Lesson 6- Social psychological explanations of aggression-F-A hypothesis

Question 1

F-A hypothesis is based on…

Answer 1

-psychodynamic explanation of catharsis
-freud believed that the drive for aggression was innate
-only way to reduce aggression is to engage in an activity which released it

Question 2

theory proposed by…

Answer 2

-dollard et al (1939)
-if we experience frustration this leads to aggression, which is a cathartic release of built-up frustration
-frustration will always lead to aggression

Question 3

aggression is not always expressed directly against the source…

Answer 3

-cause may be abstract
-cause is too powerful and there is risk of punishment by being aggressive
-cause may be unavailable at the time

Question 4

psychodynamic theory

Answer 4

-proposes we have ego defence mechanisms to protect ourselves when using aggression
-sublimation: using aggression in acceptable activities such as sport
-displacement: directing our aggression onto something or someone else

Question 5

the weapon effect

Answer 5

-Berkowitz (1969) proposed a revised F-A hypothesis
-argued that frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression
-aggression would only occur in the presence of certain cues , eg presence of weapons is more likely to trigger aggression

Question 6

strengths (research support)

Answer 6

-Russell Green (1968) conducted a lab experiment asking male undergraduate students to complete a jigsaw puzzle
-three conditions designed to raise levels of frustration: imposed an unattainable time limit, jigsaw impossible to complete, confederate issued derogatory remarks to the students as they failed to complete
-second part participants had opportunity to shock confederate if answered incorrectly on another task
-participants that received insults from confederates gave highest levels of shocks
-all three groups gave more shocks than a control group who had not experienced any frustration conditions
-supports frustration leading to aggression

Question 7

strength (practical application)

Answer 7

-Berkowitz (1969) carried out a lab experiment where participants were given the opportunity to shock a confederate who had previously angered them
-three conditions: one with an aggressive cue(gun), one with a non-aggressive cue(badminton racket), one with no cue at all
-participants in presence of aggressive cue gave higher levels of shocks than other two
-sheds light on gun control debate in America- if presence of guns is more likely to result in aggression then provides implications for gun laws

Question 8

weakness (ecological validity)

Answer 8

-research support has mainly come from lab experiments
-participants may not carry out actual aggression when faced with an external stimulus that incites aggression

Question 9

weakness (link)

Answer 9

-link between frustration and aggression is more complex than theorised
-early research into F-A showed that frustration does not always lead to aggression
-frustration does not always lead to aggression and aggression is not always a source of frustration
-eg MAOA-L gene research shows they are more likely to show aggression