A hot new way to measure aggression: Hot sauce allocation

  1. Joel D. Lieberman1,*,
  2. Sheldon Solomon2,
  3. Jeff Greenberg3,
  4. Holly A. McGregor4

Article first published online: 1 SEP 1999

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2337(1999)25:5<331::AID-AB2>3.0.CO;2-1

Issue

Aggressive Behavior

Aggressive Behavior

Volume 25, Issue 5, pages 331–348, 1999

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lieberman, J. D., Solomon, S., Greenberg, J. and McGregor, H. A. (1999), A hot new way to measure aggression: Hot sauce allocation. Aggressive Behavior, 25: 331–348. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2337(1999)25:5<331::AID-AB2>3.0.CO;2-1

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

  4. 4

    Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York

*Department of Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 455009, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5009

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 SEP 1999
  2. Article first published online: 1 SEP 1999
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 28 SEP 1998
  4. Manuscript Received: 28 JUN 1998

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (122K)

Keywords:

  • measurement;
  • methodology;
  • aggression;
  • displaced aggression;
  • terror management theory;
  • cognitive-experiential self-theory

Abstract

Laboratory experiments investigating aggressive behavior have operationalized and assessed aggression in a variety of ways; however, these measures are often problematic because they do not create a situation in which participants perceive potential for real harm to come to the target, there is a risk of actual harm to the target, or they are too familiar to participants. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new method for measuring aggression, specifically, the amount of hot sauce administered to a target known to dislike spicy foods. We summarize a series of experiments assessing theory-based hypotheses regarding aggression in which this measure is employed. We then briefly consider the strengths and limitations of this new measure. Aggr. Behav. 25:331–348, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Get PDF (122K)