Most research in the area of attack-instigated aggression has examined the effect that different types and intensities of attacks have on promoting counteraggressive responses. Little research has been designed to identify why individuals counteraggress in response to attack or what can be done to deter attack victims from counteraggressive behaviors. An experiment was conducted to test the major propositions of power restoration theory, which has addressed both issues. College students were assigned to one of six conditions in a two (attack vs. no-attack) by three (relevant vs. irrelevant vs. zero power enhancement) factorial design. Results supported the hypothesis that the purpose of counteraggression is power enhancement, relative to the aggressor. Subjects were found to be less aggressive when they were given power over their provocateur than when they were given power over a third party or were given no power enhancement. The findings provide support for the power restoration theory. (Author/JAC)