Modulation of the startle response in verbal aggressors: Differences among stimuli with distinct affective social content.

Citation

Gantiva, C., Díaz, D., Ospina, I., Gutierrez, A., & Romo-Gonzalez, T. (2014). Modulation of the startle response in verbal aggressors: Differences among stimuli with distinct affective social content. Psychology & Neuroscience, 7(2), 221-225.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3922/j.psns.2014.016

Abstract

The emotional response to socially affective stimuli is an important variable to understand aggression. Research is lacking on the psychophysiological basis of verbal aggressiveness that would allow the identification of these emotional responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate modulation of the startle response in verbal aggressors during the presentation of visual stimuli with different affective social content. Acoustic startle probes were administered to 29 verbal aggressors and 28 non-verbal aggressors while viewing slides from the International Affective Picture System, which contains sexual, filial, neutral, unpleasant, and suffering of others pictures. Verbal aggressors showed a low startle response to sexual pictures compared with non-verbal aggressors and a potentiated startle response to neutral pictures compared with unpleasant, filial, and suffering of others pictures. These differences were observed among women. Based on previous studies, the present results may be explained by high testosterone levels, low cortisol levels, and moral disengagement exhibited by verbally aggressive women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Unique Identifier

2014-27572-020

Title

Modulation of the startle response in verbal aggressors: Differences among stimuli with distinct affective social content.

Publication Date

Jan 2014

Publication History

First Posting: Jun 27, 2014

Accepted: May 14, 2014

Revised: May 5, 2014

First Submitted: Mar 5, 2014

Language

English

Author Identifier

Gantiva, Carlos; Díaz, Diana; Ospina, Ingrid; Gutierrez, Adriana; Romo-Gonzalez, Tania

Author Identifier

Gantiva, Carlos http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9232-121X

Email

Gantiva, Carlos: cgantiva@usbbog.edu.co

Correspondence Address

Gantiva, Carlos: Cr 8H#, Bogota, Colombia, 172-20, cgantiva@gmail.com

Affiliation

Gantiva, Carlos: Universidad San Buenaventura, Bogota, Colombia

Díaz, Diana: Universidad San Buenaventura, Bogota, Colombia

Ospina, Ingrid: Universidad San Buenaventura, Bogota, Colombia

Gutierrez, Adriana: Universidad San Buenaventura, Bogota, Colombia

Romo-Gonzalez, Tania: Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruzana, Mexico

Source

Psychology & Neuroscience, Vol 7(2), Jan-Jun 2014, 221-225.

NLM Title Abbreviation

Psychol Neurosci

ISSN

1983-3288(Electronic); 1984-3054(Print)

Publisher

Brazil: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro

Other Publishers

US: Educational Publishing Foundation

Format Covered

Electronic

Publication Type

Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal

Document Type

Journal Article

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.3922/j.psns.2014.016

Keywords

startle response; verbal aggressors; emotional responses; verbal aggressiveness

Index Terms

*Aggressiveness; *Emotional Responses; *Personality Traits; *Startle Reflex; Verbal Stimuli

PsycINFO Classification

2326 Auditory & Speech Perception

Population Group

Human; Male; Female

Age Group

Adulthood (18 yrs & older); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs)

Location

Colombia

Methodology

Empirical Study; Quantitative Study

Tests and Measures

Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire

Release Date

20140915 (PsycINFO); 20150413 (PsycARTICLES)

Correction Date

20150413 (PsycINFO)

References

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