Analysis

Normative beliefs about aggression are a set of beliefs that people hold about how they should behave when they feel angry or dissatisfied. These beliefs are often shaped by cultural values and social norms. Normative beliefs about aggression can vary significantly across societies. In some cultures, aggression is seen as a positive trait and is encouraged. For example, in certain Native American cultures, aggression may be viewed as a way to protect one’s family and community, and is considered a sign of strength and generosity. In other cultures, aggression is discouraged and seen as a sign of weakness.

Objective

The purpose of this questionnaire is to assess normative beliefs related to aggression.

Question Scoring

The NBAA-20 Questionnaire consists of 20 items, each rated on the following scale:

It’s really wrong

It’s somewhat wrong

It’s somewhat okay

It’s okay

References

Huesmann, L. R., Guerra, N. G., Miller, L., & Zelli, A. (1992). The role of social norms in the development of aggression. In Zumkley, H., & Fraczek, A. (Eds.), Socialization and Aggression. New York, NY: Springer.

Berkowitz, L. (1993). Aggression: Its Causes, Consequences, and Control. McGraw-Hill.

Bandura, A. (1973). Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis. Prentice-Hall.

Huesmann, L. R. (1988). An Information Processing Model for the Development of Aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 14(1), 13-24.