Examining an affective aggression framework weapon and temperature effects on aggressive thoughts, affect, and attitudes

A general framework for studying affective aggression, integrating many insights from previous models (e.g., those of Baron, Berkowitz, Geen, and Zillmann), is presented. New research examining effects of extreme temperatures and photos of guns on arousal, cognition, and affect is reported. Hostile cognition was assessed using an automatic priming task (i.e., Stroop interference). Hostile affect was assessed with the State Hostility Scale. Positive and negative affect, hostile attitudes, perceived comfort, and perceived arousal were also assessed. As expected, hot and cold temperatures increased state hostility and hostile attitudes, and viewing guns did not. As expected, viewing guns primed hostile cognitions and extreme temperatures did not. Theoretical implications of these results and societal implications of the general framework are discussed.