Chapter 11 Aggression Flashcards
Aggression
Behaviour intended to harm another individual
Instrumental/proactive aggression
Aggressive behaviour whereby harm is inflicted as a means to a desired end
Emotional/ reactive aggression
Aggressive behaviour where the means and the end coincide; harm is inflicted for its own sake
corporal punishment
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
Social learning theory
The theory that behaviour is learned through the observation of others as well as through the direct experience of rewards and punishments
Catharsis
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
weapons effect
The tendency that the likelihood of aggression will increase by the mere presence of weapons
Prosocial
Altruism, helping behaviour
Asocial
Being on your own, not doing anything with anyone
Antisocial
Aggression, violence, hurtful destructive behaviour
Violence
Aggression with the goal of extreme harm, including injury or death
Hormone linked with aggression
Testosterone
Dual hormone hypothesis
Testosterone: aggression increases testosterone and vice versa
Cortisol (stress hormone): triggers behavioural inhibition
Cultures of honour
Emphasizes honour and social status, particularly for men
Bullying
Bullying is common in all cultures
Who commits violent crimes?
Ages 14-24 years
Who’s more aggressive? Men or women
Men are more physically aggressive and are just as relationally aggressive as women
World Aggression over time
The world has become less aggressive
Evolutionary theories: Aggression
For males: Aggression is high risk/high reward
Females prefer high-status males
Aggression is a way of displaying/maintaining status
What causes Male vs. Female violence
Sexual jealously
Is aggression a learned behaviour?
YES
Positive reinforcement
Aggression is reinforced when it produces desired outcomes
Negatively reinforced
Aggression is reinforced because it prevents or stops undesirable outcomes
Punishment can reduce aggressive behaviour ONLY when the punishment…
- immediately follows the aggressive behaviour
- is strong enough to deter the aggressor
- is consistently applied
- is perceived as fair and legitimate by the aggressor
Desensitization
People habituate to violent media
- Reduced empathy for victims
- Blunted physiological responses
Frustration- Aggression hypothesis (1939)
(a) aggression is a response to frustration
(b) all aggression is the result of frustration
Frustration
Response to blocking of goal-directed behaviour
psychological drive that propels the individual towards actions to decrease the drive
Displacement
If we can’t’ aggress against the source of the frustration, we aggress against another target, thus displacing the arousal
Is catharsis a healthy method for dealing with aggression?
NO
Frustration - Aggression Hypothesis Revised
Negative events (pain, loud noise, frustration, jealousy, odors, threat, etc.) lead to negative affect (bad mood) which then can lead to aggression
Situational factors on aggression
Pain/aversive event
heat
intensity of arousal
crowding
aggression cues
Influence of alcohol
- 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
How can we reduce aggression?
- Reduce stressors
- Teach and model nonviolent responses to frustrations and problems
- Emphasize cooperation over competitiveness
- Change cost-reward payoffs associated with aggression
