Citation

Denzler M, Häfner M, Förster J. Person. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 2011; 37(12): 1644-1654.

Affiliation

Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, Germany; University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0146167211421176

PMID

21885861

Abstract

Generally, the accessibility of goal-related constructs is inhibited upon goal fulfillment. In line with this notion, the current studies explored whether violent computer games may reduce relative accessibility of aggression if the game involves the fulfillment of an aggressive goal. Specifically, in Study 1, participants who watched a trailer for a violent computer game that fulfilled the goal of venting anger showed less relative accessibility of aggression compared to participants who watched the trailer without goal fulfillment. In Study 2, actually playing a violent computer game to vent anger also decreased the relative accessibility of aggression compared to a control condition in which the game was played without such a goal. Lastly, in Study 3, the relative accessibility of aggression was reduced after playing a violent computer game for participants who reported a high general tendency to vent their anger.

Language: en