P3 Section D (Aggression) Flashcards
Who created frustration-aggression hypothesis
Dollard and Miller
What does frustration aggression hypothesis state
frustration aggression hypothesis states environmental stimuli causes aggression
How does FA hypothesis link to psychodynamic approach
FA hypothesis links to psychodynamic approach as it is the idea aggression is innate, and frustration will instinctually cause aggression
What is Brown’s evidence of FA Hypothesis
Brown’s evidence of FA Hypothesis is that British holidayers increased hostility towards French when they found French fisherman were blocking the ferry to France
What is the only way to reduce aggression according to psychodynamic approach.
The only way to reduce aggression according to psychodynamic approach is to do an activity which releases it
What are cathartic actions
Cathartic actions are activity which release aggression
What are the two types of cathartic responses
Displacement and sublimation
What is displacement
Displacement is directing aggression towards someone or something else
What is sublimation
Sublimation is directing aggression in acceptable activities like sport
Green method to support frustration causing aggression (jigsaw puzzle)
Green method to support frustration causing aggression was getting male students to complete jigsaw puzzle in 3 different conditions and then afterwards giving electric shocks to confederates if they incorrectly answered a question
What were Green’s 3 conditions to support FA Hypothesis
Green’s 3 conditions to support FA hypothesis were: completing puzzle in unattainable time limit, completing puzzle that was impossible, and completing puzzle whilst being insulted and then a control condition completing puzzle normally
Green findings to support frustration causing aggression
Green findings to support frustration causing aggression that insulted participants would give the strongest average shock and non-frustrated participants giving lowest shock
Bushman method to oppose frustration aggression hypothesis
Bushman method to oppose frustration aggression hypothesis was asking 700 students to complete essays, a confederate wrote reactionary essays and ppts and confederates then swapped. Confederate would write insults on ppts essays and then students would either take anger on boxing bag or not do anything and then played videogame where winners send losers a burst of white noise
Bushman findings to oppose FA Hypothesis
Bushman findings to oppose FA Hypothesis were that students who vented anger on boxing bag would display 2x more aggression as they sent the highest level of white noise sound to losers
What did Bushman conclude to oppose FA hypothesis
Bushman concluded to oppose FA hypothesis that catharsis had no scientific evidence to prove it reduces aggression as found sublimation in his own study would actually increase aggression and so FA hypothesis has low validity
How did Berkowitz criticise FA hypothesis
Berkowitz criticised FA hypothesis as it is too reductionist as it only accounts for frustration causing aggression
How is aggression caused according to Berkowitz
Aggression is caused by unpleasant experiences which cause negative effects that lead to aggression (not the unpleasant experience itself causing aggression)
Berkowitz says unpleasant experiences are caused by what?
Berkowitz says upleasant experiences are caused by anything that restricts a person from reaching their goals
What is Berkowitz revised FA hypothesis
Berkowitz revised FA hypothesis is:
Unpleasant experience —
Increased arousal —
Presence of aggressive cues (like weapons) lead to greater likelihood of aggression
Presence of non-aggressive cues lead to lesser likelihood of aggression
How is Berkowitz revised FA hypothesis better
Berkowitz revised FA hypothesis is better as it is less deterministic since it accounts for free will in the sense that cues can affect how angry someone becomes
What did Doob and Sears find about justified frustration
Doob and Sears found that participants would feel angry in all justified frustration scenarios
How did Pastore support Doob and Sears
Pastore supported Doob and Sears by finding that aggression would be higher when frustration is justified (like when bus doesn’t stop) compared to when frustration is unjustified (like if bus doesn’t stop cos it has out of service message)
What is disadvantage of FA hypothesis
A disadvantage of FA hypothesis is that it only looks at role of environmental stimuli which causes aggression, not biological theories
How does Catharsis lack research
Catharsis lacks research as no studies have been done to support, bushman found the opposite of catharsis - that aggressive behaviours keep aggressive thoughts active in the memory which contradicts catharsis that says aggression should lower
How did Reifman support Berkowitz
Reifman supported Berkowitz by finding as temperature increased, so did aggression in baseball pitchers - showing that there needs to be a negative experience (like high temperatures) which increases arousal and then increases aggression
How did Staub show real-world application of FA hypothesis
Staub showed real-world application of FA hypothesis by suggesting mass killings are often caused by social and economic difficulties which frustration leads to scapegoating and then aggression against a particular group like Germans blaming Jews for loss of war and poor economy
What did Wagner’s find to show testosterone affecting aggression
Wagner’s found to show testosterone affecting aggression that when castrating mice, aggression would decrease as the testes can’t control testosterone production
How did Dolan show link between testosterone levels and aggression in sample of 60 male offenders
Dolan showed link between testosterone levels and aggression in sample of 60 male offenders as he found the worst crimes were performed by those who had highest testosterone levels
What is a negative of Dolan’s research in correlation between testosterone and aggression
A negative of Dolan’s research in correlation between testosterone and aggression is that the male offenders have mental health issues which is a confounding variable as psychopathy elicits aggression often
How does serotonin affect aggression (amygdala)
Serotonin affects aggression as low levels of serotonin can’t calm the amygdala so people become impulsive and aggressive
How does serotonin affect aggression (prefrontal cortex)
Serotonin affects aggression as low levels of serotonin can’t regulate the prefrontal cortex so a person becomes aggressive easily as they can’t anticipate risks or control their responses
What was Mann’s method to show serotonin affecting aggression
Mann’s method to show serotonin affecting aggression was administering a serotonin depleter to 35 healthy adults and giving questionnaire to assess hostility and aggression
What was Mann’s findings to show serotonin affecting aggression
Mann’s findings to show serotonin affecting aggression was that aggression levels rose in males but not amongst females
How was serotonin linked to suicide attempts
serotonin was linked to suicide attempts as lowest levels of serotonin were found in suicide attempt survivors suggesting impulsive behaviour is linked to low serotonin levels
What is limbic system
Limbic system is part of the brain including hippocampus and amygdala which triggers aggressive responses to types of threats
How does research in Greece support limbic system involvement in aggression
research in Greece supports limbic system involvement in aggression as in sample of 13 patients, removing the amygdala reduced aggressive incidents by 33-100%
How did Higley criticise hormonal explanation of aggression
Higley criticised hormonal explanation of aggression by finding those with high testosterone levels would exhibit more signs of aggression, but committed very few aggressive acts - suggesting there must be cognitive and social factors that play a mediating role
How is the hormonal explanation of aggression biologically reductionist
hormonal explanation of aggression is biologically reductionist as it doesn’t account for factors like the role of learning in creating aggression
How is the hormonal explanation of aggression deterministic
hormonal explanation of aggression is deterministic as blaming a person’s biochemistry is immoral as it removes responsibility for actions
How does mutated MAOA gene lead to aggression
mutated MAOA gene leads to aggression as there becomes a dysfunction in the MAOA enzyme so serotonin remains in the synapse for longer which causing brain dysfunction and aggression
How did Brunner support MAOA gene explanation of aggression
Brunner supported MAOA gene explanation of aggression by finding there was low levels of MAOA in the brains of a family of 28 Dutch murderers and rapists
How did McDermott criticise the MAOA gene explanation of aggression
McDermott criticised the MAOA gene explanation of aggression by finding those with low MAOA activity only behaved aggressively when provoked by a lab-based game
How did Caspi support McDermott’s criticism of the MAOA gene explanation of aggression
Caspi supported McDermott’s criticism of the MAOA gene explanation of aggression by finding boys with the MAOA gene who had experienced childhood abuse were 3 times more likely to be aggressive in adulthood compared to those who hadn’t experienced childhood abuse
How is testosterone implicated in aggression
Testosterone is implicated in aggression as increased levels will increase aggression as seen in prisoners who committed most violent crimes would also have most testosterone
How does case of Charles Whitman support limbic system in aggression
case of Charles Whitman supports limbic system in aggression as he was a murderer and had large tumour pressing on amygdala
How does Coccaro support genetic involvement in aggression
Coccaro supports genetic involvement in aggression as he found 50% concordance rate in aggression in MZ twins and 19% concordance rate in DZ twins
What is the ethological explanation of aggression
The ethological explanation of aggression is that aggression is adaptive and is beneficial to survive as it can ware off competition
Why is aggression needed to survive
aggression is needed to survive as it allows people to have a choice over a mate for reproduction and be able to compete for resources
What is ritualistic aggression
Ritualistic aggression is aggression to establish dominance
What is an innate releasing mechanism
An innate releasing mechanism is an evolved neural structure that is triggered by the environment that releases a fixed action pattern
What is a fixed action pattern
A fixed action pattern is a sequence of behaviour that is triggered by an environmental stimuli - like bull being angry when they see red
What features does Lea say fixed action patterns must have
features Lea says fixed action patterns must have are stereotyped, universal, ballistic, single purpose and response to identifiable specific stimuli
How does Berlando support FAP
Berlando supports FAP by finding animals revert to instinctive behaviours even after being trained not to
How does Hunt criticise FAPS
Hunt criticise FAPS by saying it lacks validity as environmental factors greatly affect sequence behaviours
How does Tinbergen support FAPs
Tinbergen supports FAPs as he found male sticklebacks would attack a wooden model when a red spot was present during matin season, showing aggressive FAPs are unchanging throughout encounters
How does Tinbergen’s stickleback study support ballistic feature of FAPs
Tinbergen’s stickleback study supports the ballistic feature of FAPs as once the FAP was triggered, it wouldn’t stop until complete
How do confounding variables affect Tinbergen’s stickleback study
confounding variables affect Tinbergen’s stickleback study as the intention of attacking red spot may just be sign of survival instinct, not aggression
How does investigator bias and observer bias affect Tinbergen’s study
investigator bias and observer bias affect Tinbergen’s study as he took part in the study and also he conducted it using observation so there may be bias or just human error
What is reproductive fitness
reproductive fitness is when adopted traits have successfully been passed on by ancestors
How do low status males compete for a female
Low status males competed for a female by indulging in high risk activities like fighting high status males which enhances reproductive success
How does Volk support competition theory of aggression
Volk supports competition theory of aggression by saying bullying is a modern day expression of an adaptive trait (like power and intimidation to ward off competitors and ensure resources)
What is fidelity
Fidelity is the understanding that a female has no other relationships - which is needed to provide resources for offspring
What is evidence of sexual competition in humans
evidence of sexual competition in humans is robust skulls and more enhanced brow ridges than woman
What did Archer say about paternal uncertainty
Archer said paternal uncertainty causes aggression
What are consequences of cuckoldry and paternal uncertainty
consequences of cuckoldry and paternal uncertainty are that resources may be invested in someone else’s offspring
What is the need for sexual jealousy
The need for sexual jealousy is to deter sexual infidelity and minimise cuckoldry
What is Buss’ definition of mate retention
Buss’ definition of mate retention is behaviour aimed at preventing partner’s infidelity and desertion
What are types of mate retention strategy
Types of mare retention strategy are direct guarding and negative inducements
What is direct guarding
Direct guarding is restricting partner’s freedom so males cannot have access like stopping partner speaking to other men
What is negative inducements
Negative inducements is issuing aggressive threats regarding potential infidelity like “I will kill myself if you leave me”
What is the cause of male on child aggression
The cause of male on child aggression is because male doesn’t think the child belongs to them, so male is reluctant to expend investments on the offspring which aren’t there’s
How does Miller support theory of sexual jealousy (battered women)
Miller supports theory sexual jealousy as he found 55% of battered women cited jealousy as the reason behind their husbands behaviour but this was only based on suspicion and fear
How does Shackleford support mate retention theory
Shackleford supports mate retention theory as he found in a study of 460 men and 560 women, men who were violent tended to control their partner’s time and punish their partner’s infidelity like by being angry when she talked to another man
How does Smith support the idea that aggressive mate was needed to provide resources
Smith supports the idea that aggressive mate was needed to provide resources as she found warfare would not only provide resources but attract mates as aggression and bravery is attractive for women
How does Chagnon support Smith’s idea that warfare is attractive
Chagnon supports Smith’s idea that warfare is attractive as he found male warriors tended to have more sexual partners and more children
How does Dobash and Dobash show practical application of mate retention strategy theory
Dobash and Dobash show practical application of mate retention strategy theory as they found relationship counselling can be used before a situation escalates into physical violence when mate retention strategies are first evident
How is evolutionary explanation of aggression deterministic
Evolutionary explanation of aggression is deterministic as it suggests adaptive genes are the basis and so all men should react in the same way about partner’s infidelity but they don’t and also suggests all women are attracted to aggressive men
How does Buss and Shackleford criticise mate retention strategies
Buss and Shackleford criticise mate retention strategies by saying that different men react in different ways to finding about about partner’s infidelity like by violence, debasement or avoiding the issue
How might SLT better explanation for aggression than evolution
SLT might be a better explanation for aggression than evolution as not all men engage violently with partner despite natural aggressiveness, so it may be due to learning to be violent with observation and imitation of role models
How does SLT suggest we learn aggression
SLT suggests we learn aggression directly through reinforcement or indirectly through watching whether a person’s behaviour is rewarded or punished (vicarious learning)
How does SLT support biological factors
SLT supports biological factors as a person’s genes create a potential for aggression and then the expression of this aggression is learned
How does SLT self-efficacy create aggression
SLT self-efficacy creates aggression as a person will test aggression and if they’re good at it they’ll develop confidence or if they’re not then they’ll not do it again (like fighting and losing and not repeating it)
How is SLT better than FA hypothesis and others
SLT is better than FA hypothesis and others as it considers diathesis-stress relationship so is less reductionist and also considers mediational processes so is less reductionist
What are Bandura’s stages to developing aggression via SLT
Bandura’s stages to developing aggression via SLT are attention, retention, reproduction and motivation
How does Gee and Leith support SLT explanation for aggression
Gee and Leith supports SLT explanation for aggression as they found NA hockey players when younger were exposed to more NA hockey players not being penalised for their aggression and so when the young hockey players grew older they were penalised more
How does SLT explain inconsistencies in aggression behaviours
SLT explain inconsistencies in aggression behaviours as there are positive and negative consequences to aggression in different contexts - like being aggressive around friends vs school
How are Kung San people evidence of SLT
Kung San people are evidence of SLT as they are rarely aggressive since children’s anger isn’t reinforced by any punishment or reward and also parents do not use any physical punishment or aggressive postures so there are no role models to follow
What is practical application of SLT of aggression
A practical application of SLT of aggression is that “ACT programme” aims to educate parents and others about the implications of providing aggressive role models and encourages positivity
What is the social psychological explanation of aggression
social psychological explanation of aggression is deindividuation
What is deindividuated behaviour
Deindividuated behaviour is when behaviour doesn’t conform to social standards and can be partaking in events that they wouldn’t usually due to the act they are acting as a member of a group
How does loss of personal identity affect deindividuation
loss of personal identity effects deindividuation as a person will feel faceless and their identity is lost by a big crowd or the use of alcohol or drugs
How does public self-awareness effect deindividuation
Public self-awareness effects deindividuation as when deindividuated, self-awareness is reduced and people may be less conscious of how their behaviour appears to others
How does private self-awareness effect deindivduation
Private self-awareness effects deindivduation as when deindividuated, a person doesn’t act according to internal attitudes and moral standards
How does diffusion of responsibility effect deindivduation
diffusion of responsibility effects deindivduation as when in group, there’s a sense that the entire group is responsible for anti-social behaviour
How does Deiner (trick or treat) support deindividuation explanation for aggression.
Deiner support deindividuation explanation for aggression as he found in a study of 1000 trick or treaters, 57% of those who were anonymous and in a group would take more than one sweet from a bucket when person at door left but when identified (name and address) only 21%. And those who were solo - 8% took more than one when identified and 21% when anonymous
How does Deiner’s study lack cultural relativism
Deiner’s study lack cultural relativism as it was only done on Seattle residents
How does Rotter criticise deindividuation explanation for aggression
Rotter criticises deindividuation explanation for aggression as he said it doesn’t account for individual differences as individuals with strong internal locus of control are more likely to resist conformity so deindividuation doesn’t explain all aggressive behaviour in crowds
What is institutional aggression
Institutional aggression is aggressive acts in particular violent institutions like prisons
What is importation model of aggression
Importation model of aggression is a dispositional theory that people import their prior violent characteristics into prison when they are sentenced
How did Irwin and Cressey explain importation model of aggression
Irwin and Cressey explained importation model of aggression as aggressive behaviours make a person more likely to be imprisoned and younger inmates tend to be more aggressive and so do black inmates (due to socioeconomic backgrounds)
How did Drury and DeLisi support gang membership influence on aggression
Drury and DeLisi supported gang membership influence on aggression as they found members of gangs prior to imprisonment were significantly more likely to commit acts of misconduct in prison like murder, hostage-taking and assault with deadly weapon
How did Wang and Diamond (predictors) support role of dispositional characteristics in aggression
Wang and Diamond supported role of dispositional characteristics in aggression as they found anger, antisocial personality and impulsivity were stronger predictors of aggression than ethnicity and type of offence committed
How did DeLise challenge role of gang membership in importation model
DeLise challenged role of gang membership in importation model as he found inmates with prior gang involvement were no more likely than other inmate to engage in prison violence (possibly due to the fact violent gang members are isolated so lack opportunity to be violent)
What is deprivation model of aggression
deprivation model of aggression is a situational theory that inmates are influenced to behave aggressively due to the deprivation of daily values, and aggression is the result of adjusting to a new life
How did Sykes support deprivation model
Sykes supported deprivation model as said it is the loss of liberty, loss of autonomy and lack of security and boredom and loneliness which creates institutional aggression
What is deprivation of liberty
Deprivation of liberty is when prisoners feel rejected from society which is emphasised by uniforms and numbers
What is deprivation of autonomy
deprivation of autonomy is when prisoners have no power and few choices which leads to sense of helplessness, so frustration and then aggression
What is lack of security
Lack of security is when prisoners feel fear due to lack of safety from a heightened sense of physical threat
How does Cooke support deprivation model
Cooke supports deprivation model by finding overcrowding, heat and noise and job burnout from staff which creates aggression
How does job burnout increase violence
Job burnout from staff increases violence as they often leave after building up relationships with prisoners, so prisoners have no respect for other staff
How does Harer and Steffensmeier challenge deprivation model
Harer and Steffensmeier challenges deprivation model by finding in a study of 24,000 inmates, factors like age, race and criminal history were the only significant factors in prison violence and no situational factors (like staff to prisoner ratio or security levels) had significant effect
What is integration model of aggression
Integration model of aggression is a merging of importation and deprivation model to explain prison aggression and is widely accepted
How did Wilson find real world application of deprivation model
Wilson found real world application of deprivation model in study of HMP Woodhill where he set up two new units that were far less prison-like and temperatures were controlled and less claustrophobic and found assaults were virtually eradicated therefore showing situational factors can be changed to reduce violence
