aggression frustration hypothesis Flashcards
what’s the frustration-aggression hypothesis by
Donallard et al (1939)
frustration always leads to aggression + aggression is always result of frustration.
how does the aggression-frustration hypothesis work
if our attempt to achieve goal is blocked by external factors we experience frustration = creates an aggressive drive - leading to aggressive behaviour. e.g. violence fantasy, verbal outburst, physical violence.
how is the aggression-fustration hypothesis cathartic?
This is cathartic because aggression created by the frustration is satisfied thereby reducing the drive + making further aggression less likely. we feel better for getting it off our chest.
what was the frustration aggression hypothesis based on
Based on psychodynamic concept of catharsis + views aggression as a psychological drive akin to biological drives like hunger.
who created the frustration aggression hypothesis
Donallard et al (1939)
the hypothesis recognises that aggression is not always expressed directly against the source of frustration for 3 reasons.
List them
(frustration aggression h)
-the cause may be abstract,
e.g. economic situation the government or music industry.
-the cause may be too powerful and we risk punishment by aggressing against it
e.g the teacher who gave you a lower grade than you expected.
-the cause may be unavailable at the time
e.g. perhaps the teacher left before you realised what grade you got.
so aggression is deflected onto an alternative- one that is not abstract, is weaker + is available.
give just the 3 examples (TITLES) when frustration not at source
-cause may be abstract
-cause may be too powerful and we risk punishment by aggressing against it.
- cause may be unavailable at the time
who conducted the research into fustration-aggression
Russell Green 1968
what was Greens procedure into fustration-aggression
procedure:
male university students were given the task of completing jigsaw. their aggression was manipulated in 3 ways.
-some puzzle was impossible to solve
-some ran out of time because confederate P kept interfering.
-confederate insulting the P as they failed to solve the puzzle.
Next part of the study involved the participant giving electric shocks to the confederate when they made a mistake on another task.
what was Greens findings
FINDINGS: insulted Ps gave the strongest shocks on average followed by interfered group, then the impossible task Ps. All 3 groups gave more intense shocks then control group (didn’t experience frustration)
who studied environmental cues for aggressive behaviour
Berkowitz and Lepage
what does environmental cues do for aggressive behaviour
(Berkowitz)
Berkowitz (1989), frustration creates a readiness for aggression.
But the presence of environmental cues make acting upon this more likely. TF, cues are an additional element of the fusrtration-aggression hypothesis.
This demonstrated in famous study
what was the procedure into the role of environmental cues
Berkowitz and Lepage
PROCEDURE: arranged for student participants to be given electric shocks in lab situation, creating anger + frustration. The individual who gave the shocks was a confederate of the researchers. The participants then had the opportunity to turn the table + give electric shocks to the confederate.
what was Berkowitz and Lepage findings
FINDINGS: the number of shocks given depended on the presence or absence of weapons in the lab. IN one condition, two guns whew present on the table next to the shock machine. Average number of shocks given in this condition was 6.07. When no guns were present, average number of shocks was at 4.67.
how does Berkowitz and Lepage’s findings suggest their theory abt the environmental cues
This so-called weapon effect supports Berkowitz contention that the presence of aggression environmental cues stimulates aggression.
Evaluation of frustration-aggression hypothesis
- RESEARCH SUPPORT
Marcus-Newhall et al (2000) conducted meta analysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression. These studies investigated situations in which aggressive behaviour had to be directed against a target other than the cause of frustration.
Conclusions: displaced aggression is a reliable phenomenon. P who were provoked but unable to retaliate directly against the source of their frustration were significantly more likely to aggress against an innocent party than people who were not provoked. This is exactly the outcome predicted by the frustration-aggression hypothesis.
-Is aggression Cathartic?
BUSHMAN (2002) found Ps who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag actually became more angry + aggressive rather than less. In fact, doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting anger. B argues using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire. But this is the advice therapist give to clients. The outcome go this study is very different from that predicted by the frustration-aggression hypothesis. This cast doubt on the validity of a central assumption of the hypothesis.
-Berkowitz reformulation: negative affect theory
became clear from research that frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression + aggression can occur without frustration. so Leonard Berkowitz reformed the hypothesis - argued that frustration is just one of many adverse stimuli that creates negative feelings; jealousy, pain, loneliness. So aggressive beh is triggered by negative feeling generally rather than frustration specifically. The outcome of fustration can be a range of responses, only one of which is aggression. e.g. the frustration someone receives from a low grade might not necessarily lead to aggression but to despair, anxiety, hopelessness or determination. This demonstrates the original hypothesis was inadequate as it could only explain how aggression arises in some situations but not others.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Berkowitz argument that ‘the trigger can pull the finger’ has featured in the gun control debate in the US. some states allow ‘open carry’, where a gun does not have to be concealed. There is more concern, bolstered by many research studies, that open presence of a weapon can act as a cue to aggression, making its use more likely.
RESEARCH SUPPORT
Marcus-Newhall et al (2000)
conducted meta analysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression. These studies investigated situations in which aggressive behaviour had to be directed against a target other than the cause of frustration.
Conclusions: displaced aggression is a reliable phenomenon. P who were provoked but unable to retaliate directly against the source of their frustration were significantly more likely to aggress against an innocent party than people who were not provoked. This is exactly the outcome predicted by the frustration-aggression hypothesis.
Is aggression Cathartic?
BUSHMAN (2002)
found Ps who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag actually became more angry + aggressive rather than less. In fact, doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting anger. B argues using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire. But this is the advice therapist give to clients. The outcome go this study is very different from that predicted by the frustration-aggression hypothesis. This cast doubt on the validity of a central assumption of the hypothesis.
Berkowitz reformulation
negative affect theory
became clear from research that frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression + aggression can occur without frustration. so Leonard Berkowitz reformed the hypothesis - argued that frustration is just one of many adverse stimuli that creates negative feelings; jealousy, pain, loneliness. So aggressive beh is triggered by negative feeling generally rather than frustration specifically. The outcome of fustration can be a range of responses, only one of which is aggression. e.g. the frustration someone receives from a low grade might not necessarily lead to aggression but to despair, anxiety, hopelessness or determination. This demonstrates the original hypothesis was inadequate as it could only explain how aggression arises in some situations but not others.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Berkowitz
Berkowitz argument that ‘the trigger can pull the finger’ has featured in the gun control debate in the US. some states allow ‘open carry’, where a gun does not have to be concealed. There is more concern, bolstered by many research studies, that open presence of a weapon can act as a cue to aggression, making its use more likely.
