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Aggression Flashcards

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1
Q

Neural mechinisms

How is the amygdala linked to aggression?

Limbic system

A

with the hypothalamus regulaes emotional behaviour including aggression
* key role in how humans and non-humans assess and response to environmental threats and challenges
THE MORE REACTIVE IT IS = MORE AGGRESSIVE

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2
Q

Neural mechinisms- Gospic et al

What is the research into the amygdala?

A

2 players- respondent + proposer
had brains scanned with fMRI
proiposer giving an unfair money offer= rejection ( aggressive)- amygdala= hightened response
r’s given anti anxiety drugs= reduction in rejecting offers and decresease of amygdala reacion
shows- area controls aggression

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3
Q

Neural mechinisms

what is serotonin?

A

nt that has inhibitory effect on brain

NORMALLY- works on frontal areas of brain to inhibit the firing of the amygdala = calming effect
Low levels of st= no calming effect = amygdala is not calm= overactive = aggression
St in ofc also linked:
Normal st lvls in ofc linked to reduced firing of neurons-associated with greater degree of self control
Decreased levels disrupt the mechanism= reduced self control= impulsive behaviour increased+ aggression

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4
Q

hormonal mechanisms

what is testosterones role in aggression?

A
  • a hormone released into the blood stream by the overies ( small amount) and testes responsible for masculine trait development (androgen)
  • huamans + non humans= males are more aggressive than females
  • tst acts with oestrogen receptors in the brain affecting neural transmission and amount of nts released at st synapses
  • tst lowers amount of st available making less able to control aggressive responses
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5
Q

hormonal mechanisms-cortisol and testoserone

what is the dual- hormone hypothesis?

A
  • aggression may be the result of an imbalance between cortisol and testosterone
  • expalned using the 2 systems HPA- controls CRT release and HPG- controls tst release
  • they both try to inhibit eachother = high tst low crt or vice versa
  • high tst than crt -> low st lvls-> overactive amygdala due to no calming effect= aggression
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6
Q

genetic factors

what do adoption studies show in aggression?

A

if positive correlation is found between agressive bahviour in adopted children abd their bio parents= genetic influnce bc environmental factors removed
e.g meta analysis of adoption studies of abs + agg found- genetic influences accounted for 41% of the variance in aggression

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7
Q

genetic factors

what is the MAOA gene?

A

a gene implicated in aggression
it determines the production of the enzyme MAO-A
people with the low activity gene variant (MAOA-L) produce less of the enzyme MAO-A- THIS IS LINKED TO AGGRESSION
MAOA-L ppl= hypersensitive= affected more by negative experiences and therefore react more aggressively in defence

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8
Q

genetic factors

In which group of ppl has the MAOA gene beena ssociated to?

A

Maori men in new zealand- also known as warrior gene
it was found that 56% of these men had the gene (MAOA-L) compared to 34% caucasians
maori men have a reputation for being ferocius warriors

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9
Q

genetic factors

how does the interactionist approach explain aggression?

A

diathesis-stress= environmental influences must be present which trigger the genes to cause aggressive behaviour
triggers include- sexual/physical abuse + social isolation

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10
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what is direct learning?

A

agression is learned from direct exposure through operant conditioning
works through positive and negative reinforcement + punishment

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11
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what is indirect learning?

A

learnign aggressive behaviours through observing aggressive models- through this they learn how to perform aggressive behaviours and get to see the consequences of the behaviour
if rewarded= child learns that acting this way is way of getting what they want ( vicarious reinforcement)

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12
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what makes a model?

A

someone that an individual internalises and adopts the behaviours of a role model have to be
* similar- to observer
* status- high status
* attractive- more attractive= more likely

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13
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what are the cognitive mediators?

A

attention- paying attention to the aggressors actions
retention- need to create a mental represntaion of action in order to remmeber
motor reproduction- can they physically do it again
motivation- need a reason to imitate reward?

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14
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what is self efficacy?

A

the extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal
sense of se develops with each successful outcome- confident that bc aggression was effective in past will continue to be in future
high se = likely to imitate agression
low se= unlikely to imitate

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15
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what was banduras procedure?

A
  • controlled lab experiment
  • independent groups design 36 boys and 36 girls aged 3-6 years watching a female or male model
  • iv= type of model ( aggressive, non-aggressive or no model at all)= manipulated
  • reward group or control group
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16
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what was found in banduras aggressive condition?

A

children made more imitative aggressive behaviours than those in non aggressive + control group
when aggressive behaviour was rewarded + children seeing no rewarded or punishment= imitated more aggressive behaviours of model

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17
Q

social psychological explanation- social learning theory

what was the conclusions made from banduras research?

A

aggression can be acquired by observation + imitation= slt can be used to explain aggression
partialy though bc - boys were more likely to imitate same sex model than girls
supports but contradicts theory

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18
Q

social psychological explanation

what is deindividuation?

A

people lose their sense of socialised individual identity and engage in abs

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19
Q

social psychological explanation- deindividuation

how does crowd behaviour explain aggression?

A

when part of a crowd we lose restraint and have freedom to behave in ways we usually wouldn’t bc we lose both social identity and reponsibility for our behaviour- becomes shared throughout the crowd = less personal guilt at directing agg to others

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20
Q

social psychological explanation- de-individuation

how is deindividuation linked to aggression?

zimbardo

A
  1. individuated bahaviour- rational+ conforms to social norms, self monitior and regulate behaviour
  2. deindividuated- emotional,impulsive+irattional, do not conform to social norms of not being aggressive
    uniform,alcohol.drugs promote deindivid
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21
Q

social psychological explanation- de-individuation

how is anonimity a major factor?

A

shapes crowd behaviour as when a part of it we become an unidentifiable part of a faceless crowd
the bigger the crowd= more anonymous
fewer oppurtunities to be - judged= more agg

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22
Q

social psychological explanation- de-individuation

what is private self awareness?

A

awareness of how we are behaving- this is reduced when part of a crowd , focus attention on events around us= less self critical, thoughtful+ evaluative
promotes dindivid + greater agg

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23
Q

social psychological explanation- de-individuation

what is public self awareness?

A

how much we care about what other people think of our behaviour- reducd when part of a crowd we realise that we are on individ amongst many = anonoymous so our behaviour is likely judged by others
no longer care how others see us so feel more free to carry out anti normitive behaviour (aggression)

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24
Q

ethological explanation

what is an ethological explanation?

A
  • seeks to understand the innate behaviour of animals studying them in their natural environment- try to account for behaviour in terms of its adaptive value to the specific species
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25
Q

ethological explanation- adaptive functions

how does it explain aggression?

A
  • aggression is an innate behaviour that aids survival (can be used to gain and protect resources)
  • defeated animals are rarely killed so are forced to establish territory elsewhere - this spreads out the species
  • dominance hieracrchies are also established- often in male species, this gives the individual species status= advantages
26
Q

ethological explanation

what is ritualised aggression?

A

lorenz- observed that fights between animals of the same species resulted in little actual physical damage
* most intra-species fights-= involve ritualistic behaviours with most involving prolonged ritualistic signalling ( baring of teeth) and rarely reach the point of becoming physical
* most confrontations are resovled early while displaying but many continue to the point of intense and dangerous fighting
* they end with ritual appeasement displays- these indicate acceptance of defeat and inhibit aggressive behaviour in the victor preventing any damage to the loser
* this is adaptive as they stop the victor from killing the animal

27
Q

genetic factors

what do twin studies show about aggression?

A
  • mz twins share 100% DNA wheres dz twins share 50% DNA- we would expect to find greater similarities in aggressive behaviour between mz twins of aggression is mostly inflienced by genetic factors
  • caccaro et al- studied male mz and dz twins- concodance rates:
  • physical= 50%(mz) 19%(dz)
  • verbal= 28%(mz) 7%(dz)
  • but because cr is not 100%- environmental factors may also play a part not just genes
28
Q

social psychological explanations- frustration aggression hypothesis

what is the original FAH?

A

dollard et al
* frustration= when something prevents us from achieveing our goal
* frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of frustration- based on catharsis
* when frustrated this creates an aggressive drive= to aggress
* carrying out the aggressive behaviour reduces the aggressive drive as frustration is satisfied
* this makes further aggression less likely

29
Q

social psychological explanations- frustration aggression hypothesis

what are the three reasons given for aggression not always being directly expressed towards the source?

A

cause of frustration may be
* too abstract to be aggressive towards
* powerful and can punish you aggress against it
* not be avaiable

30
Q

social psychological explanations- frustration aggression hypothesis

what happens if we can’t take our aggression out on the cause of frustration?

A
  • displacement- direct aggression towards someone or something else
  • sublimation- carry out aggressive behaviour in a situation where its acceptable and free of consequences
31
Q

social psychological explanations- frustration aggression hypothesis

what are aggressive cues?

A

berkowitz- aggression only occur in the pressence of certain cues e.g frustrated around an object they associate with aggression like a gun= more likely to carry out aggressive behaviour

32
Q

social psychological explanations- frustration aggression hypothesis

summary of FAH

A

frustration–>aggressive drive–> aggressive cue= more likely to be aggressive
no aggressive cue= less likely to be aggressive

33
Q

ethological explanation

what is meant by sign stimulus?

A

stimulus which activates the IRM in an animal which triggers a FAP ( releasers in same species)

34
Q

ethological explanation

what are innate releasing mechanisms?

A

physiological structure e.g network of cells which produces a FAP in responde to sign stimulus

35
Q

ethological explanation

what are fixed action patterns?

A

stereotyped pattern of behaviour triggered by the IRM in response to a sign stimulus

36
Q

ethological explanation

how are male sticlkebacks used as an example of IRM and FAP in animals?

A
  • they are highly territoral during mating season- in this time they develop a red spot on their belly (triggers IRM)
  • if another male enters the teritory= fixed action patternoccurs
  • the sign stimulus that triggers the IRM is the sight of the red spot
37
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

what does this explanation say?

A
  • aggression has an adaptive purpose

for survival and reproductive chances
* competition occurs when resources are limited= having to compete to survive
* males who used aggression= successful in getting mates= more likely to pass on their genes

38
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

what does the explanation say about bullying?

A
  • occurs when there is a power imbalance- a more powerful individual uses aggression deliberattely and repeatedly against a weaker person
  • our ancestors may have used bullying as a n adaptive strategy to increases their own chances of passin on their genes
39
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

male bullying

volk at al

A
  • characteristics associated with bullying are attractive to females- being dominat, physical strength acquiring resources and warding off potential rivals= protect her and child
40
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

how is male bulying naturally and sexually selected?

male bullying

A
  1. survival of the fittest=top of the dominace hierarchy= less stress=
  2. greater reproductive success
41
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

female bullying

A
  • occurs more often in relationships- a way of controlling partner, used to secure a partners fidelity so they continue to provide resources for future offspring= sexually selected bc of enhanced reproductive success
    *
42
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

how does evolution explain sexual jealousy?

A
  • its a major motivator of aggression
  • men should be more worried over acts of sexual infidelity due to paternity uncertainty
  • jelously occurs because men unlike women can neverbe 100% certain about wheteher or not they are the childs father
  • this is a result there is the threat of raising a child that is not theirs (cuckoldry)- any investment into this child is a waste of resources
43
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

what is said about men who avoid raising children that aren’t theirs from an evolutioanry pov?

A
  • they are more reproductively successful
  • psychological mechanisms (mate retention stratergies) have evolved to reduce its likelihood
  • these often drive men to display aggressive stratergies to prevent their partners from straying= behaviours are adaptive
  • they involve aggression or physical violence
44
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

what are some mate retention startegies?

A
  • direct guarding- male vigilance over partners behaviour
  • negative inducements- threats of dire consequences for infidelity
  • mocking partner infront of others to make them less desirable
  • behvaiours carried out against rivals- beating them up- cost inflicting- they reduce partners social support system and may lead to negative health consequences
  • wilson et al-found that women who reported mrs in partners were twice as liekly to have experinced dv- 53% saying they feared for their lives 73% requiring medical attention
45
Q

evolutionary explanation-human aggression

how can mrs be explained by evolution?

A

preventing a partner from reproducing with other men= chance of cuckoldry is reduced= male more likely to produce offspring and have the resources to ensure they survive

46
Q

insitutional aggression in the context of prison- dispositional

what does the theory propose?

A

an individuals disposition (traits and characteristics) create their identify= main factors in any aggression dispslayed by that individual

47
Q

insitutional aggression in the context of prison- dispositional

what is the importation model?

irwin and cressey

A
  • individuals import their characteristics and traits into the prison
  • if an individual comes from a subculture where violence is the norm they will then continue to be violent in the prison
  • criminals often live in culture of violence- norm is to use it to settle disputes- this continues to determine their behviours inside and out of prison
48
Q

insitutional aggression in the context of prison- dispositional

what are mediating factors?

A

factors about peisoners which mediate the extent to which behaviours are imported from the outside world in to prisons
* negative backgrounds like childhood trauma are more likely to engage in aggressive actions and import behaviours

49
Q

insitutional aggression in the context of prison- situational

what do situational explanations argue?

A

aggression in prisons is the result of environmental factors
when in crowded conditions this can cause a raise in aggressive behvaiour

50
Q

insitutional aggression in the context of prison- situational

what does the deprivation model propose and what are the first two deprivations?

A

aggression results from a number of environmental deprivations
1. deprivation of liberty- prisoners are deprived of their freedom need permision to e.g sleep and eat
2. deprivation of autonomy- have no pwer and very few choices= helplessness= frustration = aggression

51
Q

insitutional aggression in the context of prison- situational

what are the last three environmental deprivations?

A
  1. deprivation of goods- e.g phones are restricted or denied= frustarted sense of failure to prisoners= aggression
  2. deprivation of hetrosexual relationships- men may feel emasculated from loss of this= feel less of a man + greater opportunity for homosexuality= anxiety
  3. deprivation of security- may live in fear from other inmates= heightend sense of physical threat= aggressive response as from of defense
    * all factors have more significat effect bassed on how prison is run
52
Q

media influences on aggression

what is desensitisation?

A

continual exposure to a stimulus our responses to that stimulus decreases
aggression presented to us daily there is a reduction in our response to aggression

53
Q

media influences on aggression

how does desentisation explain the medias influence on aggression?

A
  • environment today= media saturated with aggression and violence often apprearing in the news
  • violence also feature of many comupter games today
  • means ppl get exposed to more aggression WITHOUT negative consequences= desensitised- they will not respond to real aggression with any physiological arousal
  • results in ppl accepting violence and aggression and may be more likely to respond violently and aggressively when given opportunity
54
Q

media influences on aggression

what is disinhibition and what is its link to media influence?

A

aggression is learnt through obesrving and imitating role models (social learning) like parents
* but as a child grows the media becomes an increasingly powerful role model like superheroes and figures like james bond- children look up to them and imitate
* when aggression is normalised in these role models- the child grows with the norm that aggression is socially acceptable as a response= view aggression as normative behaviour
* more powerful if violence is rewarded

55
Q

media influences on aggression- disinhibition

what role does revenge play?

A

if viewed aggression is seen as a revenge response this is deemed as normal and thus is justified
this type of viewed aggression is believed to have a greater disinhibitory effect on consequential aggressive behaviour

56
Q

media influences on aggression

what is cognitive priming?

A

through repeatedly viewing violent media we may gain schema for how situations play out
* aggressive images in the media act as priming stimuli or cues for a memory of an aggrssive behaviour
* exposure to these cues in a similar conetxt can trigger the memory leading to reproduction of the aggrssive behaviour

57
Q

media influences on aggression- effects of computer games

what is the link between computer games and aggrssion?

A
  • has a more powerful effect on behaviour than traditional screen based media because
    1. players take a more active role compared to passive viewer
    2. players are directly rewarded for their aggrssive behaviour- aggressive behaviour are often needed in order to progrss through the game- means individual is recieveing positive reinforcemnet for behaving aggressively
  • they then generalise this ti real world= aggrssive as they have learnt that by doing so they will be rewarded not punished
  • these are more likely to have a stronger influence of vicarious reinforcement caused by watching tv
58
Q

media influences on aggression- effects of computer games

how does disinhibition, cognitve priming and desensitisation also link?

A
  1. playing as good character ver aggrssive= hero etc
  2. games that involve e.g driving and violence
  3. highly violent games, killin glots of enemies
59
Q

genectic factors

what is the link between MAOA, MAO-A, MAOA-L and st?

A
  1. low activity variant MAOA-L produces less MAO-A enzyme
  2. this means that there is less of the MAO-A to metabolise (mop up) st
  3. this results in there being excess st in the brain
  4. the brain becomes desensitised to st because of this and therfore its calming affects also
  5. the amygdala and ofc become overactive= aggression
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Psychology (12 decks)

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