Abstract:
To study the role of trait rumination and a trigger on displaced aggression after provocation. Paticipants were 120 undergraduate students previously classified as having high or low trait rumination. After being individually provoked, each paticipant was randomly assigned to a trigger or no trigger condition - being quized by an incompetent or competent research assistant, respectively. Finally, paticipants were asked to complete measures of the dependent variable-aggression towards the assistant. A trigger manipulation check and a provocation manipulation check were also administered. The results show that 1. After being provoked, participants in a trigger condition display significantly more displaced aggression than participants in a no trigger condition (p < .001). 2. After being provoked, participants with high trait rumination in a trigger condition display significantly more displaced aggression than in a no trigger condition (p < .001). 3. After being provoked, participants with low trait rumination in a trigger condition do not display significantly more displaced aggression than in a no trigger condition. 4. After being provoked, participants with high trait rumination display significantly more displaced aggression than participants with low trait rumination in a trigger condition (p < .001). 5. After being provoked, participants with high trait rumination do not differ significantly from those with low trait rumination on displaced aggression, when in a no trigger condition. 6. After being provoked, participants with high trait rumination display significantly more displaced aggression than participants with low trait rumination (p < .0 01)