Aggressive responses to provocation in a relationship context

Previous research has established that provocation increases aggression. Therefore, researchers have begun to examine factors that distinguish between people who respond to provocation with and without aggression (Bushman & Baumeister, 1998; Carlson, Marcus-Newhall, & Miller, 1990; Jacquin, Harrison, & Alford, 2006). Until the current study, no researchers had experimentally investigated provocation in dating relationships. This study examined certain relationship variables that may influence whether dating partners respond to provocation with aggression. Young adult dating partners provided written responses to hypothetical relationship scenarios. As expected, jealousy-provoking scenarios resulted in more passive, verbally, and physically aggressive responses than neutral scenarios. Higher ratings of relationship commitment, investment, and satisfaction were associated with fewer aggressive responses