Chapter 10 Flashcards
Aggression
Physical/Verbal behavior intended to cause harm (includes online bullying)
Physical vs Social aggression
Hurting, but physical is body and social is feelings or relationships
Does aggression definition include microagression?
No. It’s unintentional
2 Types of Aggression
Hostile aggression: aggression from anger; goal to injure
Instrumental aggression: aggression that aims to injure as a means to some end
Almost all terrorism and war is what type of aggression?
Instrumental
Murders are usually what type of aggression?
Hostile. No less homicides when death penalty
3 Theories of Aggression
Biological, Frustration, Learned Behavior
Instinctive
Unlearned, innate behavior by all members of a species.
How is aggression evolutionary?
Sometimes evolutionary impulse. Adaptive. Purposeful aggression Increased odds of survival.
Gender equal countries and male-on-male aggression
More common when less gender equal. Higher violent crime rates.
Social status and aggression
Those motivated to increase status were more aggressive face-to-face
When is aggression highest?
Adolescence/early adult
Brain region to provoke rage/hostility
hypothalamus
Which part of brain smaller for aggressive and violent men?
Amygdala
Sleep and Aggression
Poor sleep can lead to aggressive behavior
Mental Illness and Violence: a good predictor?
Young, male, drunk better predictor than mental illness.
Percent mass shooters not mentally ill
78%
Is aggression genetic?
Yes, twin studies show similar aggression among identical.
How does nature/nurture interact for biological influence of aggression?
Bad gene + maltreatment –> aggression or antisocial
Alcohol and aggression
40% violent crimes, 50% murders involve alcohol. Alcohol increases aggression causally.
How does alcohol enhance aggressiveness?
Reduce self-awareness, attention focused on provocation. Deindividualizes and disinhibits
Testosterone and aggression
Does correlate. But less influence than in animals.
Diet and Aggression
Better nutrition led to less aggression (omega 3, low trans fat, no sweet drinks
Do fans of winning or losing teams commit more postgame assults?
Winning. Testosterone surges. Maybe more drinking too.
Frustration-Aggression Theory
Frustration triggers readiness to aggress. (eg. not getting a drink from machine.)
Fustration
Blocking of goal-directed behavior. Blocks from attaining goal.
Does frustration always lead to aggression?
No. Sometimes just irritation
When does frustration lead to aggression?
When the provoking actions are unjustified. Cues needed too.
Displacement Theory
Redirection in aggression to a target other than the source
Relative Deprivation
Perception that one’s less well off than others. Explains high income inequality – > crime
Social Learning Theory (aggression)
We learn by observing, imitating, then reward/punished. Bandura bobo doll
What’s risk for violence for those who observed gun violence?
Twice as likely to be violent
When do aggressive responses to observation occur?
Depends on the consequences we anticipate
Influences on Aggression
Averse experiences, Arousal, Cues, Media, Groups
What are some aversive experiences that influence aggression?
Pain (attack when in pain, emotional outburst), heat (too hot leads to tired/aggressive/hostile), attacks (insults provoke aggression)
Arousal and aggression
Arousal fuels emotions. Other emotions are hightened after arousal of another.
Weapons effect
An aggressive cue. Presence of weapons increased aggressive thoughts and behavior. (guns in US?)
Pornography/Sexual Violence and Aggression
Sexual violence in porn is unrealistic. Can increase aggression of men against women. Sexual offenders report way higher porn use rates. Causal.
What demographic is pornography use more common among?
Less religious, young, more sexual partners
Does TV viewing have same effects as in-person Bobo doll?
A modest relationship. Gossip on TV led to more gossip and exclusion. Causal.
Study of Nerf guns and movie watching
after 20 minutes, those who had guns in movie pulled trigger avg of 3 times while other group diidn’t
Does violent media directly cause aggression?
It’s one of the causes. One of many. But it’s a cause.
Why does media influence behavior?
It’s arousing. Disinhibits. Includes listening to sexually violent lyrics. Imitation.
How does media change our perceptions?
Desensitization, availability heuristic, primes us
Video Games and Aggression
violent video games cause aggression (causal). Increases aggressive thoughts and feelings. Desensitized to violence.
Do most who play violent games become aggressive?
No (same with smoking and cancer)
Catharsis view of aggression
An emotional release. Theory that releasing aggressive energy reduces aggressive drive.
Findings challenge this theory. Violence seems to breed violence.
Prosocial video games
Help with prosocialness
Groups and Aggression
Diffuses responsibility. More intense aggression than individual decisions
Does Catharsis work?
No. Those who punched punching bag were more aggressive to the one they were angry at.
How do you become an angry person?
Practice!
Should we bottle up anger, since catharsis don’t work?
Use nonaggressive ways to express feelings (eg. writing out on paper experiment)
Recommended not to do for when child is aggressive
physical punishment. this might just teach them aggression.
Does crime drop when increasing sentences?
No, not really.
