Objectives: This study explores whether sex differences in reactive aggression (RA) and proactive aggression (PA) are attributable to sex, gender role orientation, or their interaction and explores the neuroanatomical characteristics of these sex differences. Methods: In a sample of 108 males and 126 females, we examined the sex-by-gender role orientation interaction on RA, PA, and brain gray matter volume (GMV). Then, we explored the relationship between aggression and regional GMV. Results: When the effects of sex and gender role orientation on aggression were disentangled, there were no sex differences in RA, regardless of gender role orientation. However, sex differences (male > female) in PA were observed within the masculine group but not within the feminine group. Brain imaging results revealed sex differences (male > female) on the right inferior frontal gyrus GMV, a region involved in cognitive control, within the masculine group. Moreover, a negative association between PA and the right inferior frontal gyrus GMV was observed in masculine females rather than masculine males. Conclusions: These findings indicate that gender role orientation has a more significant effect on aggression than sex, particularly with regard to PA, and hint that the goal of cognitive control involved in displaying PA differs in masculine males and masculine females.
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机译：目的： 本研究探讨了反应性攻击 （RA） 和主动攻击 （PA） 的性别差异是否归因于性别、性别角色取向或它们的相互作用，并探讨了这些性别差异的神经解剖学特征。方法： 在 108 名男性和 126 名女性的样本中，我们检查了 RA 、 PA 和脑灰质体积 （GMV） 的性别角色取向相互作用。然后，我们探讨了侵略性与区域 GMV 之间的关系。结果： 当性别和性别角色取向对攻击性的影响被解开时，无论性别角色取向如何，RA 都没有性别差异。然而，在男性组内观察到 PA 中的性别差异 （男性>女性） 但在女性组中未观察到。脑成像结果显示，男性组内右额下回 GMV 存在性别差异（男性>女性），该区域参与认知控制。此外，在男性女性而不是男性中观察到 PA 与右额下回 GMV 之间的负相关。结论：这些发现表明，性别角色取向对攻击性的影响比性别更显着，尤其是在 PA 方面，并暗示显示 PA 所涉及的认知控制目标在男性男性和男性女性中不同。
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