Aggression

Question 1

aggression

Answer 1

intentional B (physical or verbal) aimed at causing physical/psychological pain

Question 2

hostile aggression

Answer 2

• stems from feelings of anger
• aimed at inflicting pain/injury

Question 3

instrumental aggression

Answer 3

to achieve a goal other than causing pain

Question 4

types of aggression

Answer 4

1. physical aggresion
   - hostile B that inflicts physical pain or discomfort
2. verbal aggression
   - words that inflict pain by yelling, insulting, ridiculing, humiliating, etc.
3. social/relational aggression
   - Bs aimed at damaging relationships (ignoring, spreading rumours, etc.)

Question 5

forms of aggression

Answer 5

1. direct
   - physical, verbal hostile B that directly targets another person
2. indirect
   - hostile B by an unidentified perpetrator that hurts another person by indirect means

Question 6

evolutionary approach to aggression

Answer 6

argues that aggression = genetically programmed because:
1. to help establish dominance
2. to protect resources

Question 7

culture and aggression

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

social learning theory

Answer 8

• we learn social B by observing others and imitating them
• Bandura’s (1961, 1963) Bobo Doll study

Question 9

Bandura’s (1961, 1963) Bobo Doll study

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

pain and discomfort’s effect on aggressive B

Answer 10

pain + other physical discomforts (heat, humidity, air pollution, offensive odours, etc) can decrease threshold for aggressive B
WHY?

Question 11

situational causes of aggression

Answer 11

1. frustration
   - perception that you are being prevented from obtaining a goal
2. frustration-aggression theory
   - theory that frustration will increase the probability of an aggressive response

Question 12

frustration and aggression: increasing aggressive B

Answer 12

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

Question 13

frustration and aggression: decreasing aggression

Answer 13

1. situation causing the frustration is understandable
2. cause of frustration is legitimate
3. cause of frustration is unintentional

Question 14

direct provocation and reciprocation

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

social exclusion

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

weapons effect

Answer 16

• 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)

Question 17

violence in videogames

Answer 17

increase in aggressive B, yet effect = very small

Question 18

pornography and violence

Answer 18

viewing violent pornographic material is associated with:
1. increased sexism
2. increased acceptance of secual violence towards women
3. acting aggressively toward women

Question 19

numbing + media violence

Answer 19

repeated exposure to media violence tends to reduce sensitivity to those events

Question 20

decreasing aggression

Answer 20

• severe punishment does not work to deter violent crime
• physical punishment may be effective short term, not long term
• reinforcement = most successful

Question 21

catharsis

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

blaming the victim

Answer 22

• aggressor experiences cognitive dissonance
• aggresor tends to derogate the victim to justify act of cruelty