Firing a weapon and aggression

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Firing a weapon and aggression

Category: Behavior|Journal: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|Author: A Booker, A Buss, E Buss|Year: 1972

Explored the relationship of guns to aggression in the laboratory in 5 experiments with 160 male undergraduates from 2 universities. The 1st 4 experiments concerned the effect of target shooting on subsequent aggression (administration of electric shock). There was no consistent effect. The 5th experiment attempted to replicate L. Berkowitz and A. LePage’s (see record 1967-16673-001) finding that aggression increased in the presence of weapons. This time, there was no effect. Thus, there is no evidence that the presence, firing, or long-term use of guns enhances subsequent aggression.

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