Online Intervention Reduces Hostile Attribution Bias, Anger, Aggressive Driving, and Cyber-Aggression, Results of Two Randomized Trials

• Published in: Cognitive therapy and research 2021-04, Vol.45 (2), p.310-321
• Main Authors: Osgood, Jeffrey M., Kase, Sue E., Zaroukian, Erin G., Quartana, Phillip J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression; Aggressiveness; Anger; Attribution theory; Bias; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Psychology; Emotions; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Placebos; Quality of Life Research
• ISSN: 0147-5916; 1573-2819
• DOI: 10.1007/s10608-020-10147-8

Background Anger and aggression often result from attributing hostile intent to the ambiguous actions of other people. Methods Two online double-blind parallel randomized pilot studies with healthy adult volunteers tested a novel online cognitive intervention called Hostile Bias Modification Training (HBMT). We hypothesized HBMT would reduce hostile attribution bias, anger, and aggression. In study one, 180 volunteers were randomized to one of three versions of HBMT (active, alternative, and placebo). In study two, 217 volunteers were randomized to either active or placebo HBMT and returned 24–96 h later to complete measures of hostile attribution bias, anger, and aggression. Results In study one, volunteers who completed active HBMT (vs. placebo) subsequently interpreted hypothetical vignettes as significantly less hostile ( d  = 0.64, p  = .006) and reported significantly less imagined anger ( d  = 0.51, p  = .006) and aggression ( d  = 0.73, p