Aggression

Question 1

Define aggression

Answer 1

Behaviour intended to harm another person with the knowledge that the target is motivated to avoid the action. Can be verbal/physical, active/passive

Question 2

What were Lorenz’s beliefs on aggression?

Answer 2

‘Fighting instinct’ for food/sex

Biological craving that must be satisfied

Question 3

What is the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

Answer 3

When goal-directed behaviour is blocked/threatened this results in frustration, negative affect and hence aggression

Question 4

What is catharsis?

Answer 4

Releasing aggressive energy through ‘harmless’ substitute for actual aggression e.g sport which was seen as Lorenz as a substitute for war

Question 5

What are the arguments against catharsis?

Answer 5

• Catharsis trains you to be aggressive

- Aggressive sports are more common in ‘war-like’ cultures

Question 6

How can exposure to violent media affect behaviour?

Answer 6

• Strong and growing evidence for correlation with hostile behaviour
• More likely to learn that violence is rewarding
• Hostile attribution bias
• Desensitisation in emotional reaction to violence and less sympathy for victims

Question 7

What are mechanisms of moral disengagement?

Answer 7

Bandura 1999
People are naturally aversed to perpetrating violence and this must be overcome thorugh:
- Euphemism
- Displacement of responsibility
- Minimizing consequences & advantageous comparison
- Dehuminizing the victim

Question 8

What are the two types of dehuminisation?

Answer 8

1. Humans as animals - denial of civility and culture

2. Humans as objects - denial of human warmth and emotion

Question 9

What is a culture of honor?

Answer 9

Where violence to restore one’s honor is supported by norms, associated with masculinity and maintenance of reputation
Argument that this happens when absence of law enforcement means that one must defend themselves