Richardson, Deborah R.

The study examined the effect of dispositional and situationally induced perspective taking on male retaliatory aggression under high provocation. Zillmann's (1988) cognitive-excitation model of impulsive aggression provided the theoretical rationale. After completing the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI, Davis, 1983), subjects were informed that their scores revealed that they were either high or average perspective takers. They then participated in a competitive reaction-time task designed to measure verbal aggression and completed a postexperimental questionnaire. A 2 (dispositional perspective taking) by 2 (perspective taking expectation) analysis revealed no significant effects for retaliative aggression. A similar 2 (dispositional empathic concern) by 2 (perspective taking expectation) analysis revealed that highly empathic males retaliated with less offensive messages than did less empathically concerned males. However, none of the analyses revealed significant effects of the manipulation. The results address empathic concern's inhibitory effects after prolonged exposure to provocation.

The present study was designed to examine the effects of gender and relationship on the quantity and quality of daily social interaction for senior citizens. Eighty-two women and 32 men (mean age 71 years) used the Rochester Interaction Record to record quantitative and qualitative information about every interaction which lasted more than 10 minutes for 2 weeks. Gender analyses revealed that same-gender interaction was most common for all participants (spouse excluded). Males and females reported that interactions with females only were more intimate than interactions with males only or with mixed-gender others. Spousal analyses showed that participants interacted with spouse as much as with same-gender others, however, spousal interactions were reported to be more intimate than same or opposite-gender interactions. Participants reported interacting with nonfamily more than with family. In addition, interactions with family were reported to be qualitatively equal to interactions with nonfamily. For future research it will be important to consider how these quantitative and qualitative characteristics of interaction relate to well-being.

Research on aggression suggests that males are more likely to be directly aggressive, whereas females are more likely to be indirectly aggressive. The present study examined the relationship of gender of aggressor and gender of target to the expression of direct and indirect aggression. Behavioral and self-report measures of direct and indirect aggression were obtained from 112 undergraduate students. Participants made more indirect than direct responses under low levels of provocation and more direct than indirect responses under high levels of provocation. Males were the target of more direct responses than indirect responses. Males reported engaging in more direct than indirect aggression with males than with females. Females reported engaging in more indirect aggression with females than with males. Explanations consider the effects of the situational context on aggressive responding.

A two (process) by two (relationship) by two (issue) design was implemented in order to investigate the effects of the process used to deal with a conflict, the relationship of those involved in the conflict, and the issue that the conflict is centered around. Subjects read one of eight different scenario types and rated them on their satisfaction with the process used, the relationship of those involved in the conflict, and the outcome of the conflict. It was predicted that a three-way interaction between the independent variables would occur. Support for the predictions was found. Results are discussed in light of past interpersonal and organizational literature.