Human 2 Aggression Methodology in the Study of Aggression : Integrating Theories , Research , Experimental and and Implications for Social Policy Nonexperimental Findings

@ Now consider the following description of a laboratory aggression experiment. In this experiment (Zimbardo, 1969), college women were told that the researchers were studying "empathic responses to strangers." Individuals participated in groups of four. By the flip of a coin, participants were assigned to anonymous or identifiable conditions. In the anonymous condition, participants wore large laboratory coats, wore hoods over their heads, and were not referred to by name. In the identifiable condition, participants did not wear laboratory coats, wore large name tags, and were referred to by name. The room lights were turned off in the anonymous condition or only dimmed in the identifiable condition. Participants then listened to one of two tape-recorded interviews between the experimenter and another "participant" (who was actually an accomplice to the experimenter). In one of the tapes, the accomplice behaved in a nice, altruistic, and accepting manner. In the other tape, she behaved in an obnoxious, self-centered, and critical manner. ACADEMIC PRESS San Diego London Boston New York Sydney Tokyo Toronto