Lecture 1 - Antisocial Behaviours: Aggression and Violence Flashcards
What is the difference between aggression and violence?
Two ends of the same spectrum, where violence is the depiction of aggression, and aggression is more about affect.
What is the current definition of violence?
The attacker acts with the intention of causing harm and the victim is motivated to avoid this harm.
What is Social Cognitive Theory?
Developed by Bandura, where aggression can be modeled, to the extent that new behaviours can be learned from simple ones, e.g. Bobo dolls and more complex violence (with a hammer).
What is the Social Information Processing Model (or Script Model)?
In childhood, cognitive processes (scripts) are constructed when children witness aggressive acts, which are further reinforced if they witness them more often. They are then activated in future situations.
What is the General Aggression Model?
Emphasis on environmental factors triggering innate vulnerabilities. It is a feedback theory, which allows for maintenance of aggression but also development of aggression.
What are key GAM biological factor?
Monoamine oxidase (MAOA) gene (‘worrier gene’) which breaks down serotonin levels, and low serotonin is correlated with higher levels of aggression. Males also appear to have a volume reduction in the PFC, amygdala and anterior cingulate.
What are the GAM personality factors, and how are they studied?
High trait-aggressiveness and trait-irritability correlate with higher aggression.
In provoking conditions, people with high levels of these traits respond more aggressively than the control.
In neutral conditions, they also respond more aggressively than control.
What are GAM situation factors?
In video games, identification with violent avatars can lead to more violence in the real world in adolescents. Meta-analysis showed causal increase in aggression, while decreasing pro-social behaviour.
May be reinforcing violent scripts without promoting non-violent scripts.
