Sex differences in direct aggression: What are the psychological mediators?

Campbell, A.

doi:10.1016/j.avb.2005.09.002

Sex differences in direct aggression: What are the psychological mediators?

Campbell, A.

Authors

A. Campbell

Abstract

Provocation enhances aggression but diminishes the magnitude of the sex difference. This suggests that the greater involvement of men in aggression might derive from their higher levels of anger or from their lower levels of fear and fear-related inhibition. A review of the relevant literature strongly suggests that there are no sex differences in anger but pronounced differences in fear, especially of physical danger. Three forms of behavioral inhibition (reactive, effortful and self control), which build developmentally on an infrastructure of fear, show negative associations with aggression and sex differences generally favouring females. Cognitive inhibition shows weaker associations with aggression (when IQ is controlled) and inconsistent sex differences. Empathy and guilt, both of which are correlated with inhibition, aggression, and sex are also considered as possible mediators. The relative utility of evolutionary and social role theories in accounting for this pattern of findings is considered.

Citation

Campbell, A. (2006). Sex differences in direct aggression: What are the psychological mediators?. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11(3), 237-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2005.09.002

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	May 1, 2006
Deposit Date	Feb 27, 2009
Publicly Available Date	Feb 27, 2009
Journal	Aggression and Violent Behavior
Print ISSN	1359-1789
Publisher	Elsevier
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	11
Issue	3
Pages	237-264
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2005.09.002
Keywords	Aggression, Sex, Gender, Mediation, Fear, Inhibition.

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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Aggression and Violent Behavior. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 3, May-June 2006, 10.1016/j.avb.2005.09.002.