Frustration-aggression hypothesis: Examination and reformulation.
Abstract
Examines the Dollard et al. (1939) frustration-aggression hypothesis. The original formulation's main proposition is limited to interference with an expected attainment of a desired goal on hostile (emotional) aggression. Although some studies have yielded negative results, others support the core proposition. Frustrations can create aggressive inclinations even when they are not arbitrary or aimed at the subject personally. Interpretations and attributions can be understood partly in terms of the original analysis but they can also influence the unpleasantness of the thwarting. A proposed revision of the 1939 model holds that frustrations generate aggressive inclinations to the degree that they arouse negative affect. Evidence regarding the aggressive consequences of aversive events is reviewed, and Berkowitz's cognitive-neoassociationistic model is summarized.
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Frustration of status motivation tends to elicit shame and anger.
“Indeed, frustration of status motivation tends to elicit shame (Shariff, Tracy, & Markusoff, 2012) and anger (Berkowitz, 1989).”
From The "Why" and "How" of Narcissism: A Process Model of Narcissistic Status Pursuit (2020) · cites this paper as Berkowitz, 1989
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References 99 · Cited by 2,283
- Authors
- Berkowitz, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Corresponding author
- Berkowitz, Leonard
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 1989
- Volume
- 106
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 59-73
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2129950297
- Cited by
- 2,283
- References
- 99
- Citations by year
- 2026: 90 · 2025: 108 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 115 · 2022: 130 · 2021: 119 · 2020: 96 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 104 · 2017: 100 · 2016: 94 · 2015: 98 · 2014: 80 · 2013: 106 · 2012: 77
- FWCI
- 26.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- frustration-aggression theory, hostile aggression, frustration, negative affect, aggression, attribution, aversive events, aggression theory
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Arousal, Frustration, Hostility, Humans, Individuality
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