INDUCED AGGRESSION IN JEAB: A SURVEY OF PUBLICATIONS

Abstract

Early experimental research on induced aggression aimed to set the direct relation between aversive stimulation and aggressive behavior. The generality of the phenomenon was evaluated with variations in the subjects’ species and in the inducting stimuli. Seminal studies on induced aggression were published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB). The objectives of the present study were systematically present the temporal distribution of publications on induced aggression in JEAB and describe the studies’ methodological aspects. The terms “aggress*”, “fight*”, and “attack*” were searched in the Wiley Online Library database, and selecting criteria were applied. Fifty- eight articles were analyzed. The global representativeness of publications about induced aggression in JEAB is 1.1%. Between 1962 and 1981, there were regular publications about induced aggression in the journal, representing 2.8% of the publications in JEAB in the referred period. During this interval, a first period of publications was marked by investigations involving the exposition of rats and squirrel monkeys to electric shock, which would result in fighting and biting aggressive responses, respectively; a second period was marked by studies involving the exposition of pigeons to schedules of reinforcement, resulting in aggressive pecking responses. The publication pattern of induced aggression on JEAB is in agreement with previous indications regarding the temporal distribution of general publications on induced aggression. Limitations of the present work are discussed, and suggestions for additional research are provided. Keywords: induced aggression, JEAB, survey