TY - JOUR
T1 - The voodoo doll task
T2 - Introducing and validating a novel method for studying aggressive inclinations
AU - Dewall, C. Nathan
AU - Finkel, Eli J.
AU - Lambert, Nathaniel M.
AU - Slotter, Erica B.
AU - Bodenhausen, Galen V.
AU - Pond, Richard S.
AU - Renzetti, Claire M.
AU - Fincham, Frank D.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
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.
KW - Aggression
KW - Intimate partner violence
KW - Magical beliefs
KW - Violence
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U2 - 10.1002/ab.21496
DO - 10.1002/ab.21496
M3 - Article
C2 - 23878068
AN - SCOPUS:84885432867
SN - 0096-140X
VL - 39
SP - 419
EP - 439
JO - Aggressive Behavior
JF - Aggressive Behavior
IS - 6
ER -
