Agression Lecture

Question 1

Types of Aggression

Answer 1

Definitions/Types of Aggression: 
- Behavior that is intended to harm others and is intentional 
Hostile Aggression (Reactive): 
-Rage or anger
-Ex. Giving someone the finger 
Instrumental Aggression (Proactive): 
-Planned and unemotional 
-Ex. Tackling someone in football
Verbal Aggression: 
-Gossiping or shouting 
Physical Aggression: 
-Pushing someone 
Direct Aggression: 
-Presence of the victim during behavior 
Ex. Bullying 
Indirect Aggression: 
-Absence of the victim 
-Ex. Cyber bullying

Question 2

Personal Determinants (5 things) of Aggression

Answer 2

Neural and chemical influences:

• Testosterone, serotonin, cortisol
• Correlation is consistent and positive but not high

Gender differences

• Men have more testosterone
• Boys play more aggressive than girls
• Girls show more indirect aggression & are likely to use mild physical violence against partner
• Men likely to use severe physical violence against partner

Age differences

• Toddlers most aggressive- 25% of all acts
• Then men between 15-25

Cultural differences:
-Higher rates in southern US of homicide- culture of honour
-COH: Norms support aggression and violence to protect property and honour
Cognitive Biases:
-Study example: control group characterized the middle picture as ‘non’aggressive’ depends what the baseline was for how people judged the middle picture

Question 3

Situational Determinants of Aggression (4 things)

Answer 3

Alcohol

• Lowers self-awareness
• Domestic violence linked with alcohol
• Study: When given alcohol, described more negative views about their partner, thinking about negative aspects of the relationship.

Aggression cues (Weapons, Black Jerseys):

• Weapons only make people more aggressive if they are already angry
• Teams with black jerseys received more penalties- also black uniform group acted more aggressive when putting that jersey on when compared to red jerseys,

Frustration-Aggression hypothesis:

• Blocking the goal of an activity. You can see the end goal but cant get it
• Ex. Waiting in lines, slow computer
• No control over this **

Two possibilities: 1. Frustration leads to aggression OR Aggression is a result of frustration

Question 4

Social Learning (Aggression)

Answer 4

Children who observed adult knocking down the doll, imitated the same aggressive actions that the adult performed
-Lyrics: Acted more hostile but only short term in lab
-Video games: Reported more hostile and aggressive.
-TV: More violent acts in childrens shows than adult
Catharsis- taking aggression out by punching or taking it out on someone. It doesn’t actually work. It makes them feel more aggressive not less