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Social Behavior FINAL > Aggression > Flashcards

Aggression Flashcards

1
Q

Defining aggression

A

What is considered aggression is shaped by societal and cultural norms

Social psychology defines aggression in many different ways:

Behavior that is intended to harm others and results in personal injury or destruction of poverty

The targets are motivated to avoid the behavior

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2
Q

Operational definition

A

operational definition developed by Researchers
Defines theoretical term in a way that it can still be manipulated

Different operationalisations of different researchers
1. analogues of behavior
„Imitate the real thing“
Device/measure as a replacement for a real person to investigate behavior
EG. Punching a plastic doll

  1. signal of intention
    Verbal expression about willingness to use violence in experimental laboratory setting
  2. Ratings by self or other (Einschätzungen)
    Evaluations about one‘s own/others aggressive behavior (eg. report/pencil paper ratings)
  3. indirect aggression

External validity=
similarity between circumstances of an experiment and those of everyday life

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3
Q

Nature-nurture controversy

A

Classical debate, whether genetic or environmental factors determine human behavior

Interaction of both
Generally accepted by scientists

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4
Q

Biological explanations

A

Aggression is an inborn tendency of action

therefore only the behavior can be modified

Human instinct: Genetically predetermined to aggress

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5
Q

Characteristics of an instinct (Riopelle)

A
  1. goal-directed and leads to specific consequence (eg. attack)
    1. beneficial to the individuals and the species
    2. adapted to a normal environment
    3. shared by most members of the species
    4. developed in a clear way as the individuals grow up
    5. unlearned on the basis of individual experience (depends on learnt aspects within a context)
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6
Q

Psychodynamic theory

A

Oldest approach, early part of twentieth century

Human aggression comes from an inborn Instinct=THATANOS
Opposite to life instinct EROS (sexual drive/urge)

Initially focused on self-destruction, in later development directed towards other people
Builds up naturally from bodily tensions and needs to be expressed

Neo-Freudians
Theorists modified original theory of Freud (aggression as more rational but still inborn)

Process of healthy release for primitive survival instincts (basic to all animal pieces)

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7
Q

Ethnology

A

Study of instincts and fixed action patterns (among all species when living in natural environment)

Instinctual basis of human behavior, can be compared to animal behavior

Behavior genetically determined and can is controlled by natural selection

Aggression has SURVIVAL VALUE
Make efficient use of available resources, sexual selection, food..

Releasers

Instinct for aggressive behavior might be inborn
BUT Actual aggressive behavior provoked by specific stimuli in the environment

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8
Q

Two-face theory

A
  1. inborn urge to aggress
  2. depends on stimulation by environmental releasers

Implications of inherent fighting instinct of humans

  1. we dont know when to stop when we start being violent
  2. we generally need to use weapons in order to kill

Dangerous when weapons are nuclear bombs

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9
Q

Evolutionary Social Psychology

A

Evolutionary social psychology

Modified perspective on the entire discipline of psychology, derived from Darwinian theory

Views complex human behavior as adaptive and to help individual and species to survive as a whole

Aggression is adaptive aswell
Linked to live long enough to procreate
Have social and economic advantage

Assumes innate basis and biological basis for ALL social behavior

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10
Q

Biosocial theories

A

There might be an innate component to aggress, but not so an instinct

A drive/state of arousal predicts aggression

It differs how internal/external factors interact to support aggression

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11
Q

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

A

All frustration leads to aggression and all aggression comes from frustration

Aggression as a result of a frustrating event/situation (eg. job loss) =very different to Freudian approach

Limits

Difficult to determine which kinds of frustrating circumstances lead to aggressive behavior

Loose definition of aggression

Too simple/incomplete

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12
Q

Excitation-transfer model Zillmann

A

The expression of aggression as a function of:

1. a learned aggressive behavior
2. arousal/excitation from another source
3. persons interpretations of an arousal    state (so that aggressive response seems appropriate)

Arousal transfers from one situation into another in a way that promotes the likelihood of an aggressive response

EG. Student worked out at the Gym, a motorist takes last parking space, he shows aggressive behavior

Heightened arousal makes us more aggressive than we would usually act

Especially when: aggressive behavior of a person is already well established

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13
Q

Social learning theory

A

Wide-ranging, behavioral approach in psychology

Processes responsible for
A) acquisition of behavior
B) making overt acts
C) maintainable of behavior

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14
Q

Experiences and learning can happen in two ways

  1. learning by direct experience
A

B.F Skinners operant reinforcement principles

Behavior maintained by rewards/punishments

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15
Q

Experiences and learning can happen in two ways

2.Learning by vicarious experience

A

Learning through processes of modelling and imitation of other people

Modelling effect
EG. Aggressive video games

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16
Q

Learning via script

A

Children learn cognitive schema about an event

They learn rules of conduct, so that aggression becomes internalisier

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17
Q

Social learning theory Bandura

Applied social learning theory to aggression

A

Acknowledges role of biological factors

Emphasizes role of experience and socialization

Bandura: whether a person is aggressive in particular situation depends on:

  1. persons previous experience of aggressive behavior (and that of others)
  2. success of aggressive behavior in the past
  3. current likelihood of the aggression being rewarded/punished Acknowledges role of biological factors
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18
Q

Personality and aggression

Common characteristics of violent offenders

A

Low self-esteem
Poor frustration tolerance

Narcisstic people with high self-esteem

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19
Q

Personality and aggression

A

Tendency to aggress develops early in life and becomes a stable behavioral pattern

Unlikely that some people are „naturally“ more aggressive than others

Depends on experiences due to life, age. Gender and culture

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20
Q

Attachment style

A

Description of nature of peoples close relationships, established in childhood

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21
Q

Insecure attachment style

A

Due to childhood history

Associated with with criminality

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22
Q

Type A personality

A

Personality pattern

Behavior can be socially destructive, more aggressive

Characterized by: striving to achieve, competitiveness, time urgency

Often managers

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23
Q

Sociocultural theory/social role theory

A

Psychological gender differences are determined by individuals adaptions to restrictions based on their gender in society

Different socialization in gendered characteristics (eg. homemaker vs worker)

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24
Q

Sexual selection theory

A

Sex differences in behavior are determined by evolution history rather than by society

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25
Q

Relational aggression

A

When gender and nationality interact

EG. More on Italian girls than boy, less frequently Chinese girls than boys

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26
Q

Catharsis

A

Refers to process: using behavior to release stored emotions

Cathartic hypothesis
„Just let it all out“

Idea: acting against a frustrating object helps to cope with aggression

Criticism: Efficiency questionable

EG. People who hit a punching bag later on more likely to punish someone
EG. Correlation between violent music and violent thinking

27
Q

Alcohol and aggression

A

People who drink tend to be more aggressive

Alcohol increases activity in more primitive brain areas

Harms cognitive operations eg. attention and outs people at risk in interpersonal encounters

Disinhibition hypothesis

Alcohol releases behavior that is normally under control (eg. antisocial, illegal, embarrassing acts)

Alcohol myopia

To pay more attention to provocative cues

Placebo effect

If we expect alcohol to make us more aggressive, it might turns out like this
There can also occur a priming effect

28
Q

Disinhibition

A

Reduction of learned controls against antisocial behavior (Illegal/inmorally)

Alcohol can have disinhibiting effect

29
Q

Deindividuation

A

Process in which people lose their sense of socialized individual identity

Engage in unsocialized, antisocial behavior

Often more deindividuaded in anonymus groups

More likely to be aggressive

30
Q

Dehumanization

A

Seeing others as „less than human“ (humiliate their dignity/humanity)

31
Q

Situational variables on aggression

A

Physical environment: aspects of our environment that impact our levels of aggression

  1. heat= When temperature rises, domestic and collective violence increase (also correlation heat and more alcohol)

2.crowding= Feeling, that one‘s personal space has been taken
Also increased verbal aggression

3.sport events=Associated with fan violence, „hooliganism“

Interplay of: individual, interpersonal, situational, social environmental factors
Deindividuation in crowd setting

32
Q

Collective aggression

A

Group of individuals unite their aggression against other individuals/groups

EG. Football fans

33
Q

General aggression model Anderson

A

Interplay of different theories to explain aggression

Model includes both personal and situational factors that activate three kinds of internal state

  1. Input=Person/situation
  2. Internal state=Affect, cognition, arousal
  3. Evaluation=Either Thoughtful or impulsive
  4. Action=Social encounter
34
Q

Criminality and women

A

Gender stereotypes characterize men significantly more aggressive than women

But: rate of violent offending/actions has increased more rapidly among women

Could be due to re-definition of gender roles in western societies

35
Q

Disadvantaged groups

A

Societal disadvantage can be an underlying cause of aggression

Feeling that improvement cant be achieved legitimately leads to criminal action

36
Q

Relative deprivation

A

Having less than we feel we are entitled to

37
Q

Fraternalistic relative deprivation

A

Key factor in relationship between disadvantage and aggression of a disadvantaged group

38
Q

Culture of honor

A

Cultures that approve make violence as away to preserve social reputation and economic position of oneself and family

Female unfaithfulness damages man`s reputation

Reputation can be partly repaired by making use of violence

Women are expected to remain loyal

Honor killings

39
Q

Honor killings

A

Stronger among adults from poorer/less educated families with traditional background

40
Q

Partriarchal cultures

A

Proud of male-directed violence, ashamed of female-directed violence

41
Q

Subcultures of violence

A

Subgroup of society in which higher level of violence is accepted as the norm and legitimized as a lifestyle

Rewards for violence, sanctions for non-compliance

EG. Gangs, importance of violence reflected in appearance and behavior

42
Q

Machismo

A

Key role in encouraging violence among boys and young men

Handle challenges, abuse, differences of opinions, making use of weapons and fists

„Shape dominant men in the household“

43
Q

Aggression and video games

A

Common debate: release or decrease aggression?

Catharsis or social learning?

No significant relationship between gaming and aggression

BUT

Children less likely to behave prosocially

Desensitization effects (drop in brain response)

Hostile attributional style gets supported

Opposite effects of prosocial games

44
Q

Long and Short term effects of media on aggression

A

Long term effects of media violence
Based on observational learning
Acquisition of aggressive scripts

Short-term effects of media violence
More based on priming

45
Q

New-associationist analysis Berkowitz

A

Just thinking about an act will promote its performance

Real/fictional images of violence presented in the media can turn into antisocial acts

Also the other way round: images of people helping can lead to prosocial acts

Memory
1. stimulus (eg. viewing film),
2. nature (violent/helpful),
3. Activation of networks (thoughts, feelings, action tendencies),
=increased probability (aggressive behavior/prosocial behavior)

Memory: Viewed as a collection of networks each consisting of nodes

Node=Includes elements of thoughts/feelings connected through associative paths

Priming effect=Thought comes into focus and wanders from node via associative pathway to other nodes

Automatic/unconscious process=EG. Watching movie of a violent gang

Other related thought can be primed eg. „punching“/„shooting a gun“

When feelings are activated, increased probability of an aggressive act

46
Q

Weapons effect

A

Supports neo-association account and priming effect

Just the presence of a weapon can increase the probability that it will be used aggressively

Weapons as aggressive images not associated with most other stimuli=attract attention

47
Q

Terrorism

A

Most extreme form of violence

48
Q

Institutionalised aggression

A

Aggression that is given formal/informal recognition

Social legitimacy

Integrated in rules and norms

49
Q

Propaganda

A

Used by leaders to support psychological structure

Maintain good moral of soldiers, people at home

50
Q

Genocide

A

Result of a legitimized prejudice translated into behavior

Belief in genetic differences between groups

Justify oppression

51
Q

Obedience

A

People tend to confirm to norms and obey orders

See system justification theory

52
Q

Rape myths

A

„Most women secretly desire to be raped“

rape acceptance as a cognitive schema (acts as a bias by blaming the victim without having facts)

53
Q

Objectification theory

A

Womens life experiences and gender socialization includes experiences of sexual objectification

=onedimensial image of women, eating disorders, depression

Men who objectify women are more likely to have behavioral intentions and to be sexual violent

54
Q

Victim blaming

A

Mostly attributed to gay victims and womens in cultures of honor

55
Q

Abuse syndrome

A

Learnt patterns of aggression

Cycle of abuse in some families

56
Q

Peace studies

A

Multidisciplinary movement dedicated to study the promotion of peace

57
Q

Proactive aggression

A

Planned aggression (cold, cognitive focus, gain money/power)

58
Q

Reactive aggression

A

Provoked aggression

Bodily hot, anger, response to a threat

59
Q

Assessment methods

A 
Self-report
Observational methods
Official records
Peer nominations
Parents/teacher reports
Behavioral measures
60
Q

Gate waiter model

A

Model: there are many triggers for aggression that are controlled and inhibited by the „gate waiter“ (self control)

You need glucose (energy) for that inhibition

  • don’t get hangry!
  • faster triggered for aggression when you are tired
61
Q

Aggression regulation therapy

A

Therapy against aggression

Patients get rewarded for non-aggressive behavior and punished for aggressive behavior

More self control but bodily level (arousal) does not change

62
Q

Schema therapy

A

Psychotherapie based on schemas regulating your behavior

63
Q

Violence inhibition mechanism

A

Mechanism that your violence is inhibited when you see distress in other peoples faces you were actually aggressive to

Social Behavior FINAL (7 decks)

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