Situational conformity pressure boosts aggression far more than personality traits do.

Evidence

Other studies further underscore that it requires conducive social conditions rather than monstrous people to produce atrocious deeds. … In a laboratory experiment, Larsen and his collaborators compared the relative influence of personality traits and situational influence on aggressive behavior (Larsen et al., 1972). The set of personality traits, which included hostile disposition, Machiavellian cynical manipulation, and orientation toward the exercise of power, had little effect on aggression. In contrast, exposure to aggressive models heightened level of aggression (35%) and its intensity (23%). Conformity pressure, in which others escalated their collective aggression, produced even higher increases in level (79%) and intensity (55%) of aggression. Displacement of responsibility was the favorite mode of self-exoneration. It took two forms. In the socially explicit form, participants said they were merely doing what they had been told to do. In the more passive form, participants said they were following orders because the authorities know what they were doing. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 678 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Other studies further underscore that it requires conducive social conditions rather than monstrous people to produce atrocious deeds. In a laboratory experiment, Larsen and his collaborators compared the relative influence of personality traits and situational influence on aggressive behavior (Larsen et al., 1972). The set of personality traits, which included hostile disposition, Machiavellian cynical manipulation, and orientation toward the exercise of power, had little effect on aggression. In contrast, exposure to aggressive models heightened level of aggression (35%) and its intensity (23%). Conformity pressure, in which others escalated their collective aggression, produced even higher increases in level (79%) and intensity (55%) of aggression. Displacement of responsibility was the favorite mode of self-exoneration. It took two forms. In the socially explicit form, participants said they were merely doing what they had been told to do. In the more passive form, participants said they were following orders because the authorities know what they were doing. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 678 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Narcissists’ unrealistically high feelings of grandiosity and low levels of self-esteem make them prone to violence and aggression when their self-views are threatened. Lacking the resources for fending off such attacks that a realistic sense of their value would provide, they lash out at others to restore their damaged sense of pride. Studies have shown that people high in narcissism but not in self-esteem are especially likely to act aggressively toward a person who they feel insults them. Other research shows that narcissistic self-esteem is associated with bullying and perhaps other forms of antisocial behavior. — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 266 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Conformity can intensify violence beyond what any individual would initiate alone. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 372; Personality traits matter little compared to situational factors in producing aggression — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 678; Aggressive acts stem more from situational conditions than hostile personality traits. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 678 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Personality traits matter little compared to situational factors in producing aggression #corroborates (0.97) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 678
• Aggressive acts stem more from situational conditions than hostile personality traits. #corroborates (0.96) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 678
• Grandiosity combined with fragile self-esteem drives defensive violence when threatened #complicates (0.75) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 266
• Disturbed individuals’ violent action depends mainly on self-regulatory ability to contain grievances #complicates (0.74) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1283
• Personality traits moderate the link between uncertainty and political violence #complicates (0.72) — Lea Echelmeyer, Anne-Marie Slotboom, and Frank Weerman, The Putative Effect of Identity on…, 267