Ch 13: Aggression Flashcards
Aggression
behavior primarily intended to harm someone
silent aggression
inter-species, predator/prey, goal is survival, functional
-in humans instrumental aggression -> not out of anger, in the service of some other goal
social aggression
intra-species, intended to cause emotional or social harm
-in humans hostile aggression -> out of anger or impulse
Ethology
study of animal behavior, forms the perspective that aggression is a biological predisposition
Lorenz “aggressive energy” theory
aggression is biologically adaptive energy that needs release through catharsis -> release of pent-up aggressive energy through vicarious or symbolic acts of aggression (influenced by Freud)
twin studies on aggression
suggest 50% of variation in aggression is attributable to genes
-problems: environmental similarity, mono-zygotic twin aggression not especially similar in the lab
warrior gene
responsible for regulating manufacturing of MAO-A, linked to low levels of serotonin
- associated with heightened incidence of psychopathy and aggression
- 34% of whites have it
Biological influences on aggression
Serotonin- depressed levels or function associated with increased aggression
Testosterone- 10x higher in males, associated with increased risk taking, selfishness, and aggression
Alcohol- reduces self awareness/ability to consider consequences, interacts with testosterone, preferred by people violent when sober, also more likely to be aggressive when intoxicated
Displaced aggression
aggression that is aroused by one source but directed at another
Frustration-aggression hypothesis
frustration is the blocking of a goal and facilitates aggression
frustration is increased when…
- motivation to achieve the blocked goal is strong
- we expected to achieve the goal
- blocking is complete
frustration facilitates aggression especially if…
- anticipated satisfaction from achieving the goal
- frustration is total
- happens more than once
- frustrated when goal was nearly achieved
Neo-associationalist model
frustration leads to anger with cues associated with aggression
Relative deprivation
perception that relative to others one is not receiving good treatment of experiencing desired outcomes
Social learning theory, & sports games
vicarious conditioning
-sports games: social learning theory -> more aggression after team wins, frustration-aggression hypothesis -> more aggression after team loses
hostile attribution bias
seeing innocent or ambiguous behaviors as deliberate acts of provocation
-aggressive people more prone to this bias
Mean world syndrom
exaggerated perceptions of the frequency of violence and antisocial behaviors that may follow from the consumption of violent medial material
Desinsitization
reductions in negative emotions to violence after repeated exposure to violent stimuli, because negative emotions deter people from aggression desensitization can lead to increased levels of aggression
General aggression model (GAM)
(Individual differences and situational variables) influence (aggressive thoughts, feelings and physiological arousal) influences (appraisal process) influences (behavior choice)
Culture of honor
culture in which honor and reputation, especially in men, is held to be important and in which violence is seen as a justified means of defending ones honor
Hate crime
aggressive and illegal act against a person that is motivated by prejudice towards the group to which they belong
Catharsis
shown to increase not decrease aggresion
social learning approach
aggressive behavior is learned and can thus be unlearned or never taught
male warrior hypothesis
argument that men who are effective warriors have advantage in accessing mates and thus passing on genes and as a result have acquired a psychological makeup predisposing them to war-like behavior
