Yusainy, Cleoputri (2013) Overcoming aggression: musing on mindfulness and self-control. PhD ...

281 Pages·2017·7.47 MB·English

by  Christine Middleton

OVERCOMING AGGRESSION:
MUSING ON MINDFULNESS AND SELF-CONTROL
CLEOPUTRI AL YUSAINY
Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
JULY 2013
ABSTRACT
Overcomingaggression:Musingonmindfulnessandself-control
Theabilitytorestrainoneselffromactingonaggressiveimpulsesisarguablyacrucial
aspect of human functioning and interaction. Yet growing evidence in the literature
suggests that people’s self-control resources may be limited and, at times, self-
controlled regulation could even increase the association between aggressive
triggers and aggressive behaviour. As an alternative, mindfulness practices
encourage individuals to be aware and accept their aggression-related thoughts and
emotionssimplyasanephemeralstateratherthantocontrolthem.
Across four studies, we investigated the possibility that brief, as opposed to
extensive, mindfulness exercise may reduce aggression, and whether this potential
effect can be separated from a general mechanism of self-control. The relationships
between mindfulness, self-control, and aggression were explored in their
dispositionalforms(Study1; N= 241).Then,theeffect ofbrief laboratoryinductions
of mindfulness was tested following manipulations designed to either bolster (Study
2; N = 99) or weaken (cross-cultural samples: Study 3; N = 119 vs. Study 4; N = 110)
the resourcesof self-control.In addition,the potential rolesof individualdifferences
in sensitivity to provocations (SP) and frustrations (SF), and self-harm on aggression
werealsoassessed.
Results indicated that (i) despite one’s dispositional ability to exert self-control, the
presence of a mindful quality uniquely reduced the experiences of anger and
hostility, (ii) under the condition of full self-control resource (i.e., after self-control
training), mindfulness induction contributed only in reducing more subtle/implicit
forms of aggression, and (iii) under lack of self-control resource (i.e., following ego-
depleting task), mindfulness induction significantly reduced direct physical
aggression after the experience of provocation across cultures. The benefit of
mindfulness on aggression appears to be more salient when individual’s self-control
resource has been taxed, which operates similarly in Western and non-Western
settings.Therapeutictoolsfocusingon the mechanism for controllingtheexpression
of aggression would benefit from an inclusion of mindfulness-based strategies, as
well as an early identification of individual’s sensitivity to different types of
aggressivetriggersandrisksforself-harm.
Keywords: mindfulness induction, self-control training, ego-depletion, aggressive
behaviour,cross-cultural
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to take this opportunity to mindfullythank my supervisor Dr. Claire Lawrence.
Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and assistance have been a tremendous source of
encouragementthroughouttheprocessofthethesis.
I would also like to thank my second supervisor Dr. Ellen Townsend, my internal
examiner Dr. Peter Chapman, and my external examiner Professor Daryl O’Connor
for their thoughtful and detailed feedback at the end of year and final viva. In
addition, I am indebted to my colleagues from the Personality, Health, and Social
Psychology (PSHP) research group and from office room B76 for their academic and
socialsupports.
ImustextendmysincerestappreciationtoparticipantsintheUKandIndonesia,who
kindly took part in the included research. This research was funded by a scholarship
fromtheIndonesiangovernment,forwhichIammostgrateful.
Special recognition goes to my family and friends for their guidance throughout. In
particular, to my flatmate Daniel Luong for all the good times we shared together.
Finally, to my twin-flame Wahyu Wicaksono: This thesis cannot be your other
withoutyou.
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LISTOFCONTENTS
Abstract ii
Acknowledgement iii
Listofcontents iv
Listoftables xi
Listoffigures xiii
CHAPTERONE: Backgroundtothethesisandliteraturereview 1
1.1 BACKGROUNDTOTHETHESIS 1
1.1.1 Mindfulnessandself-control 1
1.1.2 Culturalinfluencesonmindfulness,self-control,andaggression 3
1.1.3 Roleofindividualdifferences 4
1.1.4 Aimsofthethesis 4
1.2 LITERATUREREVIEW 5
1.2.1 Conceptualisationofaggressionandaggression-relatedconstructs 5
1.2.1.1 Definitionandtypesofaggression 5
1.2.1.2 Aggression-relatedconstructs 7
1.2.2 Mindfulnessanditsimpactonaggression 10
1.2.2.1 Conceptualisationofmindfulness 10
1.2.2.2 Operationaldefinitionofmindfulness 10
1.2.2.3 Benefitsofmindfulness 12
1.2.2.4 Mindfulnessandaggression 13
1.2.3 Selfcontrolanditsimpactonaggression 16
1.2.3.1 Definitionandingredientsofself-control 16
1.2.3.2 Strengthmodelofself-control 18
1.2.3.3 Self-controlandaggression 20
1.2.4 Relatingmindfulness,self-control,andaggression 22
1.2.4.1 Distinguishingbetweenmindfulnessandself-control 22
1.2.4.2 Frameworkformindfulness,self-control,andaggression 25
1.2.4.3 Role of individual differences in sensitivity to provocations and
frustrations,andself-harm 29
1.3 RESEARCHQUESTIONSANDTHESISOVERVIEW 30
CHAPTER TWO: Study 1: Relationships between trait mindfulness, self-control, and
aggression 32
2.1 INTRODUCTION 32
2.1.1 Individualdifferencesinmindfulness,self-control,andaggression 32
2.1.2 Linkbetweenmindfulness,selfcontrol,aggression,andself-harm 34
2.1.3 Individualdifferencesinsensitivitytoprovocationsandfrustrations 36
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2.2 HYPOTHESES 38
2.3 METHODS 39
2.3.1 Participants 39
2.3.2 Design 40
2.3.3 Measures 40
2.3.4 Powercalculation 43
2.3.5 Procedure 44
2.3.6 Dataanalysis 45
2.3.6.1 Linkbetweenmindfulness,self-control,andaggression 45
2.3.6.2 Link between mindfulness, self-control, aggression, and self-harm
49
2.3.6.3 RoleofindividualdifferencesinSPandSF 50
2.3.7 Datapreparation 51
2.4 RESULTS 51
2.4.1 Influenceofdemographicfactors 51
2.4.2 Traitaggressionscores 52
2.4.3 Self-harmscores 53
2.4.4 Preliminaryanalysis 54
2.4.5 Mediation of self-control on the link between mindfulness and aggression
55
2.4.5.1 Traitaggression 55
2.4.5.2 Aggressionsubscales 56
2.4.6 Moderation of mindfulness on the link between self-control and aggression
57
2.4.6.1 Traitaggression 58
2.4.6.2 Aggressionsubscales 58
2.4.7 Linkbetweenself-harmandharmtoothers 59
2.4.8 Linkbetweenmindfulness,self-control,andself-harm 59
2.4.9 Mediationofself-controlonthelinkbetweenmindfulnessandself-harm
60
2.4.10 Moderation of mindfulness on the link between self-control and self-harm
61
2.4.11 LinkbetweenSPandSFandaggression/self-harm 61
2.4.12 Moderation of mindfulness and self-control on the link between SP and SF
andaggression/self-harm 61
2.4.12.1 Traitaggression 62
2.4.12.2 Aggressionsubscales 62
2.4.12.3 Self-harm 63
2.5 DISCUSSION 64
2.5.1 Relationshipsbetweenmindfulness,self-control,andaggression 64
2.5.2 Linkbetweenaggression,mindfulness,self-control,andself-harm 67
2.5.3 RoleofindividualdifferencesinSPandSF 69
2.5.4 Strengthsandlimitationsofthecurrentstudy 70
2.5.5 Conclusionsandnextsteps 71
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CHAPTER THREE: Study 2: Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on
aggressivebehaviour 72
3.1 INTRODUCTION 72
3.1.1 Mindfulnessinductionandaggressivebehaviour 72
3.1.2 Self-controltrainingandaggressivebehaviour 75
3.2 HYPOTHESES 77
3.3 METHODS 79
3.3.1 Participants 79
3.3.2 Design 79
3.3.3 Traitandstatemeasures 80
3.3.4 Experimentalmanipulations 81
3.3.4.1 Self-controltraining 81
3.3.4.2 Mindfulnessinduction 82
3.3.4.3 Directaggressivebehaviour 83
3.3.4.5 Indirectaggression 84
3.3.4.6 Self-controlperformance 84
3.3.5 Powercalculation 85
3.3.6 Procedure 85
3.3.7 Dataanalysis 87
3.3.7.1 Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on
aggressivebehaviour 87
3.3.7.2 Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on self-
controlperformance 88
3.4 RESULTS 88
3.4.1 Baselinelevels 88
3.4.2 Preliminaryanalysis 89
3.4.3 Zero-order correlations between personality variables and experimental
outcomes 90
3.4.3.1 Associationswithdirectaggression 92
3.4.3.2 Associationswithindirectaggression 92
3.4.3.3 Associationswithself-controlperformance 92
3.4.4 ManipulationChecks 93
3.4.5 Effectofmindfulnessinductionandself-controltrainingondirectaggression
93
3.4.5.1 Levelsofblastintensity 93
3.4.5.2 Maximumblastlatency 97
3.4.5.3 Correlationbetweenblastintensityandmaximumblastlatency 98
3.4.6 Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on indirect
aggression 99
3.4.7 Correlationbetweenblastintensityandindirectaggression 100
3.4.8 Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on self-control
performance 101
3.5 DISCUSSION 103
3.5.1 Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on aggressive
behaviour 103
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3.5.2 Effect of mindfulness induction and self-control training on self-control
performance 106
3.5.3 Strengthsandlimitationsofthecurrentstudy 107
3.5.4 Conclusionsandnextsteps 109
CHAPTER FOUR: Study 3: Effect of mindfulness induction on aggressive behaviour
followingdepletion(Britishsample) 110
4.1 INTRODUCTION 110
4.1.1 Self-controlego-depletionandaggressivebehaviour 110
4.1.2 Role of mindfulness induction in counteracting the effect of depletion on
aggressivebehaviour 112
4.2 HYPOTHESES 114
4.3 METHODS 115
4.3.1 Participants 115
4.3.2 Design 116
4.3.3 Traitandstatemeasures 116
4.3.4 Experimentalmanipulations 117
4.3.4.1 Ego-depletiontask 117
4.3.4.2 Mindfulnessinduction 118
4.3.4.3 Directaggressivebehaviour 119
4.3.4.4 Indirectaggression 119
4.3.4.5 Self-controlperformance 119
4.3.5 Powercalculation 120
4.3.6 Procedure 120
4.3.7 Dataanalysis 122
4.3.7.1 Moderationofmindfulnessinductiononthelinkbetweendepletion
andaggressivebehaviour 122
4.3.7.2 Moderationofmindfulnessinductiononthelinkbetweendepletion
andself-controlperformance 123
4.4 RESULTS 124
4.4.1 Baselinelevels 124
4.4.2 Preliminaryanalysis 124
4.4.3 Zero-order correlations between personality variables and experimental
outcomes 125
4.4.3.1 Associationswithdirectaggression 125
4.4.3.2 Associationswithindirectaggression 126
4.4.3.3 Associationswithself-controlperformance 126
4.4.4 Manipulationchecks 128
4.4.5 Moderation of mindfulness induction on the link between depletion and
directaggression 129
4.4.5.1 Levelsofblastintensity 129
4.4.5.2 Maximumblastlatency 133
4.4.5.3 Correlationbetweenblastintensityandmaximumblastlatency 134
4.4.6 Moderation of mindfulness induction on the link between depletion and
indirectaggression 135
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4.4.7 Correlationbetweenblastintensityandindirectaggression 137
4.4.8 Moderation of mindfulness induction on the link between depletion and
self-controlperformance 138
4.5 DISCUSSION 139
4.5.1 Effectofmindfulness inductiononaggressive behaviourfollowingdepletion
139
4.5.2 Effect of mindfulness induction on self-control performance following
depletion 142
4.5.3 Strengthsandlimitationsofthecurrentstudy 142
4.5.4 Conclusionsandnextstep 144
CHAPTERFIVE:Study4:Effectofmindfulnessinductiononaggressivebehaviourfollowing
depletion(Indonesiansample) 145
5.1 INTRODUCTION 145
5.1.1 MindfulnessandIndonesianculture 145
5.1.2 Indonesiancultureandaggression 146
5.1.3 Indonesiancultureandself-control 148
5.1.4 Role of mindfulness induction in counteracting the effect of depletion on
aggressivebehaviourforIndonesianculture 148
5.2 HYPOTHESES 149
5.3 METHODS 149
5.3.1 Participants 149
5.3.2 Design 150
5.3.3 Traitandstatemeasures 150
5.3.4 Experimentalmanipulations 151
5.3.5 Powercalculation 151
5.3.6 Procedure 151
5.3.7 Dataanalysis 152
5.4 RESULTS 152
5.4.1 Baselinelevels 153
5.4.2 Preliminaryanalysis 153
5.4.3 Correlationbetweenpersonalityvariablesandexperimentaloutcomes 154
5.4.3.1 Associationswithdirectaggression 154
5.4.3.2 Associationswithindirectaggression 155
5.4.3.3 Associationswithself-controlperformance 155
5.4.4 ManipulationChecks 157
5.4.5 Moderation of mindfulness induction on the link between depletion and
directaggression 158
5.4.5.1 Levelsofblastintensity 158
5.4.5.2 Maximumblastlatency 161
5.4.5.3 Correlationbetweenblastintensityandmaximumblastlatency 163
5.4.6 Moderation of mindfulness induction on the link between depletion and
indirectaggression 163
5.4.7 Correlationbetweenblastintensityandindirectaggression 165
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5.4.8 Moderation of mindfulness induction on the link between depletion and
self-controlperformance 165
5.5 DISCUSSION 167
5.5.1 Effectofmindfulness inductiononaggressive behaviourfollowingdepletion
167
5.5.2 Effect of mindfulness induction on self-control performance following
depletion 169
5.5.3 Strengthsandlimitationsofthecurrentstudy 170
5.5.4 Conclusionsandnextsteps 171
CHAPTER SIX: Cross-cultural comparison of the effect of mindfulness induction on
aggressivebehaviourfollowingdepletion(Britishvs.Indonesiansample) 172
6.1 INTRODUCTION 172
6.1.1 Culturaldifferencesintheeffectofmindfulnessinductiononaggressive
behaviourfollowingdepletion 172
6.1.2 Culturaldifferencesintheeffectofmindfulnessinductiononself-control
performancefollowingdepletion 174
6.1.3 Culturaldifferencesinpersonalityvariables 175
6.2 HYPOTHESES 176
6.3 METHODS 178
6.3.1 Participants 178
6.3.2 Dataanalysis 179
6.4 RESULTS 180
6.4.1 Culturaldifferencesinpersonalityvariables 180
6.4.2 Culturaldifferencesinthemoderationofmindfulnessinductiononthelink
betweendepletionandaggressivebehaviour 181
6.4.2.1 Levelsofblastintensity 181
6.4.2.2 Maximumblastslatency 184
6.4.2.3 Indirectaggression 185
6.4.3 Culturaldifferencesinthemoderationofmindfulnessinductiononthelink
betweendepletionandself-controlperformance 187
6.5 DISCUSSION 188
6.5.1 Culturaldifferencesintheeffectofmindfulnessinductiononaggressive
behaviourfollowingdepletion 188
6.5.2 Culturaldifferencesintheeffectofmindfulnessinductiononself-control
performancefollowingdepletion 190
6.5.3 Culturaldifferencesinpersonalityvariables 191
6.5.4 Culturaldifferencesinaggressivebehaviour 192
6.5.5 Culturaldifferencesinself-controlperformance 194
6.5.6 Strengthsandlimitationsofthecurrentanalysis 195
6.5.7 Conclusions 196
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CHAPTERSEVEN:Summaryandgeneraldiscussion 197
7.1. SUMMARY 197
7.1.1 Summaryofeachstudy 197
7.1.2 Summaryoffindings 200
7.2. GENERALDISCUSSION 201
7.2.1 Mindfulness,self-control,andaggression 201
7.2.2 Culturaldifferencesinsensitivitytoprovocationandaggressivetriggers 205
7.2.3 Mindfulness,self-control,andself-harm 207
7.3 LIMITATIONSANDIMPLICATIONSFORFUTURERESEARCH 208
7.3.1 Samplecharacteristics 208
7.3.2 Brieflaboratorymindfulnessinduction 209
7.3.3 Self-controltask 211
7.3.4 Aggressivetriggers 212
7.3.5 Self-reportedmeasures 214
7.3.6 Futuredirections 215
REFERENCES 219
APPENDICES 239
Appendix2.1: TraitmeasuresforStudy1to4 239
Appendix2.2: AdvertisingmaterialsforStudy1 247
Appendix2.3: InformationtoparticipantsforStudy1 248
Appendix2.4: ElectronicconsentformforStudy1andStudy2(Time1) 249
Appendix2.5: DebriefmaterialsforStudy1 250
Appendix3.1: StatemeasuresforStudy2,3and4 251
Appendix3.2: Dailyremainderforself-controlgroupinStudy2 253
Appendix3.3: MindfulnessinstructionforStudy2 254
Appendix3.4: RelaxationinstructionforStudy2 255
Appendix3.5: AdvertisingmaterialsforStudy2 257
Appendix3.6: InformationtoparticipantsforStudy2(Time1) 258
Appendix3.7: DebriefmaterialsforStudy2(Time1) 259
Appendix3.8: Information to participants for Study 2 (Time 2), and Study 3 and 4
260
Appendix3.9: ConsentformforStudy2(Time2),andStudy3and4 261
Appendix3.10: DebriefmaterialsforStudy2(Time2),andStudy3and4 262
Appendix4.1: MindfulnessinstructionforStudy3and4 263
Appendix4.2: AdvertisingmaterialsforStudy3and4(trans.) 265
Appendix6.1: Summaryoffindingsforcross-culturalanalysis 266
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