Ch 13: Aggression

Question 1

Aggression

Answer 1

behavior primarily intended to harm someone

Question 2

silent aggression

Answer 2

inter-species, predator/prey, goal is survival, functional

-in humans instrumental aggression -> not out of anger, in the service of some other goal

Question 3

social aggression

Answer 3

intra-species, intended to cause emotional or social harm

-in humans hostile aggression -> out of anger or impulse

Question 4

Ethology

Answer 4

study of animal behavior, forms the perspective that aggression is a biological predisposition

Question 5

Lorenz “aggressive energy” theory

Answer 5

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)

Question 6

twin studies on aggression

Answer 6

suggest 50% of variation in aggression is attributable to genes
-problems: environmental similarity, mono-zygotic twin aggression not especially similar in the lab

Question 7

warrior gene

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Biological influences on aggression

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Displaced aggression

Answer 9

aggression that is aroused by one source but directed at another

Question 10

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 10

frustration is the blocking of a goal and facilitates aggression

Question 11

frustration is increased when…

Answer 11

• motivation to achieve the blocked goal is strong
• we expected to achieve the goal
• blocking is complete

Question 12

frustration facilitates aggression especially if…

Answer 12

• anticipated satisfaction from achieving the goal
• frustration is total
• happens more than once
• frustrated when goal was nearly achieved

Question 13

Neo-associationalist model

Answer 13

frustration leads to anger with cues associated with aggression

Question 14

Relative deprivation

Answer 14

perception that relative to others one is not receiving good treatment of experiencing desired outcomes

Question 15

Social learning theory, & sports games

Answer 15

vicarious conditioning
-sports games: social learning theory -> more aggression after team wins, frustration-aggression hypothesis -> more aggression after team loses

Question 16

hostile attribution bias

Answer 16

seeing innocent or ambiguous behaviors as deliberate acts of provocation
-aggressive people more prone to this bias

Question 17

Mean world syndrom

Answer 17

exaggerated perceptions of the frequency of violence and antisocial behaviors that may follow from the consumption of violent medial material

Question 18

Desinsitization

Answer 18

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

Question 19

General aggression model (GAM)

Answer 19

(Individual differences and situational variables) influence (aggressive thoughts, feelings and physiological arousal) influences (appraisal process) influences (behavior choice)

Question 20

Culture of honor

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Hate crime

Answer 21

aggressive and illegal act against a person that is motivated by prejudice towards the group to which they belong

Question 22

Catharsis

Answer 22

shown to increase not decrease aggresion

Question 23

social learning approach

Answer 23

aggressive behavior is learned and can thus be unlearned or never taught

Question 24

male warrior hypothesis

Answer 24

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