aggression Flashcards
1
Q
define aggression
A
-behaviour resulting in injury or destruction of property
-behaviour intended to harm another of same species
hard to define
2
Q
how do we measure aggression?
A
- analogues of behaviour - (Bobo dolls)
- signals of intention - willingness to aggress
- ratings - self-report, reports by others
- indirect - non-physical, relational/psychological aggression
3
Q
psychodynamic approach
A
- conflicting human drives: eros (love) and thanatos (death)
- thanatos energy builds up, needs to be released to maintain personal well-being
- aggressive impulses directed outwards (can be displaced)
4
Q
ethology + evolutionary approach
A
- ethology = specific environmental stimuli are the releasers
- releasers might be influenced by evolution
- evolution = spreading genes to next gen - removing individual component by using knives/guns
5
Q
limitations of biological approaches
A
- instincts can’t be measured
- supported by observational studies only
- not that useful at preventing it
6
Q
frustration-aggression hypothesis
A
- considers frustration before aggression: job loss, deprivation, terrorism
- how to define frustration?
7
Q
excitation transfer model
A
aggression comes from:
- learnt behaviour
- arousal
- interpretation of arousal in a way that makes an aggressive response seem appropriate - arousal displaced
8
Q
social learning theory
A
- learning is strengthened by reinforcement or punishment
- bandura: operant conditioning
9
Q
personality theory
A
- aggression proneness seems to develop early: children aggressive at 8 were likely to be aggressive later on
- aggression is a trait affected by age, gender, experience
- other traits linked to aggression: low self-esteem, narcissistic, attachment insecurity, type A personality (competitive, hostile etc.)
10
Q
hormones
A
- dopamine, oxytocin, norepinephrine, serotonin
- sex differences: males more aggressive
- ps with more testosterone and/or type A personality delivered higher shocks
- different hormones for different types of aggression?
11
Q
gender
A
- socialisation of different gender characteristics - sociocultural theory
- men tend to be more physically aggressive and women more indirectly aggressive
12
Q
catharsis
A
- deliberately ‘let out’ pent up emotions to feel better H/E doesn’t work for aggression - when someone hit a punching bag, they were later more likely to punish someone
- songs with violent lyrics had effect on aggressive feelings
13
Q
alcohol
A
- makes people more aggressive
- disinhibition hypothesis: when drunk, behaviour isn’t inhibited
- alcohol group were more susceptible to pressure of shocking ps
- higher alcohol blood levels –> sexual aggression
- priming effect: activating thoughts of alcohol –> increased aggression
14
Q
disinhibition
A
usual social forces restraining us from acting anti-socially are reduced
15
Q
deindividualisation
A
feeling unidentifiable among many others, we think we are unlikely to face consequences