Abstract

This study on the effect of watching aggressive films has two main purposes ; (1) to test Berkowitz's priming hypothesis that the primed aggressive thoughts and other associative emotions promote the eliciting probability of aggression ; (2) to conform the Zillmann's finding that the aggression expressed is mediated by physiological and emotional arousal. In addition, the effect of sex-role adjustment upon the aggression was tested. Seventy-two male college students were screened and selected by Bem Sex Role Inventory(BSRI)-and were allocated in one of the six conditions randomly. When the aggression was measured by the index of the electric shock intensity, there was no significant difference between Ss of aggressive film and Ss of neutral film. However, masculine Ss were more aggressive than androgynous Ss or feminine Ss. But when measured by the index of the electric shock duration, feminine Ss were the most aggressive, and Ss of aggressive film were more aggressive than Ss of neutral film. And the aggressive film caused the emotional and physiological arousal. In addition, by the method of path analysis, the aggression was proved to be affected by aggressive film only indirectly via emotional and physiological arousal. Therefore, the two major theoretical concerns, that is, the priming hypothesis that the aggressive film primes the other emotional elements and the Zillmann's finding that the aggression is mediated by arousal were supported.