Ch 9 aggression: hurting others Flashcards
Aggression
Aggression is behaviour intended to hurt someone
-can be verbal or physical behaviour intended to hurt someone
Classification of aggressive behaviour (hint 2)
1) Hostile aggression hurting someone else because we’re angry
2) Instrumental aggression hurting someone else to achieve some other purpose
- It can be difficult to study aggression in the lab
- ex many aggression experiments are correlation - observing
kids aggression toward tv, 2 experimental issues
kids who watch tv that is violent are more likely to show aggression on the playground
- Reverse Causality - However, it could be reversed, when watching violent TV Causes aggressive behaviour in kids or for kids who are inclined to behave aggressively are also more inclined to watch violent TV
- Third variable (Spurious Relationship) - Third variable related to both, inclination watch violent TV and inclination to behave aggressively
The causes of aggression, nature vs nurture?
Nature (inherent) - Evolutionary account, Physiological - Increased testosterone increased aggression and Decrease serotonin increase violence (More serotonin can inhibit violent behaviour such as crimes), therefore, serotonin antagonists which block serotonin will cause an increase in aggressive behaviour
Nurture (environment learning) -Social learning theory (Bandura), Parental mistreatment (Abuse, Neglect)
Gender differences in Aggression (2 Explanations)
The tendency to physically a grass is one of the most pronounced gender differences - Males are more aggressive than females and there’re two ways to explain
1) Evolutionary perspective - In the past men were the hunters and protectors Whereas females were the caregivers
2) Sociocultural Perspectives - At an early age boys are given toys that are more aggressive in nature, Physical aggression more likely in males than females. However relational AggressionIs more likely in females and males, This is gossiping or shunning
Culture Distinction with aggression ~ Culture of Honour
- The culture of honour is a distinction Meet up within the states
- Southerners, Southern Western states are classified as cultures of honour Whereas Northern states not
- It is this belief where there are strong concerns about reputation particularly male reputation and sensitivity to insults
- If this Culture of honour is insulted it can be seen as a reason for engaging in violence
Culture of Honour Study by Cohen 1996
-Whether people were from a culture of honor
-83 male Participants 42 from the north and 41 from the South We’re asked to carry materials to an office down a long hallway
Control condition - Participants walked down the hallway without an incident
Insult condition - had a Confederate purposely bumped into the participant then the Confederate turned around and called the participant a name
-There were cameras recording the participant’s facial expressions when they got to the room they read a story where they were asked to picture a situation where another man was flirting with there girlfriend and asked what would they do in this situation
Found:
insult condition
-angry or found it amused
-northern found it equally angry or amused
-southern found it angry over amused
Picture Scenario + insult condition
-northern equally likely to act with violence
-southern- Those insulted were more far more likely to act violently than those who were not insulted
Situational causes of aggression - one of the primary theories is Frustration-Aggression Theory
States that a single best determinant of aggression is frustration - we will aggress when our goals are blocked
causes:
-act aggressively when the goal is blocked
-frequently being blocked to achieve that goal
-when we were close to achieving that goal
There have been some critiques of the Frustration-Aggression Theory
is says that frustration is the primary cause of aggression but that is not the only causes of aggression
ex - instrumental aggression - we might not be aggressing because of frustration but aggress because we want to meet some other cause
a revised Frustration-Aggression Theory is the Neo-Associationistic Account of Aggression
Follow Steps:
1) Aversive Event - either pain, heat or frustrated goal
2) Anger - perceived injustice, thoughts of attack, elevated arousal
3) Aggression - emotional or physical
Situational causes of aggression - Relative Deprivation Theory
the perception that individuals have less than they deserve is associated with aggression reasons for this cause: -felt left out -frustrated -inequality -income, rich/poor
we need to belong - but social rejection/exclusion can cause us to feel negative. Twenge 2001 Study of exclusion
Showed that participants behave more aggressively falling rejection
-The participants were led to believe that either they are being rejected or not, Then they had the opportunity to blast the noise to a partner, that partner was the one who supposedly rejected them
Found:
-those led to believe to be rejected blasted the noise much longer
Situational causes of aggression - Physical Temperature
- correlation heat and aggression
- More aggression in the summer season then went to seasons
- Misattribution arousal, We are unaware that temperatures making us feel uncomfortable
- possibly be due to increased hostility and arousal on hot days
Situational causes of aggression - The Weapons Effect Theory Berkowitz
states that the presence of weapons acts as a cue that can cause violence
The Weapons Effect Theory Study by Berkowitz and LePage 1967
-male participants worked with a confederate
Neutral condition - They were shocked by their partners only once
Angry condition they were shocked by their partners several times
-In return, the participant could get a chance to shock their partner back, near the shock machine was no object, a badminton racket, and a toy gun
Found:
-no object and badminton racket conditions - there was no difference in the number of shocks given
-toy gun condition - there was a difference, participants that were angry were more likely to shock their partner
