Aggression Flashcards
aggression
intentional B (physical or verbal) aimed at causing physical/psychological pain
hostile aggression
- stems from feelings of anger
- aimed at inflicting pain/injury
instrumental aggression
to achieve a goal other than causing pain
types of aggression
- physical aggresion
- hostile B that inflicts physical pain or discomfort - verbal aggression
- words that inflict pain by yelling, insulting, ridiculing, humiliating, etc. - social/relational aggression
- Bs aimed at damaging relationships (ignoring, spreading rumours, etc.)
forms of aggression
- direct
- physical, verbal hostile B that directly targets another person - indirect
- hostile B by an unidentified perpetrator that hurts another person by indirect means
evolutionary approach to aggression
argues that aggression = genetically programmed because:
1. to help establish dominance
2. to protect resources
culture and aggression
- cultures vary widely in their degree of aggressiveness
- levels of aggression change with time and social condition
- in “cultures of honour”, violence is often seen as an acceptable way to protect one’s honour and reputation
social learning theory
- we learn social B by observing others and imitating them
- Bandura’s (1961, 1963) Bobo Doll study
Bandura’s (1961, 1963) Bobo Doll study
- children who had watched an adult model’s aggressive B toward a doll later imitated those Bs
- children also engaged in novel forms of aggression
pain and discomfort’s effect on aggressive B
pain + other physical discomforts (heat, humidity, air pollution, offensive odours, etc) can decrease threshold for aggressive B
WHY?
situational causes of aggression
- frustration
- perception that you are being prevented from obtaining a goal - frustration-aggression theory
- theory that frustration will increase the probability of an aggressive response
frustration and aggression: increasing aggressive B
chances that frustration will lead to aggression are increased when:
1. you are close to reaching your goal + are prevented from doing so
2. frustration = unexpected
3. perception that you have less than you deserve, less than what you have been led to expect, or less than what people similar to you have
frustration and aggression: decreasing aggression
- situation causing the frustration is understandable
- cause of frustration is legitimate
- cause of frustration is unintentional
direct provocation and reciprocation
- people usually feel the urge to reciprocate after being provoked by intentional aggressive B
- may be explained by evolutionary theories, social learning theory, frustration-aggression hypothesis
-most will not retaliate if the aggression = perceived to be unintentional or other circumstances are known
social exclusion
- pain of being excluded from a group of peers increases aggression
- correlational studies also show a link between peer rejection and aggression in children
- can also motivate us to form new social bonds
weapons effect
- increase in aggression that can occur because of mere presence of gun or other weapon
- Berkowitz and Lepage (1967)
- decrease in homicide rates in countries with stricter gun laws (Canada vs USA)
violence in videogames
increase in aggressive B, yet effect = very small
pornography and violence
viewing violent pornographic material is associated with:
1. increased sexism
2. increased acceptance of secual violence towards women
3. acting aggressively toward women
numbing + media violence
repeated exposure to media violence tends to reduce sensitivity to those events
decreasing aggression
- severe punishment does not work to deter violent crime
- physical punishment may be effective short term, not long term
- reinforcement = most successful
catharsis
- idea that it relieves built up aggressive energy and reduces likelihood of further aggressive B
- many studies do not support this, and show the opposite
blaming the victim
- aggressor experiences cognitive dissonance
- aggresor tends to derogate the victim to justify act of cruelty
