The effects of delayed presentation of the object of aggression on pain-induced fighting

It has been suggested that an aversive stimulus produces a drive to aggress in shocked organisms. Presumably this drive state will last a short time after the pain stimulus in absence of an object of aggression. This notion was studied in the present experiment by presenting the object of aggression (another rat) 0, 2, 4, or 6 sec after the cessation of the shock. Some fighting behavior was observed, regardless of when the object of aggression was presented. However, the intensity of the fighting behavior decreased markedly as delay of presentation increased from 0-6 sec.