Abstract

This experiment aimed at investigating the effects of vicarious aggression through aggressive film, and also at finding that the relationship between the effects and the level of emotional arousal. It was designed by 2×3 factorial design. Eighty-one SNU students were initially subjected to non-arousing(control), mild-arousing and severearousing experiences. Then they viewed a. nonaggressive film a farmland sceneryete. 6 min.) and an aggressive film (boxing. 2 min. and fighting film. 4 min.). The dependent measures were the intensity andduration of electric shocks that the subjects ostensibly administered to their provacateurs(partners) whenever their partners made errors on an assigned answering task. The results revealed as follows: (1) Regardless of arousal level. Ss who observed the modeled aggression behaved more punitively than did Ss who had witnessed the non aggressive film. (2) The more aroused the Ss the more punitively they behaved. So we can say the level of aggression is dependent of the level oi emotional arousal. (3) Generally，aroused Ss responded more punitively than ded non-aroused viewers. (4) The correlations between the intensity and duration of electric shocks are different from one group to another. Because they arc very inconsistent，we have some doubt on the duration measure as an aggression index while the overall findings contradict the catharsis hypothesis both classical (Dollard, J. et al.) and revised(Feshbah, S. et al), they suggest the social learning theory of aggression by Bandrua, A. can be supported.