Aggression (VL 11)

Question 1

Aggressive Action - Definition

Answer 1

Intentional behavior aimed at causing either physical or psychological pain of another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment

Question 2

Hostile Aggression - Definition

Answer 2

Act of aggression stemming from feelings of anger and aimed at inflicting pain

Question 3

Instrumental Aggression - Definition

Answer 3

Aggression that serves as a means to some other goal than causing pain (ex. torture to get information)

Question 4

Biological theories of aggression

Answer 4

Generally determined behavior patterns shared by a species

- ex. Darwinian theory, includes views of Freud, ethological theory and evolutionary psychology

Question 5

Social theories of aggression

Answer 5

Role of societal influences and/or learning processes

• Some include a biological component, ex. Frustration-aggression Hypothesis and Exciting-transfer Theory
• Social learning theory: Developmental approach that stresses reinforcement principles and the influence that models have on the young child

Question 6

Freud

Answer 6

Humans have innate instincts towards life (Eros) and towards death and aggression (Thanatos) (biological theory)

Question 7

Amygdala

Answer 7

Area of the core brain associated with aggressive behavior. But even when the amygdala is directly stimulated, if the organism aggresses depends on situational factors (bio-sociological theory)

Question 8

Serotonin

Answer 8

A chemical in the brain that may inhibit aggressive impulses

Question 9

Testosterone

Answer 9

A male sex hormone associated with aggression (male are more aggressive than women)

Question 10

Alcohol and aggression

Answer 10

Alcohol serves as a disinhibitor (Enthemmer) and leads people to be more likely to commit actions frowned upon by society –> alcohol can foster aggression when people are provoked, especially powerful under social pressure

Question 11

Frustration-Aggression Theory by Berkowitz

Answer 11

Frustration (the perception that you are being prevented from obtaining a goal) will increase the probability of an aggressive Response

• The closer someone is to a goal the greater the frustration when one is thwarted (vereitelt) and the higher the probability that the person will act aggressively
• Aggression increases when frustration is unexpected

Question 12

Aggression and relative Deprivation

Answer 12

The perception of relative deprivation (feeling that one has less than one deserves or has been led to expect or has less than similar people) can increase aggressive behavior

Question 13

Aggression and reciprocation

Answer 13

People usually feel the need to reciprocate after they are provoked by aggressive behavior from others

• Unlikely to reciprocate when the provocation seems unintentional
• If there are mitigating (mildernd) circumstances, we may not aggress

Question 14

Aggressive stimulus

Answer 14

An object that is associated with aggressive responses (ex. a gun), its mere presence can increase the probability of Aggression –> Weapon effect by Berkowitz

Question 15

Social learning theory (Bandura)

Answer 15

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing others and imitating them (ex. aggression) –> stronger effects if the model is rewarded, same sex or has a nurturing relationship with the child in the experiment

Question 16

Violence on TV/media

Answer 16

• If children watch a lot of violence on TV they are more violent as teens and adults
• Adults are influenced by violent television as well
• Violent video games also increase aggressive behavior
• Repeated exposure to horrifying events has a numbing effect on our sensitivity to those events
• Adults who watch more than four hours of TV a day have an exaggerated view of the level of violence outside their home and have a greater fear of being personally assaulted

Question 17

How to reduce aggression?

Answer 17

• Harsh punishment does not prevent children from exerting aggressive behavior when unsupervised
• Mild punishment, swiftly (rasch) administered reduces aggression (in combination with education even more successful)
• Berkowitz: Swiftness and certainty of punishment leads to reduction in aggression rather than the severity of punishment

Question 18

Catharsis

Answer 18

• Performing an aggressive act relieves built-up aggressive energies and reduces the likelihood of further aggressive behavior
• Studies show that reducing anger by acting violently increases subsequent aggression and hostility rather than decreasing it
• When people are allowed to express their aggression, they later feel greater dislike and hostility toward their victims

Question 19

Social learning theory (Bandura)

Answer 19

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing others and imitating them (ex. aggression) –> stronger effects if the model is rewarded, same sex or has a nurturing relationship with the child in the experiment

Question 20

Violence on TV/media

Answer 20

• If children watch a lot of violence on TV they are more violent as teens and adults
• Adults are influenced by violent television as well
• Violent video games also increase aggressive behavior
• Repeated exposure to horrifying events has a numbing effect on our sensitivity to those events
• Adults who watch more than four hours of TV a day have an exaggerated view of the level of violence outside their home and have a greater fear of being personally assaulted