Aggression rituals

Abstract

This paper characterizes patterns of aggression as culturally sanctioned forms of relationship governed by recognizable rules and voluntarily selected. In a study employing two scenes of physical violence, one depicting a domestic encounter and the other a relationship between male friends, respondents were asked to predict, advise, and evaluate the characters' actions. Results indicate that although uninvolved, respondents expect, advise, and condone the escalation of aggression to the point of physical violence—both for married couples and male friends. Respondents do recognize the possibility in the domestic context for one or the other partner to voluntarily terminate the aggression; however, among male friends virtually the only possibility for termination appears to result from outside intervention.

Notes

Linda M. Harris is Director of Family Health Programs, Washington Business Group on Health, Washington, DC; Kenneth J. Gergen is Professor of Psychology, Swarthmore College; and John W. Lannamann is Assistant Professor of Theater and Communication, University of New Hampshire. This research was partially supported by the Aetna Institute for Corporate Education, Aetna Life and Casualty Co., Hartford, CT.