Aggressive Reactions to Frustration in Relation to the Individual Level of Extrapunitiveness

Thirty-six Jewish adolescents were classified according to three levels of Extrapunitiveness based on their Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration (P-F) Study scores. After reading an anti-Semitic communication, one half of the Ss from each level was permitted direct written retaliation (catharsis), while the other half was denied retaliation (non catharsis). The most important result indicated that a linear relationship between Extrapunitiveness and outward reported aggressiveness was obtained. Also, cathartic Ss were significantly less aggressive on an attitude scale than the non-cathartic Ss. Interpretations, other than true retaliatory catharsis, could account for this last result, among them the cathartic role of writing behavior.