The Effect of Cognitive Load and Inhibiting Cues on Triggered Displaced Aggression

Triggered displaced aggression (TDA) is when a provocation, followed by a subsequent provocation, initiates an aggressive response. Research has shown that cognitive load can increase TDA. It has also demonstrated that inhibiting cues can decrease TDA. However, the interaction between cognitive load and inhibiting cues moderating the magnitude of TDA has not yet been studied. Thus, the present experiment investigated the effects of these two variables on TDA. The sample consisted of 80 university students, 59 females and 21 males. The experiment used a 2 (cognitive load high/low) x 2 (inhibiting cues yes/no) factorial design to manipulate cognitive load and inhibiting cues. Following the TDA paradigm procedures, participants were provoked by insulting their performance on a bogus task. They were then exposed to a second annoyance consisting of a slightly negative evaluation from a fictitious partner, who was the target of aggression. The aggression measure required the participant to decide how long their partner (the target of aggression) should immerse their hand in ice-cold water. A 2 (cognitive load high/low) x 2 (inhibiting cues yes/no) ANOVA found main effects of both variables and their expected interaction. The results extend research that cognitive load increases displaced aggression and inhibiting cues decrease it. However, both main effects were qualified by the presence of the other moderator. Cognitive load only had a significant effect on TDA when inhibiting cues were also present. In turn, receiving inhibiting information only significantly reduced displaced aggression under low cognitive load. Therefore, the study demonstrated that under high cognitive load, inhibiting cues are prevented from decreasing TDA. The current research is discussed and interventions to reduce TDA are considered.