| Summary: | This study examines the relationships between attributional style, aggressive behavior, and empathy. Pilot studies 1 and 2 were conducted to develop our priming procedures on attribution and empathy. The priming procedures developed in Studies 1 (N = 40) and 2 (N = 99) were subsequently used in Study 3 in order to study the effects of peoples’ attributional style and their empathy level on the type of aggression displayed. Altogether, 131 students (M = 13.9 years old, SD = .81) from Northlight School participated in Study 3. Repeated measure analyses revealed a relationship between external attribution and both reactive and proactive aggression. Findings and implications for future research on aggression, attributional style, and empathy are discussed.
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