PSY2001 SEMESTER 1 - WEEK 9 Flashcards
define aggression
behaviour designed to harm others in some way
name 4 methods of studying aggression
analogues of behaviour (bobo doll, button pressing for fake electric shocks)
signals of intention (expressing willingness for aggression)
ratings (self-report, others, observation)
indirect aggression method (non-physical, relational, psycho)
what are anaglogue of behaviour
substituting aggression for a task, makes studying it ethical
give a weakness of analogues of behaviour to study aggression
lacking generalisability for real life
give a weakness of signals of intention to study aggression
intention doesn’t always translate to behaviour
give weaknesses of ratings to study aggression
SDB
observations can be interpreted inline with prior expectations/hypothesis
give weakness of indirect method to study aggression
inflates prevalence of aggression if comparing to direct/physical measures of aggression
in summary, what do biological theories of aggression propose
pattern of responses genetically predetermined with instinct being:
goal-directed, terminating in specific consequence
beneficial
adapted to normal environment
shared by most member in species
developed in clear ways
unlearnt
outline the psychodynamic biological approach of aggression (Freud)
unconscious drive of thanatos, building up in us over time, creating uncontrollable pressure to do an aggressive act
is dealt with via redirecting to other activity (catharsis)
what is thanatos and eros
thanatos = death instinct
eros = life instinct
outline biological approach of evolution in aggression (Darwin)
aggressive behaviour ensures genetic survival, so linked to living long enough to procreate (father fighting other for mating and mothers aggressive to protect offspring)
in humans, to obtain social, economic advatnage to increase children survival rate
what is ethology
instinctual explanation of human aggression comparing to animal behaviour, fixed action pattern
elicited by specific environmental stim (releaser), has survival values
name strengths of biological approach of aggression
evidence from idea of violence part of human nature, comparisons to animal behaviour
name weaknesses of biological approaches of aggression
- genetic instincts unmeasurable
- support from only observation which cannot establish causality
- evolutionary tendency develop over thousands of years so hard to study
- humans aggressive outside of situation where defending children
- behaving aggressive toward relative (not accounted by bio theories)
- evolutionary approach not informing prevantative/intervention work as cannot change genetics (anger management therapy still works tho, so obvs isnt genetics)
summarise biosocial approach of frustration-aggression hypothesis (dollard)
based on catharsis hypothesis with frustration being antecedent to aggression
when we drive to achieve goal and ten blocked we are frustrated and drived toward aggression (cathartic release of our frustration)
when we cannot challenge direct source of aggression (biosocial frustration aggression hypothesis) what do we do
sublimation and displacement
define sublimation
using aggression in acceptable activities (sport)
define displacement
directing aggression outward onto something or someone else
summarise biosocial explanation excitation transfer of aggression (Zillman)
experience physiological arousal in a context which carries over to other situations and increases likelihood of aggressive behaviour
in biosocial excitation transfer model, what 3 condition are required
1st= stimuli producing arousal or excitation
2nd= stimulus occur before complete decay of arousal from 1st stimuli
there is misattribution of excitation to 2nd stimulus
name advantages of biosocial explanations
- testable theory and can produce intervention (identify specific situ, how can be modified to prevent aggression)
- explain why displace onto random object, explain hate crime
- Marcus-Newhall meta-analysis showing ppt provoked and unable to directly retaliate more likely to aggress onto innocent party (displaced)
name weaknesses of biosocial explanations
- only focus on frustration, some experience other emotions (sadness)
- Bushman, those venting anger onto punchbag become angrier, more aggressive
social learning theory for aggression was created by Bandura research study, summarise this
observes adult attacking bobo doll when they are upset in person, video, cartoon or control (don’t see it)
and found most for live, then video, then cartoon and then control
summarise social learning theory of aggression
learnt:
directly (operant conditioning)= child rewarded for aggressive act and so repeat behaviours
indirectly (observational learning + vicarious reinforcements)= watching role model to see consequence
whether a person is aggressive in a specific situation, depends on what?
- previous experience of others aggressive behaviour
- how successful aggressive behaviour been in past
- current likelihood that aggressive person rewarded/punished
- cognitive, environ, social factors in situation
name strengths of social learning theory
- accounts how child learn aggression via others, media
- empirical lab supports
name weaknesses of social learning theory
- lab lacking ecological val
- aggressive role model not always causing aggressive behaviour
- doesn’t consider individual differences
- effect of violent media on aggression not consistently replicated
- bobo instead found boys more aggression>girls and regardless of experiemtnal cdn, so underestimating importance of biological factors
outline sex difference for aggression
men engage more frequent (but due to socialisation?)
individual variation in testosterone levels across genders with only weak positive rel w aggression
learn gender appropriate behaviours (indirect aggression is more appropriate for women)
what is sociocultural theory for gender as whole
psychological gender difference determined by individuals adaptation to restriction in society
how does big 5 trait of aggreableness relate to aggression (Bartlett & Anderson)
negatively associated with aggression both in/directly via aggressive attitude and emotion
how does big 5 trait of neuroticism relate to aggression (Bartlett & Anderson)
positive association with physical aggression both in/directly via aggressive emotions
what is type A personality in aggression
overative, excessively cmopetitive, more aggress toward those perceived as competing, prefer working alone if stressed so avoid exposure to incompetence and to feel more in control
socially destructive and more prone to abuse children, if manager then experience more conflict with peers, subordinate but not own supervisor
outline relationship between attachment and offenders
less secure with insecure attachment strong assoc with all types of criminality (violent, non-vio, sexual, DV)
give weaknesses of research into attachment on aggression
(prisoner study) didn’t include juveniles/females
attachment not always measured in same way
what other hormones have small implications for aggression
norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine
name situational factors for aggression
alcohol, heat, overcrowding
in how many incidents of physical aggression is alcohol present
68%
outline direct effect (disinhibition hypothesis) of alcohol on aggression
compromise cortical control and increase activity in primitive brain so impairs high order cog function, decision making
physiological arousal (in line with excit-trans model)
outline indirect effect of alcohol on aggression
Begue= expectation of alcohol (actually placebos) increased aggressive behaviour
Pederson= priming effect, activating thought of alochol increased aggressive behaviours
Tayors & Sears gave male ppt either alcohol, placebo and studied what into aggression
competitive task with another ppt using reaction time with loser getting electric shocks from oponent
shock level meant to be set by ppt (actually was constant via researcher)
confederate applied social pressure to ppt, encouraged them to increase shock
alcohol group more susceptible to pressure
Cohn & Rotton studied links between ambient temperature and assaults what did they find?
increased temp assoc w increasing aggression, but not linear effect = too hot mean less energy used via aggression - inverted u shape
effect stronger in evening as potential interaction between heat and alcohol
how can population density result in aggression
increased stress, irritation, frustration and physiological arousal
name 3 things crowding causes (resulting in aggression)
disinhibition, deindividuation, dehumanisation
define disinhibition
when usual social forces that normally restrain us from acting anti-socially are reduced in some way
define deindividuation
feeling unidentifable among others, think less likely to face consequences
define dehumanisation
perceiving victim as being less than human
define collective aggression
unified aggression by group of individuals that may not even know another, against other individuals/groups
(eg; chanting at someone to jump from a building)
why is football hooliganism not always explainable from deindividuation, what else is it understoof from
better understood on societal terms, involving subcutlrual class solidarity
why do disadvantage groups engage in more aggression
believe they’re unjustly disadvantaged and cannot improve their disadvantaged position
what group is rate of homidice, non lethal violence higher in
young, urban, poor, ethnic minority males (from mix of social, ecological factors)
define relative deprivation
discontent coupled with feeling that chance of improving conditions legitamately are minimal = violence, assault, burglary, riot, violent protest
how can violent media result to aggression
easy access of sanitised aggression desensitises viewers and depicts aggressor as unpunished hero
how do SLT and catharsis hypothesis oppose each other regarding role of violent media in aggression
SLT suggest viewer copy reinforced act, but catharsis hypothesis suggest release tension, reduce aggression
outline research evidence of violent media resulting in aggression (Black & Bevan; Greitmeyer & Mugge)
Black & Bevan: viewing violent film increased aggression score compared to non-violent (priming effects)
Greitmeyer & Mugge meta-analysis: violent video games increase aggression
how can media trigger automatic violence as reactions
neo-associationist analysis suggests idea thinking about act can facilitate in its performance, priming
including weapons effect
whats weapons effect?
presence of weapon increase probability its used in aggressive ways
summarise general aggression model
interplay between personal and situational variable, influencing 3 internal states of cognition, affects, arousal
affecting appraisal/decision processes and influence aggressive outcome
used in intervention
in GAM, what is input
person and situation factors increase/decrease likelihood of aggression through influence on internal state variable (cognition, affect, arousal)
in GAM, what is internal state (stage 2)
affect, cognition and arousal influences our appraisal of situation and if emotional with high arousal, aggressive thoughts then negative impulse appraisal more likely (goal, plan to harm perpetrator)
behavioural scripts activated in appraisal then cause social encounter
Anderson, Deuser, NeNeve did research into temperature effect, what did they find?
measured hostile affect and cognition, perceived and physiological arousal in undergrad playing video game and controlled room temp
increased temp cause increased hostile affect, cognition, physiological arousal
so hot temp increases aggressive tendency on 3 seperate routes (internal states)
excitation transfer then increases likelihood of biased (hostile) appraisals of ambiguous social events
define institution
place with strict rules, gives little choice to members of institution (prison, school)
how many prisoners experiences violence
25%
4-5% sexual violence
1-2% raped
how mamy students annually experience aggression
30%
name dispositional factors for institutional aggression
personality of institution member (importation model); gender, personality, attachment, past experience
name situational factors causing institutional aggression
situation in which members find themself (deprivation model); crowding, uncomfortable temperature, loss of freedom
give definition for intimate partner violence
any behaviour within an intimate relationship, that causes physical, psychological or sexual harm to those in relationship, includes acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, controlling behaviours
how many women 15+ globally experience physical/sexual IPV
30%
where are female perperated IPV most common?
more in society where modern, secular, liberal = likely reflecting change in traditional gender norm
name personal/situational factors influencing IPV
biology, gender, stress (financial, unemployed, illness), alcohol consumption, football
name social factors of IPV
learned pattern via generational cycle of abuse
name biosocial explanation of IPV
excitation transfer from football or alcohol
frustration aggression hypothesis (stress)
GAM (personal and situational factors)
name evolutionary perspective of female IPV
fear an adaptive response to reduce exposure to danger and female has higher level of fear in face of direct aggression
name biological perspective of female IPV
oxytocin released in response to danger, mediating reduction of stresses associating with fear
oxytocin released in presence of intimate partner, if threat involved causes higher level of release
