Thinking through the social world: Further exploring the direct, moderated, and mediated relationship between need for cognition and aggression

Abstract

Findings from a paucity of research suggest that need for cognition (NFC) is negatively correlated with trait aggression. The correlational nature of the data juxtaposed with the reliance on assessing trait aggression negates causal claims regarding this relationship. The objective of the current research to expand our understanding of the relationship between NFC and aggression in the following ways: (1) focus on state, rather than trait, aggressive behavior, (2) examine the role of provocation, and (3) test the mediating influence of state anger and revenge motives. Our study had US emerging adult participants randomly assigned to be provoked or not before completing measures of anger, revenge motives, and aggression. Results showed that only revenge motives mediated the relationship between NFC and aggression, which was found to be significant only for provoked participants. Results are discussed in theoretical and practical implications.