agresie 2 Flashcards
What are some physiological influences?
Alcohol increases aggression
Alcohol reduces the ability to think critically
Placebo - we know drinking leads to aggression so when we are drunk we expect ourselves to behave aggressively
What is the effect of pain and discomfort on aggression?
Pain increases aggression
Discomfort increases aggression - heat, humidity, air pollution, offensive odours
What is the evidence that heat increases aggression?
The hotter it is, the more likely people are to act aggressively when provoked and when they feel frustrated
What is the general aggression model?
The model suggests that aggression arises from a complex interplay of individual characteristics, situational factors, and cognitive processes.
What are the key components of the general aggression model?
Person variables - personality traits, attitudes, beliefs and genetics can influence an individual’s tendency to aggression
Situation variables: environment might trigger aggression. E.g. frustration, exposure to violent media, social norms, weapons presence
Internal state variables: mood, adrenaline levels can influence
Cognitive appraisal processes: individuals interpret and evaluate situational cues based on their cognitive schemas, beliefs and past experiences.
Outcomes: the outcomes of aggressive behaviour such as reinforcement or punishment, also influence subsequent behaviour.
What are the effects of media violence on aggression?
Experiment found people more violent after watching violent media
Actively playing violent fames has a stronger influence
Games that directly promote violence increase hostility and aggressive thoughts and acts.
Why does watching media violence have these negative consequences?
It increases physiological arousal and excitement
Triggers an automatic tendency to imitate hostile or violent characters
We become desensitised to the suffering of the victim
What have longitudinal studies shown about aggression?
Watching more TV violence in childhood - more violent behaviour in adolescence and adulthood
Longitudinal studies of 700 families, 17 years - TV watching in adolescence predicted violence against others in adulthood
Elementary school children - viewing more violence at beginning of school year predicted more aggression, less prosocial behaviour at the end of the year
What is the problem with correlational studies?
Problem determining cause and effect. It could be that aggressive people may prefer violent TV.
Does aggressive behaviour reduce the need for further aggression?
no
Hostility of high school football players was measured one week before and after football season.
Feelings of hostility increased significantly.
Competitive games increase aggression
Does direct aggression against the source of your anger reduce further aggression?
no
Participants angered by a confederate by disagreeing with their opinions delivered strong bogus electric shocks to the confederate
Equally stronger shocks were delivered on the second task
Do we blame the victim of out aggression?
Participants who inflicted psychological or physical harm on an innocent person convinced themselves that victim deserved what they got
Ego-protecting justifications make it easier to do further harm to the victim in the future
