A Historical Overview of Aggression Research: Theoretical Frameworks, Measurement Tools, and Future Directions

Aggression is a multifaceted construct that has been studied over the years using a variety of instruments and theoretical perspectives. In this review, we provide a historical overview of the conceptualization, measurement, and explanation of aggression, as well as an outlook for future research. Over time, views on the etiology of aggression have shifted from automatic and arousal-driven motives to social learning and, more recently, to integrative multifactorial processes. This evolution has led to the development of several questionnaires assessing different dimensions of aggression, including behavioral, emotional (e.g., anger), and cognitive (e.g., hostility) states. Developments can be observed with respect to the type of informant (self-report vs. external perspective), the target group or context addressed, and the aggression construct (e.g., proactive vs. reactive). Laboratory-based aggression paradigms have shifted from manipulated provocation tasks to more immersive and realistic scenarios. We discuss strategies for improving aggression research by adopting a multimodal and integrative perspective while enhancing ecological validity through methods such as ecological momentary assessment, virtual reality applications, and hyperscanning (i.e., real-time interactions). An evaluation of existing approaches and their evolution can help guide future aggression research to better understand current measures and what is still missing.