Cultural and sex differences in aggression : a comparison between Spanish, Japanese and South African students

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The primary aim of the study was to investigate cultural and sex differences on differentdimensions of aggression as measured by the Expagg Questionnaire (Expagg) and theAggression Questionnaire (AQ). Both inventories were administered to a sample (N=910)of students from Spain, Japan and South Africa. The results indicated that culture is indeedmore predictive of aggression than sex. As expected, the study also revealed that it'sinfluence is not uniform on all the dimensions of aggression investigated. The SouthAfrican sample revealed the only significant sex difference on the Expagg. The malesshowed more distinct instrumental representations of aggression than the females, whereaggression is seen as a means to reach a desired goal and thus as an effort to gaincontrol. Inter-culturally the main finding was that the South African males and females heldpredominantly more expressive representations of aggression compared with the othercultures. This indicates that aggression is viewed as an expression of negative feelingsand thus as a loss of control. On the Aggression Questionnaire only the South African andSpanish males reported more physical aggression than the females. Cross-culturally themost distinct finding was the overall lower levels of self-reported aggression of the SouthAfrican females. A discussion of these significant results addressed social, cultural andpolitical factors which may account for the differences. The study provided the prospect ofan enhanced cross-cultural understanding of aggression.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University