Psychological Reports, 1978,43, 721-722. @ Psychological Reports 1978
AIR POLLUTION AND HUMAN AGGRESSION1 JOHN W. JONES AND G. ANNE BOGAT De Paul U.nivsrsity Summary.-Investigating the effect of irritant air pollution upon human aggression, it was found that exposure to secondary cigarette smoke significantly increased aggression in both angered and nonangered'subjects compared to their counterparts given clean air. I n recent years, environmental psychologists have directed increased attention to the effects of noise and heat pollution on human aggression (O'Neal & McDonald, 1976). Rotton and colleagues (1978) recently reported a causal link between malodorous air pollution and hiunan aggression, using a Buss ( 1961) "aggression machine" paradigm. This study was designed to examine the effects of secondary cigarette smoke upon human aggression and therefore extend the conclusions drawn in the Rotton, et al. study to irritant air pollution. Subjects were 24 male and 24 female nonsmokers enrolled in undergraduate courses. They ranged in age from 18 to 25 yr. Subjects were first either angered or not angered and then were given a chance to aggress against their provoker in a Buss ( 1961) "aggression machine" situation (cf. O'Neal & Kaufrnan, 1972). While aggressing, one-half of the subjects were exposed to secondary cigarette smoke and the other half were exposed to clean ambient air (cf. Jones, 1978'). Noise bursts ranging in intensity from 1 (mild aggression) to 10 (strong aggression) were the aversive stimuli ostensibly administered to the victim. The mean loudness score of 20 noise bursts administered to the provoker was the major measure of aggression. Results%howed that, as predicted, subjects exposed to secondary cigarette smoke were reliably more aggressive ( M = 4.28, SD = 3 4 ) than were their clean air counterparts ( M = 3.87, SD = .43; t = 1.76, df = 40, p < .04, one-tailed). ~ d h i t i o n a l l angered ~, subjects were significantly more aggressive ( M ,=4.48, SD = 3 7 ) than nonangered subjects ( M = 3.68, SD = 3 3 ; t = 3.46, df = 40, fl < .005, one-tailed). The interaction of smoke X anger was not reliable. Experimental manipulation checks proved successful since subjects exposed to ambient cigarette snloke experienced more emotional discomfort than did subjects in the clean air group ( p < .05) and angered subjects 'Requests for reprints can be made to John W. Jones, Psychology Department, De Paul Fniversity, 2219 N. Kenrnore St.. Chicago, Illinois 60614. J. W: Jones & M. J. Durbin. The effects of secondary cigarette smoke on aggressive behavlor of nonsmokers. (Mimeorrra~hed manuscriut. - , 1978) - , 'Seven preplanned orthogonal comparisons were computed on thrse data on aggression. The independent variables included ( a ) two levels of smoke, ( b ) two levels of anger arousal, and ( c ) sex of victim. Only three of the seven comparisons computed were discussed in this article. A
J. W. JONES &. G. A. BOGAT
722
self-reported greater feelings of anger toward their provoker than did nonangered subjects ( p .001). The unavoidable discomfort caused by secondary exposure to cigarette smoke predisposed the subjects in both the anger and nonanger conditions to be more aggressive than their counterparts given clean air, even though the latter group of subjects could not attribute any of their feelings of discomfort to their victim's malevolent behavior. This finding is consistent with the pain-aggression models espoused by Berkowitz (1978) and Ulcich (1966). It is up to the behavioral scientist to demonstrate the harmful effects of pollution on behavior and also to design preventive strategies for coping with these adverse environmental conditions.
AIR POLLUTION AND HUMAN AGGRESSION1 JOHN W. JONES AND G. ANNE BOGAT De Paul U.nivsrsity Summary.-Investigating the effect of irritant air pollution upon human aggression, it was found that exposure to secondary cigarette smoke significantly increased aggression in both angered and nonangered'subjects compared to their counterparts given clean air. I n recent years, environmental psychologists have directed increased attention to the effects of noise and heat pollution on human aggression (O'Neal & McDonald, 1976). Rotton and colleagues (1978) recently reported a causal link between malodorous air pollution and hiunan aggression, using a Buss ( 1961) "aggression machine" paradigm. This study was designed to examine the effects of secondary cigarette smoke upon human aggression and therefore extend the conclusions drawn in the Rotton, et al. study to irritant air pollution. Subjects were 24 male and 24 female nonsmokers enrolled in undergraduate courses. They ranged in age from 18 to 25 yr. Subjects were first either angered or not angered and then were given a chance to aggress against their provoker in a Buss ( 1961) "aggression machine" situation (cf. O'Neal & Kaufrnan, 1972). While aggressing, one-half of the subjects were exposed to secondary cigarette smoke and the other half were exposed to clean ambient air (cf. Jones, 1978'). Noise bursts ranging in intensity from 1 (mild aggression) to 10 (strong aggression) were the aversive stimuli ostensibly administered to the victim. The mean loudness score of 20 noise bursts administered to the provoker was the major measure of aggression. Results%howed that, as predicted, subjects exposed to secondary cigarette smoke were reliably more aggressive ( M = 4.28, SD = 3 4 ) than were their clean air counterparts ( M = 3.87, SD = .43; t = 1.76, df = 40, p < .04, one-tailed). ~ d h i t i o n a l l angered ~, subjects were significantly more aggressive ( M ,=4.48, SD = 3 7 ) than nonangered subjects ( M = 3.68, SD = 3 3 ; t = 3.46, df = 40, fl < .005, one-tailed). The interaction of smoke X anger was not reliable. Experimental manipulation checks proved successful since subjects exposed to ambient cigarette snloke experienced more emotional discomfort than did subjects in the clean air group ( p < .05) and angered subjects 'Requests for reprints can be made to John W. Jones, Psychology Department, De Paul Fniversity, 2219 N. Kenrnore St.. Chicago, Illinois 60614. J. W: Jones & M. J. Durbin. The effects of secondary cigarette smoke on aggressive behavlor of nonsmokers. (Mimeorrra~hed manuscriut. - , 1978) - , 'Seven preplanned orthogonal comparisons were computed on thrse data on aggression. The independent variables included ( a ) two levels of smoke, ( b ) two levels of anger arousal, and ( c ) sex of victim. Only three of the seven comparisons computed were discussed in this article. A
J. W. JONES &. G. A. BOGAT
722
self-reported greater feelings of anger toward their provoker than did nonangered subjects ( p .001). The unavoidable discomfort caused by secondary exposure to cigarette smoke predisposed the subjects in both the anger and nonanger conditions to be more aggressive than their counterparts given clean air, even though the latter group of subjects could not attribute any of their feelings of discomfort to their victim's malevolent behavior. This finding is consistent with the pain-aggression models espoused by Berkowitz (1978) and Ulcich (1966). It is up to the behavioral scientist to demonstrate the harmful effects of pollution on behavior and also to design preventive strategies for coping with these adverse environmental conditions.
