How trauma, anger, and fear interact to motivate versus inhibit the use of aggression in the family.

What is it about?

The experience of traumatic events is associated with individuals' engagement in aggression toward their family members. This study is designed to examine whether this is due to the high levels of anger and fear that are often experienced by those with more severe histories of trauma exposure. That is, do people who have experienced more trauma engage in more severe aggression towards their partners and children when they experience high levels of anger and fear? Or does fear, in particular, serve to inhibit aggression?

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Why is it important?

This study demonstrates how examination of specific incidents of aggression, rather than simply comparing people who are versus are not aggressive, can illuminate potential causal factors that can be addressed to prevent further aggression. This study also demonstrates how knowledge of factors that motivate or inhibit aggression among nonhuman animals can translate to the study of family violence. Consideration of factors that inhibit aggression can have unique utility for prevention efforts.