Aggression Flashcards
Psychodynamic theory
hypothesised by Freud, life instinct (eros) and death instinct (Thanatos). Thanatos responsible for aggressive urges.
Frustration - aggression hypothesis.
Aggression caused by some sort of frustrating event or situation (Dollard et al., 1939) Scapegoating when the source of frustration is too powerful, unavailable or not easy to identify.
Frustration hypothesis limitations
Empirical evidence mixed, lack of measurement for frustration, perhaps too simplistic.
Biological evolutionary theories
Aggression innate and adaptive. Survival of genes (general survival), mating rights, protecting young. Unique to humans- defend/gain social and econonomic advantage.
Biological limitations
No account of social factors, empirical evidence, how can evolution account for aggression towards close family members.
determinants: person-centred,
Personality, Gender differences (men more aggressive), Use of alcohol (increased), Disinhibition meaning dehumanising the victim or thinking of the vicitim in a wider context.
Situation-centred determinants
Temperature (heat), crowding, noise, frustration, weapons effect, social disadvantage, cultural influences.
Cathartic hypothesis
The notion that aggression reduces pent-up feelings of anger and frustration making you feel better after. Achieved through acting aggressively or watching someone else act aggressively.
Cathartic Hypothesis study and results
Bushman et al. (1999) people who attempt to “take their anger out” act more aggressively afterwards.
Cognitive Neoassociationalist Model + study B_
Aggressive thoughts and feelings triggered by cues from environment eg. people, objects such as weapons or media. (Berkowitz 1969)
Evidence of Cognitive Neoassociationalist Model
Berkowitz & Lapage (1967), Study of shocking confederate with or without the presence of weapon whilst in an angered state.
Excitation-Transfer Model
Arousal (EXCITATION), interpretation of arousal, Arousal in one situation can transfer to another (residual arousal). Hence arousal from one situation can result in aggression in a new situation if triggered by a situational cue.
Excitation-transfer model study
Zillmann (1979)
Operant conditioning
Skinner (1953). People are born blank slates and learn based on reward/punishment to stimuli hence if aggression results in more reward than punishment then it is more likely
Social learning theory
Bandura (1977) similar to operant conditioning except in regard to observing rather the individuals own behaviour. Eg you witness people fighting you are more likely to fight
