Psychodynamic explanation of aggression

Question 1

What is the Thanatos?

Answer 1

The death instinct, the source of negative emotions like aggression

Question 2

What is the conscious?

Answer 2

The part of your mind you are aware of i.e. your current thoughts

Question 3

What is the unconscious?

Answer 3

The part of your mind you cannot be aware of i.e. unacceptable desires and violent urges

Question 4

What is the Preconscious?

Answer 4

The part of your mind you can become aware of if you wish i.e. memories

Question 5

What is the Id?

Answer 5

The part of your psyche which works on the pleasure principle meaning it wants instant gratification

Question 6

What is the SuperEgo?

Answer 6

The part of your psyche which works on the morality principle meaning it wants to follow the rules and gives you guilt to control your behaviour

Question 7

What is the Ego?

Answer 7

Operates on the reality principle meaning it weighs up the other two components and will decide which to give into and when

Question 8

How does Thanatos link to aggression?

Answer 8

It is the source of aggression so if you have a strong Thanatos it might lead to more aggressive impulses and if the Thanatos is turned outward it is aggression

Question 9

How does the Id link to aggression?

Answer 9

If you have an aggressive impulse it will encourage you to act and if it is frustrated and stopped from getting some other desire it might create aggressive impulses

Question 10

How does the SuperEgo link to aggression?

Answer 10

It is the thing which makes you feel guilt for breaking rules and norms so if you have a strong one it might decrease the chances of aggression

Question 11

How does the Ego link to aggression?

Answer 11

It weighs the desires of the other two components so will be the final decider on if you act aggressively or not

Question 12

How do defence mechanisms tie to aggression?

Answer 12

They are a method to protect your ego by redirecting energy, this might cause you not to be aggressive or to direct the aggression onto a safe target

Question 13

What is Catharsis? and how it ties to aggression

Answer 13

The positive result of chanelling energy into a different format meaning you release built up aggressive impusles by being aggressive in sport or watching a violent movie

Question 14

What did Geen and Quanty find?

Answer 14

Expression of aggression can have a positive effect in terms of decreasing physiological arousal

Question 15

What did Verona and Sullivan find?

Answer 15

They found that when participants administered either aggressive via shock or non aggressive responses after being made angry, heart rate was found to have reduced in those administering the aggressive responses showing evidence that catharsis is a credible explanation

Question 16

What did Bushman find?

Answer 16

Those who took part in a cathartic activity via venting were actually more aggressive than those who didn’t have a chance to release their aggression.

Question 17

Why is this theory more holistic than others?

Answer 17

It is holistic as it takes into account both nature and nurture due to everyone having these components but their upbringing influencing them

Question 18

Which of these is a true?

Answer 18

The theory is not empirical as you cannot measure the components directly

Question 19

Which of these is an alternative theory saying we might learn aggression from role models around us meaning this theory might be incorrect?

Answer 19

Social Learning Theory or another biological theory

Question 20

Why is this theory useful?

Answer 20

Psychodynamic theories have been used to create talking therapies which many have found useful to deal with personal issues