Repulsed by violence: disgust sensitivity buffers trait, behavioral, and daily aggression

J Pers Soc Psychol. 2012 Jan;102(1):175-88. doi: 10.1037/a0024296. Epub 2011 Jun 27.

Abstract

Many models of aggression include negatively valenced emotions as common elicitors of aggressive behavior. Yet, the motivational direction of these emotions is not taken into account. The current work explored whether sensitivity to a negative emotion associated with behavioral avoidance-disgust-will predict lower levels of aggression. Five studies tested the hypothesis that disgust sensitivity predicts less aggression. In Study 1 (N = 92), disgust sensitivity predicted less trait physical and verbal aggression. In Study 2 (N = 268), participants high in disgust sensitivity were less likely to behave aggressively towards a stranger on a reaction-time task. In Study 3 (N = 51), disgust sensitivity was associated with less intimate partner violence inclinations. Study 4 (N = 247) replicated this effect longitudinally. In Study 5 (N = 166), each domain of disgust (i.e., moral, sexual, and pathogen disgust) had a buffering effect on daily aggression when daily experiences activated those specific domains. These results highlight the usefulness of considering the motivational direction of an emotion when examining its influence on aggression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aggression / classification
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Motivation / physiology
  • Psychological Tests
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Self Report
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Violence / psychology*
  • Young Adult