Aggression

Question 1

Define aggression

Answer 1

Behaviour that is intended to injure a person or to destroy property
Can be physical or verbal

Question 2

Describe and understand competing theoretical perspectives of aggression

Answer 2

Psychosanalytic Theory = Nature, aggression is an innate drive
Social Learning Theory = Nuture, aggression is a learned response

Question 3

What are the social and environmental causes of aggression?

Answer 3

Frustration
Provocation
Exposure to violence
Group behaviour 
(Heightened arousal)
(Disinhibition)
 --> more likely to act on aggression in these situations but they are not necessarily causes

Question 4

What is the Frustration-Agression Hypothesis?

Answer 4

Frustration is a result of goals being thwarted
Leads to behaviour intended to injure the obstacle
Frustration always leads to aggression
Aggression always results from frustration

Question 5

What is Social Learning Theory?

Which experiment supports this?

Answer 5

Aggression is learned from social behaviour
We do not have innate aggression
Complex interplay between past learning and current situational factors
Reinforcement e.g rewards can be money, winning social approval, avoiding pain

BOBO the clown

• children witness moeda aggresivle attacking clown
• children placed in room with toys but could not touch them (frustration)
• children led to another room where there were identical toys used in the BOBO video
• 88% children imitated the aggressive behaviour

Question 6

The social learning view of aggression suggests that there are three main factors that lead to aggression. What are these?

Answer 6

past learning
current rewards and punishments
social and environmental factors

Question 7

What other two experiments that make up Social Learning Theory of aggression?

Answer 7

Stanford prison experiment

Miligram experiments - electric shocks

Question 8

Describe the psychoanalytic theory of aggression

Answer 8

Aggression is a basic drive
Form of energy that persists until it is satisfied
Present at birth
Caused by frustration of instincts (especially sexual)
Steam boiler analogy - catharsis displacement

Question 9

What is the Ethological Perspective?

Answer 9

Aggression is an innate disposition arising from natural selection
Ensures members of the same species do not live too close to one another –> develop greater resources for future generations
Fights between rivals select strongest and healthiest leaders

Question 10

Brain areas have been shown to be implicated in aggressive behaviour.
Which are these?
What event lead to this discovery?

Answer 10

frontal and prefrontal areas, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus

Phineas Gage - front part and left side of brain destroyed
–> impatient, irratable, erratic and uncaring

Question 11

Describe how genetics has been shown to influence aggression

Answer 11

Monoamine oxidase A (MOAO) gene = the warrior gene
MAOA may protect children from harmful effects of maltreatment
Abuse + low activity = 9x more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour
No abuse + low activity = no more likely to engage, than those carrying high activity
Abuse + high activity = no more likely than those who had not suffered abuse at all

Question 12

What is Brunner’s syndrome?

Answer 12

MAOA deficiency
Low IQ, impulsivity, hyper sexuality and violence
Leads to excessive monoamines in the brain
Those without this gene are found to be excessively aggressive

Question 13

What are the warning signs of aggressive behaviour?

Answer 13

Irritability - rising tension
Fast speech
Restless pacing
Loud voice - shouting
Glaring eyes
Verbal threats
Intrusion of personal space
Your own gut instinct

Question 14

General guidelines for dealing with an angry patient

Answer 14

Avoid being defensive
Stay calm and speak firmly
Body language!
Demonstrate that you are taking the concerns seriously
Be aware - plan ahead