Ch. 13 - Aggression

Question 1

Hostile aggression
Instrumental aggression
Relational aggression

Answer 1

Behaviour meant to harm another (physically or psychologically), motivated by negative emotional state
Behaviour intended to harm another in the services of motives other than pure hostility (e.g. attracting attention, advancing political cause, armed robbery)
Aimed at damaging another’s reputation of relationships (e.g. gossip)

Question 2

Dehumanization

How to reduce it

Answer 2

Attribution of nonhuman characteristics and denial of human qualities to groups other than one’s own
Likelihood of this occurring increases when there is strong in group loyalty
Leads to aggresion

Aggression and dehumanization can be reduced if we mentally distance ourselves from the situation

Question 3

Evolutionary theory of aggression

Young male syndrome

Answer 3

Men aggress as a means of attaining/maintaining status –> establish dominance over other males and show jealousy when other males show interest in their mate
Young male syndrome = men in their reproductive prime are more likely to murder another young adult male

Question 4

Violence in stepfamilies

Inclusive fitness

Answer 4

Fitness of an individual is based on reproductive success and the passing of one’s own genes and those of relatives to future generations
Stepparents incur all the costs of parental care with no enhancements to their inclusive fitness since they don’t share genes with their stepchildren
Relationships between stepparents and stepchildren tend to be more conflicted

Question 5

Income inequality and aggression

3 explanations

Answer 5

Crime rates are higher in countries with greater economic inequality

People at bottom of economic ladder feel effects of social rejection that can trigger violence
Inequality undermines feelings of trust and goodwill among people, which can also lead to frustration and aggression
Evolutionary perspective: inequality throws males into more intense competition for resources and access to mates which often motivates murder and other crimes

Question 6

Culture and aggression

Answer 6

Culture of honour = male violence is socially acceptable, view aggression as legitimate means of restoring honour

Question 7

Culture and sexual violence

Answer 7

Rape prone culture = rape is used as an act of war against enemy women, as a ritual act, or as a threat against women to keep them subservient
These cultures are likely to have history of warfare, high levels of violence, emphasis on masculinity, and lower status for women

Question 8

Gender and aggression

Answer 8

Men are more prone to physical aggression, women are more prone to relational/emotional aggression
Evolutionary perspective: more aggressive men are more successful in terms of reproductive success
Cultural perspective: men are more aggressive because they are socialized to be so
Precarious man hypothesis = idea that a man’s gender identity of strength and toughness may be lost under various conditions and such a loss can trigger aggressive behaviour

Question 9

Dual instinct theory

Answer 9

Freud

Aggression is a way to redirect self destructive death instincts toward other people as a form of self preservation

Question 10

Frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 10

Dollard
Aggression is automatic response to the blocking of goal directed behaviour
Frustration always leads to aggression and is the only cause of aggression –> but there are many instances when we are frustrated but do not act aggressively

Question 11

Revised frustration aggression theory

Answer 11

Berkowitz
Any unpleasant stimulation will lead to hostile aggression, but only when it generates unpleasant feelings
Crime rates increase on hot days

Question 12

Social exclusion theory

Answer 12

Situational variables (e.g. perceived control) also influence likelihood of social exclusion leading to aggression

Question 13

Cognitive neoassociation model

Answer 13

Unpleasant stimulus needs to negative feelings, while something else simultaneously primes aggression
If the person experiences anger, they will aggress
If person experiences fear, they will try to leave the situation

Question 14

Social learning theory

Answer 14

Bandura
Aggression is learned through observation and modelling by others
Aggression is seen as appropriate if the models being observed are not punished for their actions
Bobo doll experiment

Question 15

Relationship between media violence and aggression

Answer 15

Social learning theory: media violence causes aggressive behaviour
Selection hypothesis: aggressive people just consume more violent media

Question 16

Effects of violent video games on aggression in youth (5)

Answer 16

Increase in aggressive behaviour
Decrease in prosocial behaviour
Increase in aggressive thoughts
Increase in aggressive emotions
Increase in blood pressure and heart rate

Question 17

How media violence affects viewer aggression (5)

Answer 17

Weakened inhibitions against violent behaviour
Imitation (especially if models are rewarded and acts seem justified)
Priming: watching violence makes anger more easily available
Desensitization: prolonged exposure to media violence leads to decreases in physiological and emotional responsiveness to violence
Mean world syndrome: the more people watch TV, the more they believe the world is a dangerous place and that they will be the victim of a crime

Question 18

Construal and intergroup conflict
Reactive devaluation
Phil Tetlock

Answer 18

Perceiving conflict between you and your adversary as moral good vs immoral evil leads to polarization and dismissal of any common ground between parties
Reactive devaluation = attaching less value to an off in a negotiation if the opposing party makes it
Adversaries can either reason with each other in complex (high differentiation and integration) or simple fashion

Question 19

Ways of reducing aggression (6)

Answer 19

Punishment (should be prompt and unavoidable)
Modelling non aggressive behaviour
Training in communication and problem solving
Teaching empathy
Expressing emotions clearly and calmly
Forgiving others