Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Tremblay, Paul

Abstract

Interpersonal conflict in ambiguous social situations can instigate aggressive responses in individuals with the hostile attribution bias (HAB). However, the nature of the psychological properties of these situations needs to be explored more extensively, including the specific social-contextual properties. One individual difference that few studies have explored with the HAB is dispositional trust, which is proposed to be the opposing side of HAB. The current vignette study aimed to explore this, along with improving previous measures and creating a new measure of HAB. Factor analyses and multilevel modeling were used for establishing a hostile composite and exploring both individual differences, social-contextual factors, and their interaction on hostile responses. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the factor structure proposed for a hostile composite (i.e., HAB score), but did not confirm our categorization of general vignette scenarios. Further, agreeableness and trust were found to have significant negative relationships with the HAB, supporting one objective of the study. Honesty-Humility was also explored and had a significant negative relationship with HAB. Finally, perpetrator power was significant, where hostility was found more in scenarios where power dynamics were equal. Limitations and suggestions for future directions are explored. The current study contributes to the understanding of the HAB in different social situations, and the complexities that individual differences and social-contextual factor have on perceptions of hostility.

Summary for Lay Audience

The Hostile Attribution Bias (HAB) is the tendency to attribute hostile intent onto others in ambiguous situations. Interpersonal conflict in unclear social situations is known to increase the risk of aggression in people with HAB. However, less information is known about certain psychological characteristics and social factors that may influence responses in people with HAB. For instance, trait levels of trust have not been explored previously, but is proposed to be on the opposite side of the spectrum to HAB. This study explored trust, along with other personality variables and environmental/social influences on HAB. Further, this study looked to build on and improve previous measures of HAB. Written scenarios were given to participants that varied in terms of intentionality and social context. The results supported our items measuring the HAB being grouped together to form a total HAB score but they did not support our categorization of the vignette scenarios. Further, trust and agreeableness decreased the likelihood that someone would report hostile responses. Honesty-Humility traits also decreased the likelihood someone would report hostile responses, whereas having equal power to the individual depicted in the scenario increased likelihood of hostility. Limitations of the study and future directions for research were explored. As aggression has a large impact on society, it is important to continue research that tries to understand what influences these behavioral responses.

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