Aggressive behaviour Flashcards
What is aggression?
Any behaviour directed toward another individual that is carried out with the proximate intent to cause harm. The target must be motivated to avoid the behaviour.
What is violence?
Aggression that has extreme harm as its goal.
What gender differences did Archer (1988) identify in animal behaviour?
Male animals are more aggressive, more likely to attack and more likely to fight
What was Lorenz’s view on aggression?
Aggression is instinctual and released in certain circumstances. Aggression needs to be released regularly or it becomes pent up.
Who is credited for aggression research in clinical psychology?
Berkowitz, Huessmann, Dodge
How has aggression been linked to neural networks?
Neurons are activated together and links become stronger through repetition of experience. More aggression experienced = greater number of nodes and strength of connections.
What is cognitive neo-association theory?
Unpleasant or threatening situations arouse negative feelings that stimulate physiological responses (fight/flight)
Who proposed script theory? What is it?
Rowell Huesmann (1986, 1998) When a situation is familiar and has been experienced multiple times, responses become automatic
In relation to aggression, developmental psychology studies:
Development of aggression over the lifespan, constancy of trait aggression, influence of parents, media and environment, gene-environment interactions and hostile attributional bias
What kinds of studies do developmental psychologists undertake?
Large longitudinal studies
Which emotions are linked to aggression?
Shame, humiliation, jealousy, frustration
What is the frustration-aggression hypothesis? Who developed it?
When blocked from attaining a goal, frustration ensues. All frustration leads to aggression, all instances of aggression can be traced back to frustration.
Dollard et al (1938), reworked by Berkowitz (1989)
How is aggression related to evolutionary psychology?
Aggression is hard-wired. Strong links to animal work (Lorenz, Higley). Reproductive success, survival of the fittest (Buss & Shackleford).
Why is aggression linked to health psychology?
Aggressive individuals at increased risk of poor health, early mortality, mental health problems and decreased life satisfaction.
Injury, recovery, trauma related to victimhood.
What forms of learning encompass adoption of aggressive behaviour?
Classical conditioning, instrumental learning, social learning
What is Bandura’s (1973, 1983) Social Learning Theory?
People acquire aggressive tendencies through direct experience or through observing and copying the behaviours of aggressive role models.
What did the Bobo doll experiment reveal?
The occurrence of observational learning in the absence of reinforcement to the observers.
When is a learner more likely to copy an aggressive model?
They are respected or liked or high status
They are similar or familiar
If they are rewarded for their behaviours
If the learner has a self-efficacy for aggression
How many genes are linked with aggressive behaviour? Which are most notable?
16 or 17 (Maxson)
Polymorphism in the promoter or the MAOA gene (interacting with child maltreatment)
Variation in serotonin transporter gene
Which neurotransmitters are linked with aggression?
Serotonin deficits (poor impulse control) High GABA (rodents) Dopamine with ADHD (impulsive)
Which hormones are linked with aggression?
High testosterone (especially when low cortisol, serotonin)
Low cortisol, low oxytocin
Low oestrogen, progesterone
Which areas of the brain are linked to aggression?
Frontal lobes Orbitofrontal cortex (RH) Anterior cingulate cortex (RH) Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LH) Limbic system (esp amygdala)
How is aggression linked to the stress system?
lower resting heart rate
under-arousal of CNS and autonomic NS
lower electrodermal, cardiovascular and cortical arousal
low basal cortisol levels
What does excitation transfer mean?
Residual excitation from one stimulus will amplify the excitatory response to another stimulus
In regards to aggression and personality, Freud believed:
every person has an innate aggressive and sexual drive that pushes them forward in life
Which of the Big 5 relate to aggression?
Low agreeableness
Low conscientiousness
High neuroticism
Low extraversion
Which of the HEXACO traits relate to aggression?
Low honesty/humility
Social interaction theory (Tedeschi & Felson, 1994) relates to:
aggression as a way of achieving desired goals. It is an instrumental approach.
According to the GAM, an episode of aggression depends on what?
- Person (readiness) and situation (stimulus) variables
- Cognitions, accessible affects, arousal
- Immediate appraisal
- Resources
