Aggression Flashcards
What is aggression?
Aggression is behavior that is intended to harm :
- another person or animal or object
- physically or psychologically
- whether completed or not (e.g. miss)
What are the two types of aggression according to the textbook?
(I & E)
- Instrumental Aggression: Harm is inflicted as a means to a desired end.
- Emotional Aggression: Harm is inflicted for its own sake.
How does violence vary across cultures?
Cultures differ with respect to:
- The forms violence typically takes – e.g, more gun related in US
- People’s attitudes toward various kinds of aggression –e.g, is it okay to slap your wife
What subcultural factors influence aggression?
Aggression varies in US as a function of subcultural factors such as:
- Age –teens and young adults more
- Race – most murders within race
- Region– more murders in South and West
- Gender - men are viewed as more violent than women
How does aggression vary by gender?
Universal findings that men are more violent than women
Challenges to the notion that men are more aggressive than females :
- Boys tend to be more overtly aggressive.
- Girls often are more indirectly, or relationally, aggressive.
How does aggression relate to testosterone?
There is a strong positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggression, but correlation is not causation
- Testosterone goes up after winning and goes down after losing a fight
How does aggression relate to serotonin?
The neurotransmitter serotonin appears to restrain impulsive acts of aggression.
- Low levels of serotonin are associated with high levels of aggression, while boosting serotonin can dampen aggressiveness.
What are problems using punishment to stop aggression?
( D. Le. Lo. M.)
Problems with using punishment to reduce aggressive behaviors:
- Doesn’t generalize
- Leads to negative feelings toward the influence agent
- Lowers self-esteem
- Models aggression
How did Bandura study learning and aggression?
Bandura’s inflatable doll study serves as an example of the social learning theory
- Social Learning Theory : behavior can be learned through the observations of others
The study showed that those who watched a model hit the bobo doll hit it more because by watching aggressive models
People can:
- Learn specific aggressive behaviors
- Develop more positive attitudes and beliefs about aggression in general
- Construct aggressive “scripts”
- Nonaggressive models decrease aggressive behavior.
How do Cultures of Honor relate to aggression?
- A culture of honor emphasizes honor and status, particularly for males, and the role of aggression in protecting that honor.
- As a result cultures of honor promote violent behavior.
What is the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis, and is it correct?
It is the idea that frustration always elicits aggression.
- No it is not correct because frustration does not always produce aggressive inclinations; there are other causes of aggression besides frustration.
What is catharsis, and does it reduce aggression?
Catharsis : the reduction of the motive to aggress, which is a psychological drive that resembles a physiological drive.
- It is viewed as a two-step sequence :
1. Aggression reduces the level of physiological arousal.
2. Because arousal is reduced, become less angry and less likely to aggress further
How does heat relate to aggression?
Heat increases aggression
What is excitation transfer?
It is the concept that arousal by one stimulus can increase a reaction to another stimulus
- Example : noise, violent movies, arousing music can increase aggression
What is the weapons effect?
It is the tendency that the likelihood of aggression will increase by the mere presence of a weapon such as guns
- Objects associated with
(a) successful aggression
(b) negative affect, serve as aggression-enhancers
How does alcohol increase aggression?
Alcohol reduces anxiety, which lowers inhibitions against aggression.
- Intoxication causes alcohol myopia, a disruption in the way we process information which then impairs the cognitive control of aggression.
How strong is the relationship between media violence and aggression?
There is a 0.3 correlation relationship between media and aggression
- The relationship is strong
- In doing so, aggressive models (that occur live or on film) can increase aggressive behavior among children and adults.
How does violent TV viewing relate to aggression later?
A cross cultural study discovered that exposure to TV violence at ages 6-9 positively correlated with aggression as adults.
- There was no gender difference
What did early research find about sexual offenders and pornography?
Early research found that sexual offenders had been exposed to less pornography
Who purchases most pornography?
Most purchasers of pornography were middle-aged married men, seeking variety
How does nonviolent and violent pornography related to aggression?
There is little support for direct causal link between pornography use and sexual aggression
- But adding violence to pornography increases possibility of harmful effects
- Sexual aggression is also promoted by non-sexual violence as well
How common is sexual aggression among college students?
Majority of college women and about a third of college men say they have experienced coercive sexual contact
What three factors are associated with sexual aggression among college students?
(G. Al C. At.)
Factors include :
- Gender –Men are more likely to engage in coercive behavior in order to obtain sex.
- Alcohol consumption
- Attitudes toward rape and toward women
Who aggresses more between husbands and wives, with what effects?
There are higher levels of wife-to-husband violence reported than husband-to-wife abuse
- However, consequences of aggression between partners tend to be much more damaging to women because of the idea that men strike harder
What are some ways of reducing violence in general?
Reducing Violence - Situational and sociocultural factors
Reducing Violence - Media Effects
Reducing Violence - Intimate Violence
Reducing Violence : Situational and sociocultural factors
(R. T. E. C)
- Reduce stressors
- Teach and model nonviolent responses
- Emphasize cooperation over competitiveness
- Change cost-reward payoffs associated with aggression.
Reducing Violence : Media Effects
(C. P. E)
- Censorship to reduce popularity
- Prosocial programming
- Education-based approaches - increase critical viewing skills
Reducing Violence - Intimate Violence
(S. Pre. Pro.)
- Sex education programs
- Preventing and treating alcohol abuse
- Provide family members with educational and employment opportunities to reduce family violence
