Deviant Behaviour Flashcards
What is deviant behaviour?
Refers to a behaviour that does not conform to social norms and values.
Elicits negative respose.
Can be formal or informal & voluntary or involuntary.
Most deviant- may be a voluntary violation or a formal law.
Physical and mental disabilities can be involuntary deviant behaviour.
Agression
“Any form of behaviour that is intended to injure someone physically or psychologically” (Berkowitz, 1993).
Cause of deviant behaviour
Nature or nurture?
Traditional theories
Lorenz: fighting instinct- strongest males pass on genes.
Evolutionary perspective: activating men’s mating motivation; more likely in presence of only men.
- linked to status and success in obtaining attractive mates (Grisakevisius et al, 2007).
Operant conditioning
People go by what has worked for them in the past.
Can be inadvertently that aggression is acceptable and effective- through direct reinforcement/reward or by others.
Social learning theory
Children can be taught violence- direct experience or observation.
Through this can learn- ways to aggress; who to be aggressive to; what actions by others justify etc.
Parents play key role.
Ethnology = the study of characteristics of different people, and and link/differences between them
Role of culture: culture of honour; old western films; culture of manhood and ‘being a man’.
Associated with traditional ideals of dominant masculinity: white, heterosexual males can be aggressive/undertake deviant behaviour to those subordinate.
Can change as culture evolves.
Increasing aggression: Aggressive cues hypothesis
Berkowitz, 1996: Triggers for aggressive thoughts result in anger or fear & flight; threats to reputation.
Increasing aggression: Arousal-excitation transfer
Zillman, 1971: high emotions lead to aggression (not always); physiological arousal persists overtime.
Increasing aggression: Frustration-aggression hypothesis
Dollard et al, 1939: how we feel when we don’t get what we expect.
Critique: - causal assumptions- aggression not just due to frustration (other factors); can lead to sadness.
- takes o account of situational factors.
- only really the case when felt justified.
Social causes
Social exclusion: - cycle of aggression and exclusion.
- hostile cognitive mind-set rather than emotions leading to aggression.
- evolutionary theory- social beings.
Media: - Bandura.
Personality traits
Traits as situational sensitivities model (TASS model):
- High aggressive traits- weak provocations stimulate response.
- Moderate- require strong provocations to trigger response (Marshall & Brown).
Type A (high competitiveness and urgency) and type B behaviour pattern: likely to engage in hostile aggression rather than instrumental.
Narcissist personalities.
Inhibiting control
Alcohol: - impaired cognitive and social function.
- harder to evaluate others’ intentions.
- harder to evaluate effects of behaviours.
- difficult to process positive information about someone they don’t like.
De-individuation = loss of self-awareness in groups.
Role of media
Lots of meta-analyses post 1960s conducted on TV/films and violence- two general conclusions:
- Short term exposure to violence increases short term aggression.
- Long term exposure to violence increases long term aggression.
Violent video games
Thought to be worse than passive watching.
Effect: consistency; methodological rigour; causality evidence.
All above 0.2 effect size- smaller sizes for other health issues.
Harmful effects but violence sells.
