Aggression AO3 Flashcards
strength 1 of neural/hormonal mechanisms
I: sup evi for role of limbic system
E: ultimatum game and FMRI - proposer/receivers- when offered unfair amount of money stimulation in amygdala increased (aggressive response)
C: adds validity
strength 2 of neural/hormonal mechanisms
I: sup evi for role of serotonin
E: pps given either anti depressant or placebo and were then asked to give shocks to a confederate who mad a mistake on another task- less shocks were given by pps with history of aggression who had anti depressants that increased serotonin levels
C: adds validity
weakness of neural/hormonal mechanisms
I: methodological flaws- lack mundane realism
E: lab based games (ultimatum game) unlike real life- artificial and have no consequence for aggressive reaction or risk of retaliation that may occur in real world reducing aggression
C:reduces validity and generalisability
strength 3 of neural/hormonal mechanisms
I: sup evi for role of testosterone
E: 60 male offenders from max security prisons - testosterone levels and aggression measured- positive correlation found
C:adds validity
weakness 2 of neural/hormonal mechanisms
I: sup evi for testosterone is correlational
E: cant establish cause and effect- could be environmental factors that have impact of aggression levels e.g. upbringing and role models.
C: decreases validity
strength 1 of genetic factors
I:sup evi for twin and adoption studies
E: (hutchings)- meta analysis of 14000 adopted people in denmark- positive correlation found between number of violent convictions among biological parent and adopted sons.
C: adds validity
weakness 1 of genetic factors
I: method issues with twin studies
E: concordance rates in MZ twins never 100% despite 100% genes shared- must be some environmental factor affecting levels of aggression- concordance may be higher than DZs due to more similar environment
C: reduces validity
strength 2 of genetic factors
I: sup evi for role of MAOA
E: 28 members of dutch family all involved in murder, rape and assaults- all have MAOA-L gene
C: add validity
weakness 2 of genetic factors
I: gene-environment interactions must be considered
E: research has found association between aggression/antisocial behaviour and MAOA-L gene but only for those with childhood trauma
C: reduces validity
strength 1 of ethological explanations
I: sup evi for ritualistic aggression in humans
E: Yonomamo people use chest pounding and club fights to settle conflict before extreme aggression
C:Adds validity
weakness 1 of ethological explanations
I:Cont evi for ritualistic aggression in animals
E:Study on chimpanzees show male chimps slaughtering all members of another group in coordinated attacks despite defencelessness
C: Reduces validity
weakness 2 of ethological explanations
I:Evidence aggression is not universal or independent of individual experience
E: environmental factors can influence aggressive behaviour in animals- FAP now Model action patterns with differences amongst the same species
C:Incomplete explanation
weakness 3 of ethological explanations
I:Culturally relative and not universal
E: (Nisbett)Lab experiment with South and north American white males insulted- South Americans had more aggressive responses
C:Can’t be generalised
strength 1 of evolutionary explanations (SJ)
I:Sup evi for sexual jealousy
E: Research into intimate partner violence using self-report shows positive correlation between reports of mate retention tactics and violence
C:Add validity
strength 2 of evolutionary explanations (WF)
I: supporting evidence for warfare
E:Yanamamo tribe showed constant fighting to access females and improve status- successful warriors had more wives and children
C: add validity that aggression in warfare has reproductive benefits
strength 3 of evolutionary explanations
I:Accounts for gender differences
E: there are few warrior female societies as women risk loss of offspring and reproductive damage from aggression- use verbal aggression instead
C: valid in showing why females use aggression less
weakness 1 of evolutionary explanations
I:Method issues with supporting evidence
E:Correlational and self-report could be third factor such as substance misuse leading to violence or inaccurate information given
C: can’t establish cause and effect
weakness 2 of evolutionary explanations
I:Aggression not always adaptive
E:Could be maladaptive as aggressive males may not appear attractive female mate due to risk of injury and death
C:Reduces validity
strength 1 of frustration aggression hypothesis
I:Supporting experimental evidence
E: (Geen)- used impossible jigsaw to frustrate male Pps Before asking them to give electric shock to Confederate who made a mistake on another task frustrated participants gave more intense shocks than controls
C: Adds validity
strength 2 of frustration aggression hypothesis
I: supporting evidence for revised model
E: (pricks) Swedish football hooliganism investigated- found that more objects were thrown when team performed worse than expected
C: add validity that Unanticipated events cause aggression
strength 3 of frustration aggression hypothesis
I:Further supporting evidence for revised model
E: (Reifman) Examined baseball games and found as temperature is increased so did the display of aggressive behaviour of pitchers towards batters (higher ball speeds)
C:Add validity
weakness of frustration aggression hypothesis
I:Contradictory evidence for catharsis
E: (bushman) found frustrated participants you vented anger by hitting punchbag were more aggressive in later task than those who didn’t vent
C:Reduces the validity
strength 1 of social learning theory
I:Supporting evidence
E: Bandura Bobo doll study- Children who watched aggressive model when more aggressive themselves than non-aggressive model condition
C:Add validity to observation and imitation of role models
strength 2 of social learning theory
I:Supporting evidence from replications of research
E:Replication of Bobo doll study found that children are more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour if model was rewarded with toy or cookie rather than defeated as punishment
C: Add validity to vicarious reinforcement
weakness of social learning theory
I: methodological flaws with sup evi
E: Bobo doll on like real person as it’s designed to be hit and can’t retaliate- Unlike real life as people can fight back
C:Reduces validity
strength 3 of social learning theory
I:Can explain cultural differences
E:!Kung san culture of Kalahari desert-Aggression not vicariously reinforced due to discouragement therefore less aggression is seen as there are no models to imitate and no motivation
C:Add validity of vicarious reinforcement increasing aggression
strength 1 of deindividuation
I:Sup evidence from real life
E: 60 Newspaper reports on lynching- those in lynch mob more likely to aggressively kill victims
C:Increase validity of link between group size and deindividuation
weakness 1 of deindividuation
I:Methodological floors with evidence
E: EVs Such as aggressive role models and biological factors could’ve caused aggression
C:Decrease his validity as cause-and-effect can’t be established
strength 2 of deindividuation
I:Supporting experimental evidence
E: Zimbardo- Instructed students to give shocks to Confederate- more shocks given when wearing hooded coat compared to nametags
C: Adds validity that anonymity increases aggression
weakness 2 of deindividuation
I:Contradictory evidence
E: (Johnson/downing)- students instructed to give electric shocks in one of three outfits: hooded cloak nurses outfit or normal close
More shocks given in normal clothes the nurses outfit
C: decreases validity at that uniform has an effect
strength of importation model
I:Supporting evidence
E: DeLisi- Studied juvenile delinquents for violence in prison- those with childhood trauma and drug abuse history is one more violent than control group with no history of this
C: adds validity that pre-existing factors cause aggression
weakness of importation model
I:Alternative explanations
E:Ignores role of prison officials research shows poorly manage prisons have more extreme violence from inmates and weak leadership and distant staff can cause riots and violence
C: reduces validity- Situation of factors have effect
strength 1 of deprivation model
I:Supporting evidence
E: research found Overcrowding lack of privacy and lack of activities in prison significantly influenced likelihood of violence
(Light)- Overcrowding in male prisoners increases the level of violence directly
C:Add validity
weakness of deprivation model
I:Contradictory evidence
E: Two prisons in Mississippi with conjugal visits for heterosexual relationships found that this did not reduce aggressive behaviour
C:Reduces the validity
strength 2 of deprivation model
I:Real-world application
E:1990- HMP Woodhill prison- Two units for violent prisoners with more space, outdoor views and reduced noise and temperature virtually stopped any assaults from prisoners
C:Can improve prisons in real world
weakness 1 of media influences on aggression
I:Method issues with lab experiments- lack mundane realism
E:Use artificial and unrealistic tasks such as TCRRT that are unlike violence in real life
C: Can’t be generalised to real life
strength of media influences on aggression
I:Lab experiments have good internal validity
E:Involve standardise procedures for example length of time playing video games - EVs controlled
C: Increases validity
weakness 2 of media influences on aggression
I:Method issues with correlational research
E:Can’t establish cause and effect -maybe that aggressive people choose violent games (selection hypothesis)
C:Can’t establish causality
weakness 3 of media influences on aggression
I:Issues with meta-analysis research
E:Publication bias as non-significant results aren’t published so affects of violent media may be overstated (however Anderson did use non-significant studies to reduce bias)
C:Violet media may have less effect than suggested
strength 1 of explanation of media influences on aggression
I:Supporting evidence for desensitisation
E: showed university students one of four films
1) sexual aggression against a male
2)Sexual aggression against female
3)Physical aggression
4) neutral film
Then asked participants to complete questionnaire about acceptance of aggression and empathy- Then shown rape trial re-enactment and gave questionnaire- found males who watched violent films were more accepting of violence and are less sympathetic.
C:Add validity
strength 2 of explanation of media influences on aggression
I:Supporting evidence for disinhibition
E:Lab experiment showed participants who saw film depicting aggression as vengeance gave more electric shocks to Confederate
C: add validity of aggression seen as acceptable
strength 3 of explanation of media influences on aggression
I:Supporting evidence for cognitive priming
E:Male participants exposed to aggressive song lyrics more likely it to give higher levels of chilli sauce to female Confederates than those who heard a neutral lyrics
C:Add validity that media primes aggression
strength 4 of explanation of media influences on aggression
I:Practical application
E:American army recruits individuals who are habitual uses a violent media due to disinhibited response to aggression that increases aggressive behaviour and quick responses to threat increasing survival and protection
C:Helped in recruitment for American army
weakness of explanation of media influences on aggression
I:Cognitive priming less likely it with unrealistic media
E:Game realism is important as fictional violence doesn’t provide same priming affect and may lead to less aggressive thoughts
C:Reduces the validity as media influencers doesn’t apply to all forms of media
