| Increasing divorce rates have challenged the traditional concept of the family and have presented challenges for adults to the extent that some divorces are characterized by hostility. According to cognitive behavioral theory, aggression is the behavioral manifestation of a cognitive process (e.g., hostility), which is influenced by an individuals affect (e.g., anger). Hostile attributions of intent have been evaluated due to theories that a perception of a peer or partner who intentionally caused a negative outcome results in an aggressive response and impedes communication, notably electronic communication.Within the current study, a 2x2 quasi-experimental static group design was utilized to assess the two independent variables, participant type and vignette type, using a sample of 73 divorcing parents. There were two levels of each independent variable. Participants were assigned to either the higher anger or lower anger using cut-off scores on the Novaco Anger Scale (NAS, Novaco, 2003). The dependent variable, hostile attribution of intent was measured by using two original vignettes (e.g., hostile and ambiguous) depicting e-mail scenarios, which were relevant to the divorce process.Findings did not reveal significant group or gender differences when comparing participant responses to closed-ended questions for either vignette type. Results further indicated that participants within the lower anger group did not significantly differ in the types of responses made when responding to open-ended questions associated with the hostile vignettes. Similarly, no gender differences were revealed when comparing responses to the open-ended questions of either vignette type. Lastly, participants within the anger groups significantly differed in the frequencies of non-aggressive responses made to the ambiguous vignette. Clinical implications, limitations and the relevance of the findings on future research were discussed. |
