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Cultural and sex differences in aggression : a comparison between Spanish, Japanese and South African students

Thesis (MA)- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of the study was to investigate cultural and sex differences on different
dimensions of aggression as measured by the Expagg Questionnaire (Expagg) and the
Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Both inventories were administered to a sample (N=910)
of students from Spain, Japan and South Africa. The results indicated that culture is indeed
more predictive of aggression than sex. As expected, the study also revealed that it's
influence is not uniform on all the dimensions of aggression investigated. The South
African sample revealed the only significant sex difference on the Expagg. The males
showed more distinct instrumental representations of aggression than the females, where
aggression is seen as a means to reach a desired goal and thus as an effort to gain
control. Inter-culturally the main finding was that the South African males and females held
predominantly more expressive representations of aggression compared with the other
cultures. This indicates that aggression is viewed as an expression of negative feelings
and thus as a loss of control. On the Aggression Questionnaire only the South African and
Spanish males reported more physical aggression than the females. Cross-culturally the
most distinct finding was the overall lower levels of self-reported aggression of the South
African females. A discussion of these significant results addressed social, cultural and
political factors which may account for the differences. The study provided the prospect of
an enhanced cross-cultural understanding of aggression. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van die studie was om kulturele en geslagsverskille te bepaal ten opsigte
van verskillende dimensies van aggressie soos gemeet deur die Expagg Questionnaire
(Expagg) en die Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Die vraelyste is op 'n groep (N=910)
studente van Spanje, Japan en Suid Afrika toegepas. Die resultate het getoon dat kultuur
inderdaad 'n beter voorspeller van aggressie is as geslag. Die resultate het, soos verwag,
aangedui dat die invloed van kultuur nie eenvormig inwerk op alle dimensies van aggressie
nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse groep het die enigste beduidende geslagsverskille getoon op die
Expagg. Die mans se laer Espagg-tellings dui op instrumentele oortuigings ten opsigte van
aggressie~ Aggressie word dus beskou as 'n poging om 'n verlangde doelwit te bereik en
word ervaar as 'n poging om kontrole te verkry. Die vernaamste kruis-kulturele bevinding
was dat die Suid-Afrikaanse groep beduidend hoër tellings as die ander kulture op die
Expagg behaal het. Dit dui op ekspressiewe oortuigings ten opsigte van aggressie waar
aggressie beskou word as die uitdrukking van negatiewe gevoelens en as 'n verlies van
kontrole. Die Suid-Afrikaanse en Spaanse mans het hoër vlakke van fisiese aggressie as
die vrouens op die Aggression Questionnaire behaal. Die mees uitstaande bevinding by
die kruis-kulturele vergelyking was die algehele laer vlakke van selfgerapporteerde
aggressie by die Suid-Afrikaanse vrouens. Die beduidende resultate is aan hand van
sosiale, kulturele en politieke faktore bespreek. Die studie het In bydrae gelewer tot In beter
kruis-kulturele begrip van aggressie.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52176
Date03 1900
CreatorsGraetz, Lynda Janette
ContributorsTheron, W.H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format46 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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