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aggresion Flashcards

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1
Q

the limbic system

A

subcortial structures in the brain thought to be closely linked with regulating emotional behaviour like aggression. includes the amygdala

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2
Q

serotonin

A

neurotransmitter with widespread inhibitory effects on the brain and has a key role in aggression

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3
Q

testosterone

A

a hormone present in males associated with aggression

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4
Q

outline Gospic’s study of the limbic system and the amygdala

A

the ultimatum game
the proposer offers the the responder a sum of money to be split in a certain way. the responder either accepts or rejects (giving neither any money.) when rejecting unfair offers, there was heightened activity in the amygdala

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5
Q

outline the role of serotonin in aggression

A

it slows down and dampens neural activity. normal levels of serotonin leads to reduced firing in the OFC, leading to greater self control. decreased serotonin leads to lack of control and impulsive actions

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6
Q

outline Virkkunen’s study into the role of serotonin in aggression

A

compared levels of metabolite in the cerebrospinal fluid of violent impulsive and violent non impulsive offenders.
levels were significantly lower in impulsive offenders and had irregular sleeping patterns

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7
Q

outline the role of testosterone in aggression

A

is responsible for the development of male features and in regulating social behaviour.
it has been observed that males are more aggressive than females.

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8
Q

outline animal studies into the role of testosterone

A

experimental increases of testosterone are related to greater aggression in several species

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9
Q

outline Dolan et al research into the role of testosterone in prisoners

A

positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours in a sample of 60 men.

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10
Q

evaluation of neural mechanisms of aggression

A

the research into the limbic system ignores the role of other brain structures - OFC - Coccaro et al found reduced activity in OFC of psychiatric patients.

the role of serotonin is supported by the effects of drugs on the neurotransmitter - placebo VS paroxetine saw paroxetine give fewer shocks and less intense shocks

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11
Q

evaluation of hormonal mechanisms of aggression

A

explaining the role of testosterone fully - biosocial model of status - Mehta and Joseph measured testosterone before and after participants lost a competitive game - of those whose levels rose 73% re challenged - only 22% of those who dropped re challenged.
the role of cortisol is not explored enough - high testosterone is only relevant when cortisol is low.

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12
Q

outline the findings of the Coccaro et al twin study of aggression

A

for direct, physical aggression concordance was 50% for MZ twins and 19% for DZ. for verbal aggression this was 28% and 7%.

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13
Q

outline Rhee and Waldman’s meta analysis of adoption studies

A

meta analysis of adoption studies looking at direct aggression and anti-social behaviour.
genetic influences accounted for around 41% of the variance in aggression

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14
Q

the role of the MAOA gene in aggression

A

is responsible for activity of enzyme monoamine oxidase. the low activity variant of the gene is implicated in aggressive behaviour.

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15
Q

outline the Brunner study into the MAOA gene

A

studied 28 male members of a dutch family who were repeatedly involved in aggressive behaviour like rape and assault.
researchers found they had both low levels of MAOA and the warrior gene version too

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16
Q

describe the gene X environment theory and Frazzetto et al research into it

A

genes cannot function in isolation. the low activity MAOA gene has only been implicated in participants with a history of early childhood abuse.
he found an association between the warrior gene and aggression only when the men had experienced significant trauma in first 15 years of life

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17
Q

evaluate genetic factors of aggression

A

trouble isolating genetic factors - McDermot found that participants with low activity MAOA only acted aggressively in a money allocation game when provoked.
research support for the MAOA gene - Stuart et al - 97 men in a battery programme - men with low activity MAOA were the worst offenders
lack of internal validity when measuring aggression - in Rhee and Waldman’s meta analysis, genetic influence was greater with self report than parent or teacher report.

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18
Q

ethological explanations

A

seeks to understand the innate behaviour of animals, by studying the natural habitat

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19
Q

adaptive functions of aggression

A

to reduce competition and force others out onto new territory.
to establish dominance within a pack. Male chimpanzees use aggression to climb their troops social hierarchy.
Pettit also showed how children do this in play groups

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20
Q

ritualistic aggression

A

intra-species fights rarely end in death or severe injury as this would be damaging for them. instead fights are made up of aggressive signals like showing teeth or claws and end with ritual appeasement like baring the neck

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21
Q

innate releasing mechanism

A

a biological structure triggered by an external stimulus which starts a FAP

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22
Q

fixed action pattern

A

sequence of stereotyped behaviours which are triggered by an IRM
universal
ballistic
single purpose

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23
Q

outline Tinbergen’s research into IRMs and FAPs

A

during mating season male stickleback fish develop red under bellies. if another male comes into the others territory it triggers a FAP.
Tinbergen presented male sticklebacks with wooden models with the red spot.
regardless of shape, if the spot was there, a FAP was triggered.

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24
Q

evaluate ethological explanations of aggression

A

genetic, neural and hormonal factors all support the innate basis of aggression.
can’t explain cultural differences in aggression - Nisbett discovered a north/south divide in America for homicide rates. he then supported it with lab studies of reactive aggression.
evidence against ritualistic aggression - Goodal - the four year war where chimps systematically slaughtered each other.
reductionism and generalisation to humans are a problem

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25
Q

evolutionary explanations

A

characteristics which enhance survival and reproduction of genes are naturally selected and passed on.

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26
Q

explanation of sexual jealousy

A

because men always have the fear of cuckoldry, they evolved ways to ensure loyalty from their partners - sexual jealousy. leads to mate retention strategies

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27
Q

mate retention strategies

A

direct guarding - constantly watching and controlling their partner
negative inducements - threats of dire consequence for infidelity or unloyalty

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28
Q

outline Wilson’s study into mate retention strategies

A

women who reported mate retention strategies in their partners were twice as likely to have suffered domestic abuse - 73% needing medical attention

29
Q

outline Shackleford’s research into intimate partner violence

A

studied 107 married couples with the men and women completing different surveys. Men tested mate retention, women tested partners violence.
there was a strong positive correlation between mens reports of retention strategies and women’s reports of physical violence.

30
Q

evolutionary explanation of violence

A

bullying occurs due to a power imbalance - strong VS weak - it is now thought that bullying is adaptive as it promotes our own success and chances of reproduction.
Volk argues that bullying is attractive to the opposite sex as it signifies strong genes and wards of rivals.
female bullying usually happens within a relationship and is to control the man.

31
Q

evaluation of evolutionary explanations

A

RS for aggression and sexual jealousy - Shackleford study - RLA - face validity
they can explain gender differences - women shouldn’t encourage aggression as it threatens them and their offspring - verbal aggression is better for them
RLA in stopping bullying - using competitive sports instead of direct aggression.

32
Q

the frustration-aggression hypothesis (social psychological explanations)

A

a theory that argues anger, hostility and violence are always the outcome of not being able to achieve our goal.
based on psychodynamic idea of catharsis

33
Q

why is aggression not always displayed at the original source

A

abstract
unavailable
too powerful

34
Q

outline Green’s research into the frustration-aggression hypothesis

A

male university students were given a jigsaw to complete but had their frustration manipulated - impossible, ran out of time, insulted.
they then had to give shocks to the confederate in a different task.
insulted participants gave strongest shocks, then interfered and impossible task.

35
Q

outline Berkowitz and LePage’s study into the weapons effect

A

participants were given shocks by confederates, creating frustration. they then gave the confederates shocks back.
in a condition where guns were on the table, 6.07 shocks were given. when none were present, 4.67 were given

36
Q

evaluation of the frustration-aggression approach

A

RS for displacement - Newhall conducted meta analysis of 49 studies of displacement, concluding that it was a reliable phenomenon
punching a punch bag made participants angrier and more aggressive.
Berkowitz negative affect theory - aggressive behaviour is triggered by negative feelings

37
Q

social learning theory (social psychological explanations)

A

a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with cognitive factors.

38
Q

direct and indirect learning

A

direct - operant conditioning and positive / negative reinforcement.
indirect - observational learning.

39
Q

vicarious reinforcement

A

if an aggressive model has their behaviour rewarded it encourage others to do the same as a child learns that aggression is effective.

40
Q

four cognitive conditions (mediational processes) for observational learning

A

attention
retention
reproduction
motivation

41
Q

self efficacy

A

the extent to which we believe our action will achieve a desired goal. as children learn about the rewards of aggression they become more confident in their ability to use.

42
Q

outline Bandura’s research into SLT

A

the bobo doll study
children watched an adult model acting aggressively with a bobo doll and other toys. after a short period, the children were put in a room with a bobo doll and other toys.
without being instructed they began to mimic the actions of the adults. in a control, aggression was non existent.

43
Q

evaluation of SLT

A

ignores the role of biology - environmental reductionism. - Bandura’s findings may be skewed
cannot explain all aggression - reactive aggression is not explained.
RLA - providing children with non aggressive role models.

44
Q

de-individuation (social psychological explanations)

A

a psychological state in which an individual loses their personal identity and assumes the identity of the social group. the individual is then released from the constraints of social norms.

45
Q

crowd behaviour

A

we lose our normal restraints on behaviour and our sense of individual self identity and responsibility. responsibility is shared so we experience less personal guilt

46
Q

outline the role of de-individuation in aggression

A

de-individuated behaviour is emotional, impulsive and irrational and anti-normative. we stop regulating our behaviour and start acting irrationally.
conditions which promote aggressive behaviour are darkness, drugs and alcohol, uniforms, masks and disguises.

47
Q

private and public self awareness

A

private - how we pay attention to our own thoughts and feelings.
public - others perception of us.
both these change in an de-individuated state

48
Q

outlines Dodd’s research into de-individuation

A

asked 229 psychology students “if you could do anything with complete assurance you would not be detected, what would you do”
36% were antisocial behaviour
26% criminal acts
murder, rape and assassinate political figure
9% pro social

49
Q

evaluate de-individuation

A

RS for de-individuation - Douglas and McGarty found a strong correlation between online anonymity and flaming.
However, it does not always lead to aggression - deviance in the dark study
Johnson and Downing proposed that uniform and situational variables influence how de-individuation affects behaviour
RLA in the online world

50
Q

the importation model

A

institutional aggression results from the characteristics of prisoner - dispositional factors.
prisoners bring a subculture of violence

51
Q

the DeLisi study into dispositional factors

A

he studied 813 juvenile delinquents with history of childhood trauma, high levels of anger and irritability and substance abuse
these delinquents were more likely to engage in suicidal activity and sexual misconduct and more acts of physical violence

52
Q

the deprivation model

A

institutional aggression is due to stress created by the prison environment - situational explanations

53
Q

outline Steiner’s research into the deprivation model

A

studied 512 US prisoners, investigating factors that predicted inmate aggression.
inmate violence was more prominent when there was high proportions of female staff, African-american inmates, Hispanic inmates and protective custody inmates.

54
Q

evaluation of dispostitonal factors in institutional aggression

A

RS - camp and Gales studied 561 male inmates with similar criminal histories. half were placed in low security, half were placed in high. the results for aggression within two years are 33 and 36% respectively
however, other explanations such as administrative control model - poorly run and bad staff.

55
Q

evaluation of situational factors in institutional aggression

A

RS - Cunningham analysed 35 inmate homicides and found that motivations were linked to forms of deprivation - arguments over drugs and personal possessions.
however, Hensley showed that conjugal visits in texas prisons did not reduce inmate violence

56
Q

outline Bartholow and Anderson’s experimental study into media influences of aggression

A

had students play either violent (mortal combat) or non-violent (golf) video games. then they did a standard test of aggression where they fired white noise.
5.97 for violent VS 4.60 for non-violent

57
Q

outline Delisi et al correlational study into media influences of aggression

A

using structured interviews, he studies 277 juvenile offenders and there violence and use of violent video games.
aggressive behaviour was significantly correlated with time spent playing aggressive games

58
Q

outline Robertson et al longitudinal study into media influences of aggression

A

studies 1037 people born between 72 and 73 an measured TV viewing hours at regular intervals.
time spent watching TV was a reliable indicator of aggression. those who watched lots were also more likely to be diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder.

59
Q

evaluation of experimental studies

A

while they allow us to develop causal links, they are extremely unrealistic

60
Q

evaluation of correlational studies

A

they allow us to investigate realistic forms of aggression.

inability to draw cause and effect solutions or the direction of causality.

61
Q

evaluation of longitudinal studies

A

gives a realistic interpretation of aggression and the effect of media.
they are at the mercy of confounding variables

62
Q

outline desensitisation (media influences of aggression)

A

repeated exposure to violence reduces normal levels of psychological arousal associated with anxiety, making aggressive behaviour more likely.

63
Q

Weisz and Earls research into desensitisation

A

had participants watch a graphic scene of rape in the movie straw dogs and then a re-enactment of a rape trial.
compared to a control, men who watched the straw dogs scene were more likely to accept rape myths and feel less empathy for the victim

64
Q

outline disinhibition (media influences of aggression)

A

normal social constraints against certain behvaiours can be weakened by environmental triggers, making them temporarily acceptable

65
Q

outline cognitive priming (media influences of aggression)

A

violent images provide us with ready made scripts about aggression which are stored in memory and activates when we perceive an aggressive cue in a situation.

66
Q

Fischer and Greitemeyer research into cognitive priming

A

studied the effects of sexist lyrics. Men who listened to aggressively derogatory lyrics about women were more likely to recall negative qualities about women compared to a control

67
Q

evaluation of desensitisation

A

RS - Krahe et al showed participants violent and non-violent film clips while measuring skin conductance.
habitual viewers of violent media showed lower levels of arousal as they watched violent clips.

68
Q

evaluation of disinhibition

A

RS - Berkowitz and Alioto participants who saw a film depicting aggression as violence gave more fake electric shocks to a confederate

69
Q

evaluation of cognitive priming

A

RLA - Bushman and Anderson claim habitual violent viewers have aggressive scripts more readily, we can use this to establish interventions which change hostile cognitions into alternative reactions

psychology (11 decks)

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