LS6 - Social Psychological Explanations - FA Hypothesis Flashcards
Social Psychological Explanations
Aggression is the result of interaction between an individual’s characteristics, and features of the situation/environment.
Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis
Dollard Et Al, if we experience frustration and it leads to aggression, it’s a cathartic release of built up frustration, which can be caused by being prevented from achieving a goal.
Why Isn’t Aggression Always Expressed On The Source
The cause may be abstract e.g. economic situation
The cause may be too powerful and risk punishment e.g. feds.
The cause may be unavailable
Ego Defence Mechanisms
Sublimation - Using aggression where acceptable e.g. sport
Displacement - Directing aggression outwards onto someone/something.
Weapon Effect
Berkowitz argues frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression, it only leads to aggression when certain cues are present e.g. the presence of weapons.
Strengths (+)
Male Jigsaw Experiment
Weapon Effect Pratical Application
Weaknesses (-)
Lacks Ecological Validity
More Complex Than Theorised
Male Jigsaw Experiment (+)
3 conditions with increasing frustration, pps then had the opportunity to shock someone on another task if they scored wrong. The group with the highest frustration tasks led to more shocks and all 3 groups had more than the control group.
Weapon Effect Practical Application (+)
Found pps in the presence of aggressive cues gave higher levels of shocks than the 2 other groups. It also sheds light on gun laws in the US and the length of blades in the UK.
Lacks Ecological Validity (-)
Supporting research has come from lab studies, making us question whether behaviours would be the same in a real life setting.
More Complex Than Theorised (-)
Research shows frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression. Someone frustrated isn’t always aggressive and someone aggressive isn’t always frustrated e.g. MOAO L gene therefore it doesn’t take biological factors into account.
