Freud's Psychodynamic Explanation of Aggression

Question 1

Define Unconscious

Answer 1

Part of the mind containing thoughts, memories and desires of which we are unaware.

Question 2

Unconscious and Aggression

Answer 2

Even if we are not thinking aggressive thoughts, our behaviour may still be influenced by aggressive urges that are unconscious.

Question 3

Freud’s Tripartite Theory Parts

Answer 3

Id and pleasure principle

ego and reality principle

superego.

Question 4

Id

Answer 4

Exists from birth and contained in unconscious.

Origin of energy that motivates our behaviour.

Contains instincts, impulses and drives that are socially unacceptable, including aggressive ones.

Question 5

Id and Pleasure Principle

Answer 5

Obeys the pleasure principle - demands immediate gratification of desires without other considerations.

Makes aggression unavoidable and inevitable.

The ego directs it.

Question 6

Ego and Reality Principle

Answer 6

Logical, rational and mostly conscious, develops shortly after birth.

Follows RP. It is the interface between the unrealistic desires of Id and social reality.

Ego does not fulfil Id’s aggressive urges directly but does indirectly and symbolically.

Ego has no moral sense.

Question 7

Super Ego

Answer 7

Fulfils the ‘moral role’ and emerges age 5-6

Represents conscience and moral sense of right and wrong and the ideal image we have of our selves and want to live up to.

Aggression is destructive and SE opposes Id’s aggressive drive through guilt and shame when we don’t meet highest moral standards.

Irrational and punishing.

Question 8

Define Catharsis

Answer 8

The process of releasing pent-up energy.

Question 9

Catharsis and Aggression

Answer 9

Aggression is an instinctive drive that can be satisfied.
Expressing aggression releases psychic energy, reducing aggression.

Catharsis can be achieved by displacement (aggression to one person is redirected against a less powerful, more available substitute).

Or by observing others behaving aggressively like in films.

Question 10

Preventing Catharsis

Answer 10

Creates a build up of energy which will eventually produce a destructive aggressive outburst either inwards or outwards.

Question 11

Strength

Answer 11

Can explain different types of aggression such as hot blooded and cold blooded.

Hotblooded is impulsive and has no purpose other than its own satisfaction, the Id.

Cold blooded is deliberate, rational and instrumental, an outcome of the Ego’s successful control of Id.

Matches reality of the behaviour and gives confidence in theory’s validity.

Question 12

Weakness

Answer 12

Bushman made 600 college students angry by getting a confederate to criticise each essay written.

A randomly allocated group of students could then vent their anger by hitting a punching bag while thinking of confederate.

Students that hit the bag blasted the confederate with loudest noises in a subsequent task compared to those that did not vent.

Opposite of Freud’s theory, it shows aggression is not cathartic.

Question 13

Competing

Answer 13

Graham et al shows that aggression could be cathartic suggesting we should rant instead of vent.

Ranting involves special consideration of why one is angry.

Venting is uncontrolled but ranting allows person to gain control and avoid aggressive behaviour.

Question 14

Application of Catharsis

Answer 14

Catharsis can be used to prevent build-up of destructive aggressive energy.

Catharsis could feature in therapy by bringing forgotten memories into the conscious mind.

F’s theory offers a practical solution to reduce aggressive behaviour with benefits for wider society.