The voodoo doll task: Introducing and validating a novel method for studying aggressive inclinations

C. Nathan Dewall; Eli J. Finkel; Nathaniel M. Lambert; Erica B. Slotter; Galen V. Bodenhausen; Richard S. Pond; Claire M. Renzetti; Frank D. Fincham

doi:10.1002/ab.21496

The voodoo doll task: Introducing and validating a novel method for studying aggressive inclinations

C. Nathan Dewall, Eli J. Finkel, Nathaniel M. Lambert, Erica B. Slotter, Galen V. Bodenhausen, Richard S. Pond, Claire M. Renzetti, Frank D. Fincham

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aggression pervades modern life. To understand the root causes of aggression, researchers have developed several methods to assess aggressive inclinations. The current article introduces a new behavioral method-the voodoo doll task (VDT)-that offers a reliable and valid trait and state measure of aggressive inclinations across settings and relationship contexts. Drawing on theory and research on the law of similarity and magical beliefs (Rozin, Millman, & Nemeroff [1986], Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 703-712), we propose that people transfer characteristics of a person onto a voodoo doll representing that person. As a result, causing harm to a voodoo doll by stabbing it with pins may have important psychological similarities to causing actual harm to the person the voodoo doll represents. Nine methodologically diverse studies (total N=1,376) showed that the VDT had strong reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity. Discussion centers on the importance of magical beliefs in understanding the causes of aggressive inclinations. Aggr. Behav. 39:419-439, 2013.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	419-439
Number of pages	21
Journal	Aggressive Behavior
Volume	39
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21496
State	Published - Nov 2013

Keywords

Aggression
Intimate partner violence
Magical beliefs
Violence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Psychology (all)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1002/ab.21496

Cite this

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title = "The voodoo doll task: Introducing and validating a novel method for studying aggressive inclinations",

abstract = "Aggression pervades modern life. To understand the root causes of aggression, researchers have developed several methods to assess aggressive inclinations. The current article introduces a new behavioral method-the voodoo doll task (VDT)-that offers a reliable and valid trait and state measure of aggressive inclinations across settings and relationship contexts. Drawing on theory and research on the law of similarity and magical beliefs (Rozin, Millman, & Nemeroff [1986], Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 703-712), we propose that people transfer characteristics of a person onto a voodoo doll representing that person. As a result, causing harm to a voodoo doll by stabbing it with pins may have important psychological similarities to causing actual harm to the person the voodoo doll represents. Nine methodologically diverse studies (total N=1,376) showed that the VDT had strong reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity. Discussion centers on the importance of magical beliefs in understanding the causes of aggressive inclinations. Aggr. Behav. 39:419-439, 2013.",

keywords = "Aggression, Intimate partner violence, Magical beliefs, Violence",

author = "Dewall, {C. Nathan} and Finkel, {Eli J.} and Lambert, {Nathaniel M.} and Slotter, {Erica B.} and Bodenhausen, {Galen V.} and Pond, {Richard S.} and Renzetti, {Claire M.} and Fincham, {Frank D.}",

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AU - Bodenhausen, Galen V.

AU - Pond, Richard S.

AU - Renzetti, Claire M.

AU - Fincham, Frank D.

PY - 2013/11

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N2 - Aggression pervades modern life. To understand the root causes of aggression, researchers have developed several methods to assess aggressive inclinations. The current article introduces a new behavioral method-the voodoo doll task (VDT)-that offers a reliable and valid trait and state measure of aggressive inclinations across settings and relationship contexts. Drawing on theory and research on the law of similarity and magical beliefs (Rozin, Millman, & Nemeroff [1986], Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 703-712), we propose that people transfer characteristics of a person onto a voodoo doll representing that person. As a result, causing harm to a voodoo doll by stabbing it with pins may have important psychological similarities to causing actual harm to the person the voodoo doll represents. Nine methodologically diverse studies (total N=1,376) showed that the VDT had strong reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity. Discussion centers on the importance of magical beliefs in understanding the causes of aggressive inclinations. Aggr. Behav. 39:419-439, 2013.

AB - Aggression pervades modern life. To understand the root causes of aggression, researchers have developed several methods to assess aggressive inclinations. The current article introduces a new behavioral method-the voodoo doll task (VDT)-that offers a reliable and valid trait and state measure of aggressive inclinations across settings and relationship contexts. Drawing on theory and research on the law of similarity and magical beliefs (Rozin, Millman, & Nemeroff [1986], Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 703-712), we propose that people transfer characteristics of a person onto a voodoo doll representing that person. As a result, causing harm to a voodoo doll by stabbing it with pins may have important psychological similarities to causing actual harm to the person the voodoo doll represents. Nine methodologically diverse studies (total N=1,376) showed that the VDT had strong reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity. Discussion centers on the importance of magical beliefs in understanding the causes of aggressive inclinations. Aggr. Behav. 39:419-439, 2013.

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The voodoo doll task: Introducing and validating a novel method for studying aggressive inclinations

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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