Based on a substantial amount of aggression research, it is clear that aggression stems from a wide variety of social, situational, and personal factors (Geen, 1968). Central to the present paper are the findings which demonstrate that any factors that trigger hostile thoughts, unpleasant feelings, and/or physiological arousal can increase the likelihood of an aggressive response (Anderson, Deuser, & DeNeve, 1995). Since all acts of bullying begin with a single act of aggression, anything that increases the likelihood of aggression may serve to increase the likelihood of bullying.

Hostile Thoughts and Aggression

Can thoughts actually lead to aggression? Research shows that when people think "hostile" and "aggressive" thoughts they are more likely to engage in acts of aggression against others. The thought that we have been treated unfairly by another person may trigger thoughts of revenge. This is also true when we believe that we have not been shown a certain level of respect or we perceive (think) that another person has acted in some provocative manner (e.g., taunting, criticizing, or insulting us).

Negative Affect and Aggression

The word "affect" is simply a fancy way of saying "mood." So, negative affect simply means being in a negative emotional state. Research has demonstrated that being in such a mood increases the likelihood of aggression. People who are in a negative mood demonstrate less helping behavior, are more unpredictable, are less patient, and more likely to engage in uncivil behavior (Isen, 1984).

Physiological Arousal and Aggression

Heart rate, muscle tension, and "butterflies" in one's stomach are all manifestations of physiological arousal. Recent research in cognitive psychology has demonstrated that the sensations created by physiological arousal can increase the likelihood of aggression (Anderson et al., 1995).

Thoughts, Feelings, and Arousal: Putting it all Together

As noted above, hostile thoughts, unpleasant feelings, and physiological arousal may each lead to aggression but there is more to the story. As it turns out, each of these internal states has the ability to elicit the other. For example, when thinking hostile thoughts, an individual is likely to experience unpleasant feelings (e.g., anger) and physiological arousal (e.g., knot in the pit of one's stomach). Conversely, being in a depressed (or blue) mood is likely to elicit related thoughts and physiological arousal. Finally, physiological arousal (no matter what the cause) can elicit related thoughts and feelings. For example, there is evidence that demonstrates that physiological arousal brought on by the ingestion of caffeine (too many cups of coffee for breakfast) can actually be misattributed as anger and lead to aggression (Anderson et al., 1995). To make matters worse, once this cycle gets started, it seems to intensify as each of the internal states elicits the others. If allowed to continue, the process can quickly escalate and result in a furious response. But what kinds of things bring about these reactions?