Frustration Aggression Hypothesis Flashcards
What did Dollard’s original hypothesis state?
His hypothesis sees aggression as the consequence of frustration and frustration always leads to aggression.
According to Dollard, frustration always leads to…
Aggression
Why does this hypothesis say we experience aggression?
Attempts to satisfy a biological drive are blocked leading to outbursts
What is catharsis?
The process of releasing negative emotion such as grief and anger and thereby relieving the adverse psychological impacts of these emotions.
The hypothesis understands that aggression is not always expressed. Give 3 reasons why
Cause of aggression may be too abstract
Cause may be too powerful (aggression towards this source may result in punishment)
Cause may be unavailable
If the cause of our aggression is unavailable, what might we do with our emotions?
Displace them onto a less threatening source
What did Berkowitz say about frustration aggression?
Frustration merely creates a readiness for aggression, but the presence of aggressive cues in environment makes acting upon the aggression more likely
What happened to PPTs in Berkowitz’s study?
They were given real electric shocks by a confederate
How did PPTs react to shocks from confederates in Berkowitz’s study?
They became angry and frustrated
PPTs in Berkowitz study were given the opportunity to give fake shocks to the confederate. How did number of shocks given compare when there were 2 guns on the table and no guns in a control group?
More shocks given when environmental cue of guns were present, suggesting that they can lead to aggression.
What did male students do in Geen’s study?
Complete a jigsaw
Give the 3 ways that frustration was experimentally manipulated by Geen.
Impossible Puzzle
Distraction by a confederate
Confederate insulting PPTs as they failed to solve the puzzle
When Geens PPTs gave shocks to the confederate later on, which group gave the strongest shocks?
List from strongest to weakest
Insulted group gave strongest
Interfered group
Impossible group
Explain the strength of real world application.
Berkowitz said the finger pulls the..
What does this tell us about the impact of open carrying of weapons in the US and its impact on aggression?
However, what contradictory statement did Berkowitz also make?
Gun violence depends on the presence of…
Berkowitz said ‘the finger pulls the trigger’ This means that open carrying of weapons in the US, where a gun is not concealed does not cause violence in itself. Individuals are responsible for their use of a weapon, even when frustrated. However, Berkowitz also said ‘the trigger may be pulling the finger’. Gun violence depends on the presence of cues. The open presence of a gun acts as a cue to aggressive behaviour, as shown in his research. Therefore, the frustration aggression hypothesis shows the importance of gun control
Explain the limitation that research shows aggression as not being cathartic.
What did Bushman find about PPTs changes in aggression when they hit a punchbag?
What analogy did Bushman use to describe venting?
The better you feel after venting, the more…
What does this suggest about the validity of frustration aggression?
Bushman found that PPTs who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag actually became more aggressive than less. Doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting. Bushman argues that using venting to reduce aggression is like using petrol to put out a fire. He also said that the better you feel after venting, the more aggressive you are. This shows that a central assumption of the frustration aggression hypothesis may not be valid.
