Experiencing Instigations and Trait Aggression Contribute to Harsh Parenting Behaviors

Three studies (total N = 1777 parents) examined whether harsh parenting behaviors would increase when parents experienced an instigation and whether this increase would be especially pronounced for parents who were high in trait aggression. These predictions were tested both when parents’ experience of an instigation was manipulated (Studies 1 and 2) and when parents’ perceptions of their child’s instigating behavior was reported (Study 3)....