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Gruesomeness conveys formidability: Perpetrators of gratuitously grisly acts are conceptualized as larger, stronger, and more likely to win.

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Title: Gruesomeness conveys formidability: Perpetrators of gratuitously grisly acts are conceptualized as larger, stronger, and more likely to win.
Authors: Scrivner, Coltan (AUTHOR), Holbrook, Colin (AUTHOR), Fessler, Daniel M. T. (AUTHOR), Maestripieri, Dario (AUTHOR)
Source: Aggressive Behavior. Sep2020, Vol. 46 Issue 5, p400-411. 12p. 1 Color Photograph, 2 Diagrams, 2 Charts.
Subjects: Terrorist organizations, Motivation (Psychology), Vignettes, Violence
Abstract: While associated with extreme terrorist organizations in modern times, extensive accounts of grisly acts of violence exist in the archeological, historical, and ethnographic records. Though reasons for this dramatic form of violence are multifaceted and diverse, one possibility is that violence beyond what is required to win a conflict is a method by which violent actors communicate to others that they are formidable opponents. The formidability representation hypothesis predicts that formidability is cognitively represented using the dimensions of envisioned bodily size and strength. We tested the informational ramifications of gruesome acts using two vignette studies depicting individuals who either did or did not grievously damage the corpse of a deceased foe. Participants rated the individual's height, bodily size, and strength, as well as his aggressiveness, motivation, and the capacity to vanquish opponents in future conflicts. Results indicate that, as predicted, committing gruesome acts of violence enhances perceptions of formidability as measured both by envisioned bodily size and strength and expectations regarding the outcomes of agonistic conflicts. Moreover, the gruesome actor was perceived as more aggressive and more motivated to overcome his enemies, and this mediated the increase in conceptualized size and strength. These results both provide further evidence for the formidability representation hypothesis and support the thesis that overtly grisly violence is tactically employed, in part, because it conveys information about the perpetrator's formidability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Aggressive Behavior is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Gruesomeness conveys formidability: Perpetrators of gratuitously grisly acts are conceptualized as larger, stronger, and more likely to win.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scrivner%2C+Coltan%22">Scrivner, Coltan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Holbrook%2C+Colin%22">Holbrook, Colin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fessler%2C+Daniel+M%2E+T%2E%22">Fessler, Daniel M. T.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maestripieri%2C+Dario%22">Maestripieri, Dario</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Aggressive+Behavior%22">Aggressive Behavior</searchLink>. Sep2020, Vol. 46 Issue 5, p400-411. 12p. 1 Color Photograph, 2 Diagrams, 2 Charts.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Terrorist+organizations%22">Terrorist organizations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vignettes%22">Vignettes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Violence%22">Violence</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: While associated with extreme terrorist organizations in modern times, extensive accounts of grisly acts of violence exist in the archeological, historical, and ethnographic records. Though reasons for this dramatic form of violence are multifaceted and diverse, one possibility is that violence beyond what is required to win a conflict is a method by which violent actors communicate to others that they are formidable opponents. The formidability representation hypothesis predicts that formidability is cognitively represented using the dimensions of envisioned bodily size and strength. We tested the informational ramifications of gruesome acts using two vignette studies depicting individuals who either did or did not grievously damage the corpse of a deceased foe. Participants rated the individual's height, bodily size, and strength, as well as his aggressiveness, motivation, and the capacity to vanquish opponents in future conflicts. Results indicate that, as predicted, committing gruesome acts of violence enhances perceptions of formidability as measured both by envisioned bodily size and strength and expectations regarding the outcomes of agonistic conflicts. Moreover, the gruesome actor was perceived as more aggressive and more motivated to overcome his enemies, and this mediated the increase in conceptualized size and strength. These results both provide further evidence for the formidability representation hypothesis and support the thesis that overtly grisly violence is tactically employed, in part, because it conveys information about the perpetrator's formidability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Aggressive Behavior is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Text: English
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              Text: Sep2020
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