Personality influences on interpretations of aggressive behavior: The role of provocation sensitivity and trait aggression

Some individuals are more prone to interpret the behaviors of others as aggressive, which can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior being performed. However, work in this field has typically focused on the influence of general trait aggression on the perception of text, and static images. These studies assess the extent to which both global trait aggression and provocation sensitivity influence interpretations of real-life footage of aggressive behavior. In Study 1, participants viewed closed circuit television (CCTV) footage depicting a female being assaulted by a male after she physically provoked him. In Study 2, participants viewed two clips of provocation followed by violence, one between two females and one between two males. Provocation sensitivity influenced evaluations of provoking individuals across all three clips above and beyond the influence of trait aggression, and mood in Study 2. These findings suggest the influence of individual differences in provocation sensitivity on interpretations of actual aggressive behavior beyond overall trait aggression. Possible implications of individual differences in sensitivities to aggressive triggers on the witnessing of aggressive events are discussed.