Key Terms for Aggression and Anti Social Behavior Flashcards
What is Agency Theory?
To be in an agentic state is to allow others to direct behavior and assume that responsibility passes to this authority.
What is Aggression?
Many definitions exist but a good one would be “The intentional infliction of some form of harm on others”
What is Dehumanization?
Cognitions, emotions and behaviors leading to seeing and treating other humans as being less than human.
What is De-Individuation?
The process of taking on a group identity—often through uniforms, rituals and masks.
What is Ecological Validity?
Features of an experimental situation that describe how realistic the setting is—and by extension how realistic resultant behavior can be assumed to be.
What is Evolution?
Change over time
What is Good For The Species?
Something that does not exist but has been offered as an explanation for behavior. Any behavior that acted this way would be rapidly and ruthlessly selected out.
What is Hydraulic Model?
An outdated model of instincts that implies that instincts are energies seek outlets. Not been used by biologist for over 60 years.
What is In Group?
The communal entity to which one belongs. Has elements of family thinking.
What is Instinct?
A computational module/ mechanism that constitutes one of the behavioral adaptations of an organism. On average creates behavior of increased fitness in an organism by generating appropriate (output) behavior from appropriate input (perception).
What is Natural Selection?
is changes of gene frequency in response to environmental pressures. It tends to create traits that appear fitted to their environment—given enough time.
What is Nature/Nurture Debate?
The often controversial question as to whether a certain trait is born or learned. As almost all traits are both this is rarely a useful distinction. Learning is biological process.
What is Obedience?
Complying with or deferring to a request or order from a legitimate authority.
What is Out-Group?
Not simply groups that one is not a member of but ones that are actively outside one’s in-group.
What is Psychopaths?
A small percentage—maybe 1%–of the population have a lack of empathy. Psychopathy is unlikely to account for much human violence and aggression.
