Aggression Flashcards
aggression
behavior intended to harm another individual
proactive aggression
aggressive behavior where harm is inflicted as a means to a desired end (e.g. hired gun)
reactive (emotional) aggression
aggressive behavior where the means and end coincide; harm is inflicted for its own sake (e.g. revenge)
violence
an extreme act of aggression
anger
strong emotional reaction to a perceived injury
hostility
negative, antagonistic attitude toward another person or group
types of aggression (4)
- physical aggression
- verbal aggression
- relational aggression
- passive aggression
innate aggression - evidence
- people with more testosterone are more likely to be (physically) aggressive
- behavioral genetics supports heritability of human aggressive behavior
- men fought for status, women were aggressive to protect their children
- bullying as an adaptive strategy for specific conditions?
social learning theory
behavior is learned by observing others and the way they are punished or rewarded
positive reinforcement
when aggression produces desired outcomes
negative reinforcement
when aggression prevents or stops undesirable outcomes
punishment is most likely to decrease aggression when:
- it immediately follows the behavior
- it is strong enough to deter the aggressor
- it is consistently applied and perceived as fair by the aggressor
→ CERTAINTY > SEVERITY
cycle of violence
transmission of domestic violence across generations
gender differences in aggression
- men are usually more aggressive because of high testosterone levels
- overt aggression seems to be more socially acceptable in stereotypically male roles
- women can be more aggressive in indirect, relational aggression
machismo, culture of honor
even minor conflicts, disputes are seen as challenges to social status and reputation, therefore triggering aggressive responses
key traits (predictors) of aggression
- agreeableness
- openness
- conscientousness
- extraversion
- neuroticism
frustration-aggression hypothesis
- frustration always elicits the motive to aggress
- all aggression is caused by frustration
→ motive to aggress is a psychological drive resembling a physiological drive like hunger
displacement
aggressing against a substitute target because the aggressive acts against the source of the frustration are inhibited by fear or lack of access
catharsis
reduction of the motive to aggress said to result from ant observed, imagined or actual act of aggression
negative affect
it is not frustration that triggers aggression but the negative feelings caused by heat, jealousy, noise, crowding, pain
excitation transfer
(heat increases likelihood of aggressive behavior) when feelings of arousal or another type of excitation stemming from one stimulus are converted or misattributed into a different action or behavior due to a secondary stimulus
arousal
the causing of strong feelings or excitement in someone
weapons effect
theory that the likelihood of aggression will increase by the mere presence of weapons
→ any object or external characteristic associated with 1) successful aggression 2) negative affect of pain can serve as an aggression-enhancing situational cue
hostile attribution bias
tendency to perceive hostile intent in others
food&drink vs aggression
sugary drinks increase one’s self-control, alcohol does the opposite
alcohol myopia
alcohol narrows one’s FOCUS OF ATTENTION
rumination
repeatedly thinking about and reliving an anger-inducing event, focusing on angry thoughts and feelings, perhaps even planning revenge
general aggression model
input variables
AVERSIVE EXPERIENCES
(frustration, provocation, heat)
SITUATIONAL CUES
(guns, TV violence)
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
(hostility, empathy, attitudes)
AFFECT ← → AROUSAL ← → COGNITIONS
higher order thinking
interpretations of situation, other’s motives, own affect
→ AGGRESSION
media vs aggression
violent media normalizes aggression and makes people desensitized, therefore making them act more aggressively later
desensitization
reduction in emotion-related physiological reactivity in response to a stimulus
cultivation
process by which the mass media construct a version of social reality for the public
