Chapter 9: Aggression Flashcards
Aggression
Physical or verbal behaviour intended to cause harm physically or psychologically
Excludes unintentional harm
Excludes actions that may involve pain as an unavoidable side effect of helping someone (e.g. dental treatment)
Excludes microaggressions
Hostile Aggression
Springs from anger and aims to injure (impulsive)
Erupt from arguments, romantic triangles, influence of alcohol/drugs
Impulsive emotional outbursts
E.g. domestic violence, mob rioting, murders
Instrumental Aggression
Aims to injure but committed in pursuit of another goal
Most terrorism acts and wars
Rarely committed by those with mental illness
Strategic tool used during conflict
E.g. stealing things/mugging someone
Indirect Aggression
Inflict harm without face-to-face conflict
E.g. gossip, rumours
Direct Aggression
Behaviour aimed to hurt face-to-face
Physical: hitting, pushing, kicking
Verbal: insulting, cursing, threatening
Biological Theories of Aggression
Instinct theory
Evolutionary theory
Neural influences
Genetic influences
Biochemical influences
Instinct Theory
Instinctive behaviour: aggressive energy involves instinctive behaviour as it is innate, unlearned, and universal (Freud and Lorenz)
Organisms who successfully aggress gain resources
Aggression ‘builds up’
Evidence: less likely to aggress against kin, survival value of aggression in animals
Cons: not all behaviours are instincts, fails to account for ind. variations in aggression
Evolutionary Theory
Aggression is sometimes rooted in basic evolutionary impulses
Men especially have found aggression adaptive
Purposeful aggression improved odds of survival and reproduction
Mating related aggression often occurs when males compete with other males
Neural Influences
Neural systems in humans and animals that facilitate aggression
Hostility increases when these brain areas (e.g. hypothalamus) are activated
Cortex less active in aggressive acts, cortex smaller in antisocial men
Genetic Influences
Animals of many species can be bred for aggressiveness
Temperaments observed in infancy usually endure
People with genetic siblings who are convicted of violent crimes are 4x as likely to also be convicted
MAOA-L linked to aggression (gene)
Biochemical Influences
Alcohol: increases aggression by reducing self awareness, especially impacts men
Testosterone: more testosterone increases aggression, especially bursts (aggression can lead to more testosterone)
Poor diet: better food = less aggression (high omega-3 fatty acids)
Sex Differences in Aggression
Men more directly aggressive
Women more indirectly aggressive (relational aggression)
Due to being raised in different gender roles
Relational Aggression
Intended to damage relationships
Frustration-Aggression Theory
Blocking of goal directed behaviour, frustration triggers readiness to aggress
Frustration: anything that blocks us from attaining a goal
Displace our hostilities to safer targets
Revised Frustration-Aggression Theory
Less likely to react aggressively to someone who frustrates us if they apologize, accept responsibility, or otherwise tries to make amends
Original theory overstated the frustration-aggression connection
Frustration produces aggression only when people become upset
Relative Deprivation
Frustration arises from the gap between expectations and attainments
Most economically frustrated are middle class North Americans who aspire to be rich
When expectations are fulfilled by attainments, and when desires are reachable at your income, you feel satisfied
When being rich feels out of reach, aggression results
Aggression as learned behaviour
Bobo doll study
Children’s behaviour toward bobo doll was determined by adult model
After being frustrated by being shown all the nice toys they couldn’t play with
Children who watched filmed model or cartoon model who were aggressive still showed aggression (slightly less than live model)
Rewards of Aggression
Positive reinforcement: aggression produces desired outcomes
Aggression as revenge can feel satisfying
Learn that aggression often pays
Negative Reinforcement of Aggression
Aggression prevents or stops undesirable outcomes (e.g. violent protests bring about policy changes)
Aggressive Cues
Violence is more likely when aggressive cues release pent up anger
Weapons effect: increased aggressive thoughts and behaviours in the mere presence of weapons
Group Influences on Aggression
Groups can amplify aggressive reactions partially by diffusing responsibility
Participants directing someone else as to how much to shock someone said higher amounts than those individually responsible
Social contagion causes groups to magnify aggressive tendencies
Genocide requires widespread support, organization, and participation
Ways to Increase Aggression
Being male
Aggressive or anger prone personalities
Alcohol use
Violence viewing
Anonymity
Provocation
Presence of weapons
Group interaction
Catharsis
Aristotle
Express annoyance instead of bottling them up
Purge emotions by experiencing them
Emotional release obtained not only by observing drama but also through recalling and reliving past events, through expressing emotions, and through our actions
Caveat: Venting anger therefore actually causes more aggression
Social Learning To Reduce Aggression
Children become less aggressive when caregivers ignore aggressive behaviour and reinforce nonaggressive behaviour
Inoculate children against effects of media violence
Reduce violent programming
Must prevent aggression before it happens
Teach nonaggressive conflict resolution strategies
