In this talk I will present the results of an experimental study in which aggression was investigated as a function gender and facial emotional cues. A version of the competitive reaction time (CRT) paradigm measured aggression while a facial emotional expression set by an opponent was manipulated. Participants (N = 266; 138 females), between 18-35 years of age, were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions of the opponents’ emotional display cues: anger, sadness, neutral, no facial feedback. After each of the 17 trials, participants were allowed to choose a noise to administer to their opponent. At the end participant’s motivations to aggress the opponent were measured. Results shown gender differences on aggression as a function of the emotional display of the opponent: females were less aggressive than males in response to sad and anger facial expressions. No gender differences occurred in neutral and no facial expression conditions. Males also displayed similar aggression across the four conditions. High instrumental motives mediated the gender effect on aggression. These results highlight the important role of specific emotional facial expressions, displayed during dyadic competitive interactions, for males and females in interpersonal responses

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Aggression,Emotional Expressions,Sadness,Anger,Provocation