Personality pathways to aggression: testing a trait-state model using immersive technology

Trait-state models aim to provide an encompassing view of offender decision-making processes by linking individual dispositions to proximal factors. In an experiment using an immersive virtual reality bar fight scenario, we propose and test a trait-state model that identifies the pathways through wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gelder, Jean-Louis van (Author)
Contributors: Vries, Reinout E. de ; Sintemaartensdijk, Iris van ; Donker, Tara
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
In: Criminology
Year: 2022, Volume: 60, Issue: 3, Pages: 406-428
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Keywords:
Aggression
Decision-making
Personality
Virtual Reality
trait-state models
Description
Summary:Trait-state models aim to provide an encompassing view of offender decision-making processes by linking individual dispositions to proximal factors. In an experiment using an immersive virtual reality bar fight scenario, we propose and test a trait-state model that identifies the pathways through which robust personality correlates of aggressive behavior, that is, agreeableness, emotionality, and honesty-humility, result in intentions to aggress. Using structural equation modeling, we show how these personality traits relate to intentions to aggress via anger, fear, perceived risk, and anticipated guilt/shame. Additionally, we demonstrate superior validity of our virtual scenario over a written version of the same scenario by virtue of its ability to provide more contextual realism, to establish a stronger sense of presence, and to trigger more intense emotional states relevant to the decision situation. Implications for future decision-making research and theory are discussed.
ISSN:1745-9125
DOI:10.1111/1745-9125.12305