Social approach: Aggression

Question 1

What are the four social explanations for aggression?

Answer 1

Conformity to group and social norms, stereotypes aggression, influence of the media, institutional aggression

Question 2

CONFORMITY TO GROUP AND SOCIAL NORMS: aggression

Answer 2

This means that if you are a member of a group that has norms of aggressive behaviour and attitudes, then, through the process of normative Social influence and/or informational social influence you are likely to conform to those norms and display aggressive behaviour in situations where those norms are most relevant to you. Therefore, behaviour is changed to fit the group the person is currently with.

Normative social influence (NSI) can explain why members of a social group conform - people adopt aggressive behaviour to fit in with a group norm. eg, a person behaves aggressively to fit in with their friends, family etc

Informational social influence (ISI) can explain why members of a social group conform - seeing others behaving aggressively and fulfilling a goal/need. eg, a person behaves aggressively because they have seen friends/family members use it as a way to solve problems

This switch to aggression happens at different levels: it may be superficial (compliance); it may be strong but only when it with the group (identification) or it may be widespread and permanent (internalisation).

Question 3

STEREOTYPES AND AGGRESSION: aggression

Answer 3

Having a stereotype of the kind of person who is likely to be aggressive will influence how you interact with them and can lead to a hostile reaction with no real provocation. For most people, having a stereotype of a violent criminal will not affect how you behave, but for some people, in some circumstances, it can lead to aggression. For example, there were suggestions that implicit bias might be a factor in the amount of violence shown by the police towards suspects of Crime. Officers fearing for their lives, Or for the safety of others, might be influenced by their stereotype of a violent person to respond in a more hostile way to that person than to someone that does not fit their stereotype

Question 4

INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA: aggression

Answer 4

role modelling:
the media provides Aggressive role models for people to imitate. Imitation is more likely when the model has characteristics the observer admires such as fame, status, wealth etc.

desensitisation:
Means reduced sensitivity to a stimulus. Therefore, people who are repeatedly exposed to aggression get used to its effects. This means that Physiological arousal gets less and less, and psychologically they feel less empathy for victims.

disinhibition:
Means a lack of restraint (no longer being inhibited) due to environmental triggers or overexposure to a stimulus. Strong social and psychological inhibitions against aggression are weakened after exposure to aggression in the media because the media makes aggression seem like ‘normal’ behaviour. Repeated exposure disinhibits viewers, creating new social norms that are more accepting of aggression.

Question 5

INSTITUTIONAL AGGRESSION: aggression

Answer 5

for example, aggression in prison.

Question 6

Give 2 strengths of the social approaches explanation of aggression

Answer 6

1. there is research to support the role of social influences on aggression

Krahe found that Psychological arousal associated with aggression gradually reduced in people who viewed violent media on a regular basis. This is evidence of desensitisation. This suggests that media (film and TV) are key social influences on aggressive behaviour

2. understanding social influences has practical application so is useful

aggression in prison is reduced if staff apply the rules consistently. Not applying the rules consistently Causes inmates to develop a sense of injustice which can cause aggression. Different common social influences that affect aggression can be changed to reduce aggression in prisons and other institutions

Question 7

give 1 limitation of the social approaches explanation of aggression

Answer 7

Incomplete explanation

Social explanations for aggression are incomplete because the approach focuses only on how other people, wider society and culture influence behaviour. It does not consider the influence of biological factors such as inheritance and genes. For example, people with the MAOA-L gene (which causes chemical imbalances in the brain) tend to be more aggressive than people without this gene variant