharsis and humor preference. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 30, 736–740.
15.
LorenzK.On aggression. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966.
16.
SearsR. R.Relation of early socialization experiences to aggression in middle childhood. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1961, 63, 466–492.
