aggression Flashcards

Question

Fixed action patterns

Answer 1

The second part of the exhibiting aggression. The behaviour that is released after the innate releasing mechanisms has been activated

Answer 2

The first part of exhibiting aggression. The natural algorithm that exists to prepare a person to exhibit aggressive behaviour

Answer 3

Aggression that is exhibited by a group in an institute, for example prisoners

Answer 4

A group of structures in the brain that are involved with emotion and long-term memory

Answer 5

An enzyme in humans that is said to be associated with certain aggressive behaviours Responsible for the production of MONO AMINE OXIDASE A (which is an enzyme) Its role is to 'mop up' Serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain after a nerve impulse have been transmitted It does this by breaking down the serotonin — into constituent chemicals to be recycled or excreted. Bruner et al 1993 Studied 28 male members of a large Dutch family who repeatedly involved in impulsively aggressive violent criminal behaviours such as rape, attempted murder and physical assault. The researchers found that these men had abnormally low level MAOA in their brains and the low-activity version of the MAOA gene (warrior gene)

Answer 6

A neurotransmitter that responsible for maintaining mood and well being

Answer 7

An explanation for institutional aggression that suggests it arises because of the environment and atmosphere in the situation

Answer 8

Rhee and Walderman (2002) Meta-analysis of adoption studies of direct aggression & anti-social behaviour (prominent feature of aggressive behaviour) Findings: Genetic influence accounted for 41% of the children's likelihood to be aggressive. Conclusions: Supports a genetic role in the explanation of aggression. This is an important method, because if we find a greater similarity between children and their biological parents; (rather than between the children and their adopted parents), then the role of genetics can be assumed to be a significant factor in determining behaviour. If however, the adopted children are more like their adoptive parents, then we can assume that the environment is more important in the development of aggression than is genetics.

Answer 9

Coccaro et al (1997) – data from 182 MZ twin pairs and 118 DZ pairs. Findings = concordance rates (for physical assault) was of 50% for MZ twins and 19% for DZ twins.

Answer 10

Frazzetto et al study: Found an association between high levels of aggression &l ow activity MAOA gene (WARRIOR gene), in adult males. This was only the case for those that had experienced significant trauma (sexual abuse/physical abuse) before the age of 15 yrs Those that did not experience abuse but had the low activity MAOA gene did not show particularly high aggression in adult life

Answer 11

A weakness of the ‘genetic explanation’ of aggression is the problem with separating genetic and environmental influences. For example: although the evidence that comes from ‘twin studies’ does support the idea of a genetic link for aggression, the issue is that twins still do share the same environments/rearing & it is not possible to fully separate the two factors. Not only this if the trait was purely genetic concordance rates would be 100%. This is a problem because the explanation is quite limited and perhaps the ‘gene environment’ interaction would be superior to explaining aggression An individual may posses a ‘gene’ (low activity MAOA gene) but this may only be expressed in certain environments. McDermott et al (2009) ppts with low activity MAOA gene were only aggressive when provoked (environmental factor) . This research therefore weakens the sole genetic explanation but provides further support for the diathesis- stress (GxE) explanation for aggression.

Answer 12

The role of genetic factors in aggression (MAOA) is a reductionist argument; it appears that there may be more than one gene linked to aggressive behaviour Stuart et al studied males involved in IPV (intimate partner violence) and found that the aggression found was not only linked to the low activity MAOA gene (warrior gene) but also to the 5HHT Serotonin transporter gene (another gene that affects the serotonin system in the brain) This research undermines the original explanation as it appears that aggression is far more complex and must be explained through multiple genetic factors/combination of the two genes. Therefore weakening our acceptance of the sole genetic explanation.

Answer 13

Increases aggression in viewer via SLT processes and socialising egg showing agg can be "justified"

Answer 14

Player is directly reinforced for agg in game (rewards/praise). May reduce via catharsis

Answer 15

Repeated exposure to extreme violence in media such as films and computer games results in lower emotional reactions to violence such as revulsion, making it easier for the viewer to be aggressive to others. A term used to describe people becoming used to seeing violence and aggression due to constant exposure through media, such as news or films. Thus, the threshold to be shocked at aggression is raised all the time.

Answer 16

Low face validity as real-world aggression has not increased along with the popularity of violent videogames. Research showing a link between agg in the media and real aggression can inform policy on age rating. Much of the real world data collected is correlational. May be agg children pick aggressive videogames

Answer 17

Acts of aggression are more frequent within prison than outside, due to personality or environment.

Answer 18

Prison management/design leads to agg behaviour. e.g. overcrowding, assess to weapons, lacking entertainment (Gyms/Libraries), prison layout (blind spots). Deprived of heterosexual relationships/Safety/freedom. = Stress, resentment, fear & frustration resulting in expressive violence. helped with officer training, polices & design

Answer 19

Bierie (2011) Inmate violence in the 117 US federal bureau prisons was higher in when physical conditions were poor e.g. noise levels, hygiene, no privacy & prisons with more white staff and few female staff. (all situational factors). Socially sensitive research. research arguing agg is dispositional can be used to justify lower prison standards. Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment, participants unlikely to have dispositional factors. (Screened / Stanford Uni students) high levels of agg from both prisoners / guards suggests situational power of simulated prison led to agg There is evidence for both situational and dispositional factors, a interactionist approach may be a better explanation. With some prisoners more prone to aggression, but more likely to be agg if threatened/lack resources

Answer 20

Prisoner's social past & traits affect behaviour in prison, "importation model". e.g., Alcohol & drug addiction, gang membership, periods of unemployment, low ed levels, age & culture. Often incarcerated because of aggressive acts. Violence may be instrumental (premeditated), settling scores with other gangs, gain status or deter other violence via fear. Bio factors (testosterone), Helped with drug rehabilitation, counselling, and education programs. An explanation for institutional aggression that suggests that certain individuals are predisposed to being aggressive because of certain traits that individual has

Answer 21

Cog/behav theory, agg due to observational learning, imitating live or symbolic models. Seeing rewarded for agg vicarious reinforcement. Requires four cognitive mediating factors, attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation

Answer 22

being in crowd reduces private (personal values) and public (others' opinions) self-awareness. this results in feeling less personal control over actions, reduce feelings of moral responsibility and lowered inhibitions. This makes it easier to go along with the behaviour of the crowd even when that behaviour is aggressive. When a person acts and thinks like an individual in the presence of a group

Answer 23

Harris (1974) when pushed in front of in a real cue, people became more agg the closer they were to the goal/front. Not all people who become frustrated become aggressive, and premeditated aggression doesn't need frustration. Bandura (1961): Children imitated the agg behaviour to a bobo doll observed from agg adult models. (SLT) Deindividuation research = social changes (street lights, CCTV) reducing crime and associated cost to economy. There is significant evidence that agg has a biological or gin (limbic, hormonal, genetic) social psych is not full explanation

Answer 24

Psychodynamic theory, Dollard & Millar (1939) frustration is when goal directed behaviour is blocked. F builds up causing mental tension, releasing as agg results in pleasant feeling of relief (catharsis). Agg is more likely if it will remove a barrier or closer to goal. Agg is displaced to a weaker target if cause is too powerful. The theory that every experience of frustration leads to build of aggression (which is unavoidable). This eventually leads to the need to relapse of aggression which results in aggressive behaviours.

aggression Flashcards

(48 cards)