Chapter 11 Aggression

Question 1

Aggression

Answer 1

Behaviour intended to harm another individual

Question 2

Instrumental/proactive aggression

Answer 2

Aggressive behaviour whereby harm is inflicted as a means to a desired end

Question 3

Emotional/ reactive aggression

Answer 3

Aggressive behaviour where the means and the end coincide; harm is inflicted for its own sake

Question 4

corporal punishment

Answer 4

Physical force (i.e., spanking/hitting) intended to cause a child pain - but not injury- for the purpose of controlling or correcting the child’s behaviour

Question 5

Social learning theory

Answer 5

The theory that behaviour is learned through the observation of others as well as through the direct experience of rewards and punishments

Question 6

Catharsis

Answer 6

A reduction of the motive to aggress that is said to result from any imagined, observed, or actual act of aggression
- Releasing the aggression through action

Question 7

weapons effect

Answer 7

The tendency that the likelihood of aggression will increase by the mere presence of weapons

Question 8

Prosocial

Answer 8

Altruism, helping behaviour

Question 9

Asocial

Answer 9

Being on your own, not doing anything with anyone

Question 10

Antisocial

Answer 10

Aggression, violence, hurtful destructive behaviour

Question 11

Violence

Answer 11

Aggression with the goal of extreme harm, including injury or death

Question 12

Hormone linked with aggression

Answer 12

Testosterone

Question 13

Dual hormone hypothesis

Answer 13

Testosterone: aggression increases testosterone and vice versa
Cortisol (stress hormone): triggers behavioural inhibition

Question 14

Cultures of honour

Answer 14

Emphasizes honour and social status, particularly for men

Question 15

Bullying

Answer 15

Bullying is common in all cultures

Question 16

Who commits violent crimes?

Answer 16

Ages 14-24 years

Question 17

Who’s more aggressive? Men or women

Answer 17

Men are more physically aggressive and are just as relationally aggressive as women

Question 18

World Aggression over time

Answer 18

The world has become less aggressive

Question 19

Evolutionary theories: Aggression

Answer 19

For males: Aggression is high risk/high reward
Females prefer high-status males
Aggression is a way of displaying/maintaining status

Question 20

What causes Male vs. Female violence

Answer 20

Sexual jealously

Question 21

Is aggression a learned behaviour?

Answer 21

YES

Question 22

Positive reinforcement

Answer 22

Aggression is reinforced when it produces desired outcomes

Question 23

Negatively reinforced

Answer 23

Aggression is reinforced because it prevents or stops undesirable outcomes

Question 24

Punishment can reduce aggressive behaviour ONLY when the punishment…

Answer 24

• immediately follows the aggressive behaviour
• is strong enough to deter the aggressor
• is consistently applied
• is perceived as fair and legitimate by the aggressor

Question 25

Desensitization

Answer 25

People habituate to violent media
- Reduced empathy for victims
- Blunted physiological responses

Question 26

Frustration- Aggression hypothesis (1939)

Answer 26

(a) aggression is a response to frustration
(b) all aggression is the result of frustration

Question 27

Frustration

Answer 27

Response to blocking of goal-directed behaviour
psychological drive that propels the individual towards actions to decrease the drive

Question 28

Displacement

Answer 28

If we can’t’ aggress against the source of the frustration, we aggress against another target, thus displacing the arousal

Question 29

Is catharsis a healthy method for dealing with aggression?

Answer 29

NO

Question 30

Frustration - Aggression Hypothesis Revised

Answer 30

Negative events (pain, loud noise, frustration, jealousy, odors, threat, etc.) lead to negative affect (bad mood) which then can lead to aggression

Question 31

Situational factors on aggression

Answer 31

Pain/aversive event
heat
intensity of arousal
crowding
aggression cues

Question 32

Influence of alcohol

Answer 32

• Alcohol myopia: narrowing of our attention; we only focus on what’s salient
• Difficult to predict consequences
• Less self-awareness and self-control
  These factors can promote aggressive behaviour

Question 33

How can we reduce aggression?

Answer 33

• Reduce stressors
• Teach and model nonviolent responses to frustrations and problems
• Emphasize cooperation over competitiveness
• Change cost-reward payoffs associated with aggression