frustration aggression hypothesis

Question 1

what type of cause is the frustration aggression hypothesis?

Answer 1

proximate

Question 2

what is the first step?

Answer 2

drive to goal

Question 3

what is the second step?

Answer 3

obstacle to goal

Question 4

what is the third step?

Answer 4

frustration occurs as the goal cannot be reached and frustration is higher when drive too goal is stronger

Question 5

what is the fourth step?

Answer 5

when frustration occurs there is a drive to be aggressive

Question 6

what are the different outcomes of this aggression?

Answer 6

• punishment which leads back to frustration then to aggression again
• success then catharsis

Question 7

what is justified aggression?

Answer 7

annoying but understandable

Question 8

what is unjustified aggression?

Answer 8

annoying but not understandable - leads to higher levels of aggression

Question 9

what is displaced aggression?

Answer 9

• it can be impossible or inappropriate to be aggressive towards the situation causing frustration so we sometimes displace our aggression from the source to another object
• other object provides catharsis ‘kicking the dog’ effect

Question 10

real world application of FA hypothesis

Answer 10

staub - mass killings rooted in frustration lead to scapegoating (finding someone to blame) and then discrimination and aggression to this group
shows widespread aggression can have violent consequences for scapegoated groups
e.g germans blamed jews in WW1 for loss of war and severe economic problems so put them in concentration camps

Question 11

real world application of FA hypothesis - sports violence

Answer 11

priks - when a team performed worse than their fans expected, its supporters threw more things on the pitch (more aggression)

Question 12

what did berkowitz argue about the hypothesis?

Answer 12

• frustration is too limiting - it is one of many unpleasant feelings when having a goal e.g anger, jealousy etc. so it is unpleasant feelings that trigger aggression and not just frustration

Question 13

weaknesses of FA hypothesis

Answer 13

• deterministic
• cant explain aggressive acts that are cold and calculated e.g ted bundy
• aggression may not be cathartic - might stimulate more intense emotion
• differing effects depending on type of frustration - justified or unjustified