Ch 9 - Aggression (Exam 3)

Question 1

aggression

Answer 1

• intentional behaviour aimed at causing harm or injury to another person

Question 2

social/relational aggression

Answer 2

• aimed at hurting feelings or social status
• gossiping

Question 3

hostile/reactive aggression

Answer 3

• motivated by the desire to release feelings of aggression and hostility
• end goal of aggressive action itself

Question 4

instrumental aggression

Answer 4

• aggression used as a tool to reach another objective

Question 5

violence

Answer 5

• all violence is aggression, not all aggression is violence
• only extreme physical cases

Question 6

Lorenz’s ethological model of aggression

Answer 6

• people are vulnerable to a build up of aggressive energy
• aggressive acts = discharge of energy
• people must release this energy through catharsis/be given appropriate channels

Question 7

does catharsis reduce aggression?

Answer 7

• temporarily, not in long term
• increases it: reinforcement/habits

Question 8

evolutionary perspective

Answer 8

• environmental pressures resulted int he selection of a genetic predisposition towards certain types of aggressive behaviours
• mechanism for dealing with threats

Question 9

the murderers study

Answer 9

• murderers show a lack of activation in the prefrontal cortex
• reduced grey matter volume in the prefrontal cortex of antisocial populations
• less inhibition of primitive brain structures

Question 10

associated behaviours with reduced prefrontal functioning

Answer 10

• impairments at an emotional, behavioural, personality, social, and cognitive level
• risk taking, impulsivity, lack of self-control, social skill impairment

Question 11

the calculated killer

Answer 11

• takes high prefrontal activity for this level of planning
• greater activation in subcortical limbic system

Question 12

temperament correlation

Answer 12

• difficult temperament in childhood: negative mood, impulsivity, intense emotional expression, low self-regulation
• temperament assessed before the age of 31 months predicted delinquency and aggressiveness at age 13

Question 13

warrior gene story (Brunner)

Answer 13

• males showed tendency towards violence and impulsivity
• same genetic defect in the MAOA gene
• crucial role in breaking down key neurotransmitters that are involved in regulating mood and behaviour

Question 14

the warrior gene study (Caspi)

Answer 14

• antisocial behaviour highest in those who had experienced childhood maltreatment and had the low activity MAOA gene

Question 15

polymorphisms and MAOA gene

Answer 15

• different versions of same gene
• 30% of pop carries gene with lower enzyme activity, leads to slight imbalances in neurotransmitter levels
• other 70% have normal

Question 16

testosterone link

Answer 16

• increases the likelihood of a fight response and decreases the likelihood of a flight response
• early development and activation in childhood
• temporary spikes
• relationship to violent crime

Question 17

low cortisol

Answer 17

• high levels of cortisol can inhibit testosterone activity
• aggression is influenced by high testosterone and low cortisol

Question 18

frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 18

• aggression arises as a response to frustration, always
• frustration occurs when an external obstacle interferes with an individuals ability to achieve a goal

Question 19

displace aggression

Answer 19

• frustration lead to aggression not directed at the original source of frustration

Question 20

revised frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 20

• frustration only leads to aggression when it triggers anger
• frustration may fuel anger more strongly when it’s perceived as deliberate

Question 21

aggression cues

Answer 21

• when cues are present, individuals who are already angry are more likely to resort to aggressive behaviour
• physical objects like weapons or even symbolic reminders

Question 22

the weapons effect study

Answer 22

• aggressive cue condition led to more shocks

Question 23

2 learning mechanisms

Answer 23

1. reinforcement
2. observational learning

Question 24

vicarious reinforcement

Answer 24

• we model behaviour when we witness reinforcement

Question 25

Bobo doll study

Answer 25

• kids who watched adults behaving aggressively were more likely to behave aggressively as well

Question 26

media influences

Answer 26

• holistic attribution bias
• normalization
• social problem solving
• desensitization
• peer rejection
• vicarious reinforcement

Question 27

group influences

Answer 27

• transfer of responsibility
• group polarization
• deindividuation

Question 28

general aggression model

Answer 28

1. inputs: what a person brings to the situation
2. routes: where input variables can influence outcomes
   - affects, cognitions, arousals
3. outcomes: appraisal and decision processes
   - immediate based on internal state
   - sometimes reappraisal

Question 29

aggressive cognitions

Answer 29

1. normalization of violence
2. beat or be beaten
3. I am the law
4. I get out of control