Social Explanation - Frustration Flashcards
Who created the original frustration-aggression hypothesis?
Dollard
What does the frustration-aggression hypothesis suggest?
frustration always leads to aggression, and aggression is always the result of frustration.
What is frustration?
when our attempts to reach a goal are blocked by some external factor
What is the original frustration-aggression hypothesis
- Aggression is a psychological drive similar to biological drives such as hunger.
- We experience frustration when our attempts to reach a goal are blocked by some external factor.
- This creates an aggressive drive, which leads to aggressive thoughts/behaviour (violent fantasy, a verbal outburst, physical violence)
- The aggressive outburst removes the negative emotion, which is called catharsis.
- The aggressive drive is satisfied, thereby reducing the drive and making further aggression less likely.
What are the reasons for indirect expression in the frustration aggression hypothesis?
- The cause of our frustration may be abstract (economic situation, government, etc)
- The cause may be too powerful and we risk punishment
- The cause may just be unavailable at the time
- so aggression is displaced onto an alternative, weaker and available source
How was the frustration aggression updated?
- cues are an additional element of the frustration-aggression hypothesis.
This is because: - frustration merely creates a readiness for aggression
- But the presence of aggressive cues in the environment make acting upon this much more likely
Who created the weapon effect? ( FA Updated)
Berkowitz and LePage
What was the procedure for the weapon effect? ( FA Updated)
- Participants were given real electric shocks by a confederate, creating anger and frustration.
- The participants later had the opportunity to give fake shocks to the confederate.
What was the findings for the weapon effect? ( FA Updated)
- The number of shocks was greater when there were two guns on a table compared to other conditions where there were no guns (average 6.07 versus 4.67).
- This weapon effect supports Berkowitz’s contention that the presence of aggressive environmental cues stimulates aggression.
What procedure for the research on the frustration hypothesis?
University students (men) completed a jigsaw puzzle. Their level of frustration was manipulated in one of three ways.
- Group 1: the puzzle was impossible to solve.
- Group 2: they ran out of time because another student in the room (a confederate of the researcher) kept interfering.
- Group 3:the confederate insulted the participant as they failed to solve the puzzle.
All participants later had the opportunity to give the confederate electric shocks.
What findings for the research on the frustration hypothesis?
- The insulted participants gave the strongest shocks on average, followed by the interfered group, then the impossible task participants.
- All three groups selected more intense shocks than a (non-frustrated) control group.
What is a strength of the frustration aggression hypothesis (research support)
P: One strength is research support for a key concept of the frustration-aggression hypothesis.
EE: Marcus-Newhall et al. (2000) conducted a meta-analysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression.
These studies investigated situations in which aggressive behaviour had to be directed against a human target other than the one who caused the frustration. The researchers concluded that displaced aggression is a reliable phenomenon. Frustrated participants who were provoked but unable to retaliate directly
against the source of their frustration were significantly more likely to aggress against an innocent party than people who were not provoked.
L: This shows that frustration can lead to aggression against a weaker or more
available target.
What is a limitation into the role of catharsis?
P: One limitation is research showing that aggression may not be cathartic.
EE: Bushman (2002) found that participants who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag actually became more aggressive rather than less. Doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting. Bushman argues that using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire. It does not work even for people who believe in its value. In fact, according to Bushman, ‘The better people feel after venting, the more aggressive they are.
L: This shows that a central assumption of the frustration-aggression hypothesis may not be valid.
What is a limitation of the link between frustration and aggression?
P: Another limitation is that the link between frustration and aggression is complex.
EE: Earlier research into the frustration-aggression hypothesis revealed that frustration does not always lead to aggression, and that aggression can occur without frustration. Rather than being aggressive, they may instead be helpless or determined. Likewise, someone who behaves aggressively may do so for many reasons- not only due to frustration
L: This suggests that the frustration-aggression hypothesis is inadequate because it only explains how aggression arises in some situations but not in others.
What is a counterpoint for the link between frustration and aggression?
P:Berkowitz (1989) reformulated the initial hypothesis to take account of this criticism.
EE: His negative affect theory argued that frustration is just one of many undesirable stimuli that create negative feelings (affect) - others include loneliness, jealousy and pain. Aggressive behaviour is triggered by these negative feelings generally rather than by frustration specifically. The outcome of frustration can be a range of responses, one of which is aggression. E.g. you might feel frustrated at getting a poor essay grade and become despairing, anxious, determined, complacent
L: Therefore frustration (negative feelings) can form part of a wider explanation of what causes aggression.
