An experimental study of aggression in the hypertensive patient

Facilitating generalization in assertiveness training

Theoretical writings suggest expressiveness is a positive psychotherapeutic goal. A brief review was made of experimental studies of the cathartic hypothesis and studies reflecting on inability to express anger adequately. It is asserted that a constructive method for expression of anger is needed. A discussion focuses on the distinctions between anger and aggression, and a distinction is drawn between destructive and constructive expression of anger. A description is given of how constructive expression of anger can be employed in assertive training.

An objective measure of induced aggression

The paper describes a method of objectively measuring induced aggression in college students. Those in the experimental (verbally threatened) group expressed aggression by sabotaging E's “research project.” The extent of aggression was measured by the number of Ss making errors and the total numbers of errors made by the experimental group as compared to the control group. More Ss in the experimental group made errors as compared to the control groups. Experimental Ss also made proportionately more errors.