Social Psychological approaches to explaining aggression Flashcards
Explain Social Learning Theory
Bandura suggested that aggressive behaviour is learned either through direct experience or by observing others.
- Learning by direct experience: If a child pushes another child and as a result gets something they want, the action is reinforced and is more likely to occur in similar situations in the future. These principles are similar to those of operant conditioning.
- Learning by vicarious reinforcement: This form of observational learning occurs when a child imitates a role model who is reinforced for behaving aggressively. The child is then said to be modelling the behaviour.
The main processes of SLT are:
ATTENTION - Someone can only learn through observation if they attend to the model’s behaviour. E.g. children must attend to what the aggressor is doing and saying in order to reproduce the model’s behaviour accurately.
RETENTION- To model the behaviour, it needs to be remembered and placed into the LTM, this enables the behaviour to be retrieved.
PRODUCTION- The individual needs to be able to reproduce the behaviour. The observer must posses the physical capabilities required for the modelled behaviour.
MOTIVATION - An individual expects to receive positive reinforcement for the modelled behaviour.
Models are particularly likely to be imitated if they are powerful & similar to the child. Bandura believed family members (especially same gender parent) was the main source of behaviour modelling e.g. the boy who watches his father attack his mother is more likely to become an abusive parent and husband.
Self efficacy refers to an individual’s beliefs about whether the observed behaviour is within their capability to perform. Aggression is more likely to be imitated if the person believes they are capable and in possession of necessary skills and strength. This explains why aggression is most likely to be shown where the individual believes it will be successful.
SLT suggests aggression may be maintained through reciprocal determinism. If aggression is successful this affects later behaviour.
Explain media violence and aggression
SLT leads us to consider the various ways in which children might be exposed to aggressive models. TV has been examined as a powerful source of imitative learning. Huesmann (1998) suggested that children may use television model’s as a source of ‘scripts’ that act as a guide for their own behaviour. For example, if they see a movie hero beat up the bad guys that get in his way, this may become a script for any situation in which it might be deemed appropriate. These scripts are stored in memory, and are strengthened and elaborated through rehearsal.
The relationship between observation of aggression in the media and subsequent aggressive behaviour is a complex one. It appears to be influenced by several variables including:
- if they observed violence is thought to be real behaviour compared to if it was considered fictional or fantasy violence.
- if viewers identify with the aggressor in some way, they are subsequently more aggressive than if they do not identify with the aggressive model. Heroes are therefore more powerful models than villains.
- observing unsuccessful aggression, in which the aggressor is punished tends to inhibit aggressive behaviour in the observer.
Explain Bandura’s research into Vicarious learning
Bandura divided 66 nursery school children into three groups. All three groups watched a film where an adult model kicked and punched the Bobo doll. There were three different conditions:
Condition 1 - Children saw the adult model being rewarded by a second adult.
Condition 2 - Children saw a second adult telling off the adult model for aggressive behaviour.
Condition 3- the adult model was neither rewarded nor punished. the children were then allowed to play in the room with the bobo doll whilst experts watched through a one-way mirror.
It was found children in condition 1 behaved the most aggressively and those in condition 2 behaved least aggressively. However a distinction needs to be made between learning and performance. All the children learnt how to behave aggressively, but those in condition 2 did not perform as many aggressive acts until later, when they were offered rewards to do so. When this happened, they quickly showed that they had learned as many aggressive acts as the children in condition 1.
Evaluate SLT (Strengths)
Empirical Support by Bandura et al - found that viewing aggression by cartoon characters produces as much aggression as viewing live or filmed aggressive behaviour by adults. This suggests that there is a wider academic credibility for the idea that the entertainment industry has an influential role in the social development of children.
Further empirical support- Patterson et al demonstrated that role models are important in the development of anti-social behaviour (in both boys and girls) and that parents are the most important ones. through the use of surveys/questionnaires they found that very aggressive children are raised in homes of high aggression, little affection, and little positive feedback. a practical application was that when parents were trained to model appropriate behaviour to their children and reward their good behaviour, aggressive behaviour dropped. This suggests that there is a wider academic credibility for the important role played by parents when forming/developing their children’s behaviour.
Phillip - found homicide rates in the US always increased in the week following a boxing match.
Research into SLT has high reliability. Bandura’s research was predominantly carried out in the laboratory where he had complete control over the IV and the DV could be measured. This suggests that if the research carried out again then the same results could be achieved.
Supporting Cultural evidence - Mead - found the apapesh is an example of a non-aggressive culture in which aggression is not admired or modelled by the adults. the Mundugmor show the opposite pattern, in which violence is the norm and status is determined by the amount of aggression shown. Also among the !Kung San of the Kalahari desert, aggression is quite rare. Parents do not use physical punishment or show aggressive behaviour. there is therefore a lack of aggressive models. this suggests that SLT can be applied universally.
Evaluate SLT (Weaknesses)
Because the theory is based on laboratory research it lack ecological validity. Eg. the bobo doll was designed to be hit, so it is no real surprise that it was , and does not mean that children would necessarily hit a real person. This suggests that the findings from this research could not be applied to real life situations. (However, after children watched a film of a young woman beating up a live clown they imitated her behaviour.)
The children in Bandura’s experiment may have shown demand characteristics. They said that when they were in the experiment they felt they were expected to act aggressively towards the bobo doll. This suggests that there are methodological flaws with the research.
AID: it is oversimplisitic. Biological explanation of aggression suggests that testosterone is a primary cause of aggression and other genetic and neuroanatomical structures are involved. SLT does not stress the importance of biological factors and relies on learning and the environment. this suggests that SLT emphasises nurture rather than nature when explaining aggressive behaviour. It is likely that biological make-up creates potential for aggression, but expression of aggression is learned. (an interactionist approach).
AID: There are possible ethical problems with Bandura’s research. the experiment might be considered unethical and morally wrong because the children were encouraged to be aggressive. thus, the children did not leave the experiment as they entered it. this suggests that reliable, well controlled research may lead to the exploitation of children.
Explain Deindividuation
Simbardo distinguished between: -
I) Individuated behaviour, which is rational and conforms to acceptable social standards
ii) Deindividuated behaviour which is based on primitive urges and does not conform to social norms. It often leads to anti-social acts eg. football hooliganism
normal constraints on behaviour are weakened when a person loses their sense of individuality.
- crowds, uniforms, drugs & alcohol can all lead to loss of sense and individuality
- individuals are less likely to be identified & held responsible for their aggressive behaviour when they are anonymous
- Anonymity - deindividuation - aggression
Discuss research into deindividuation
Zimbardo - used groups of 4 female undergraduates as participants. They were asked to give another student electric shocks “to aid learning”. there were two conditions:
Deindividuated condition - wore bulky lab coats and hoods, addressed as a group when given instructions, not introduced to each other
Individuated condition - wore normal clothing with large name tag, given instructions, introduced to each other by name
the deindividuated p’s shocked the learner for twice as long as those in the individuated condition.
Johnson & Dowling - dressed participants in a mask 7 overall (reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan) or as hospital nurses. Participants in a mask and overall gave higher shocks than a control group, but participants in nurses uniforms gave lower shocks. this suggests deindividuation may lead to socially expected behaviour rather than aggression.
Zimbardo - Stanford Prison simulation - created a “prison” in Stanford university with students acting as prisoners and guards. Prisoners were dressed in smocks & nylon caps & were addressed by number rather than name. Guards wore uniforms & dark glasses & were addressed as Mr. Correctional Officer. The study was due to run for two weeks, but was stopped after 6 days because of the inhumane treatment of the prisoners.
Watson - carried out a cross cultural study of the extent to which warriors who changed their appearance in conflict situations. He found warriors who changed their appearance through war paint & tribal costumes were more aggressive than those who didn’t.
AID deindividuation
Again, this approach is social-psychological meaning that it is not a complete explanation as it ignores biological factors.
what is institutional aggression?
Institutional aggression occurs when aggressive behaviour has become the norm within groups of insititutions. Examples include institutional aggression in prisons and in student initiation rituals.
Origins of institutional aggression in prison : Describe The importation Model
Prisoners doe not enter prison as “blank slates”. Irwin & Cressey suggest that prisoners bring their own characteristics and social histories with them into prison. interpersonal violence is not a product of the prison, but of the prisoners themselves. If there are enough individuals who value aggression, it will become the norm. In the US, black inmates are more likely to be involved with interpersonal violence than white inmates. black prisoners come from poorer communities with higher rates of violent crime. They therefore import cultural norms relatin gto violence. Also, many prisoners have mental health and/or alcohol/drug issues which can lead to higher levels of aggression both in and outside prison.
Evaluate/AID the importation model
Support from research - Harer & Steffensmeirer - analysed data from 58 US prisons & found black inmates has significantly higher levels of violent behaviour but lower rates of alcohol and drug related misconduct than white inmates. these patterns parallel racial differences in these behaviours in US society and so support the importation model.
Poole & Regoli - found for juvenile delinquents the best predictor of inmate aggression was pre-institutional violence.
The theory has face validity. You might have guessed that prisons are violent because they house violent in-mates!
Research shows cultural and sub-cultural differences, rather than cultural biases. however, it could be seen as socially sensitive research.
Much research is bases on male in-mates so might show androcentrism.
Prisoners’ characteristics could be a result of both nature and nurture.
there are some practical application of the model as it might be possible to predict which prisoners are most likely to show aggression.
It might follow that prison conditions are relatively unimportant.
the origins of institutional aggression: Describe The Deprivation Model
Prisoner aggression is a product of the stressful and oppressive of the institution itself. According to Sykes some of the “pains” associated with prison include loss of freedom, loss of heterosexual relationships, boredom, lack of security (fear of assault) and over-crowding. aggression is a way to reduce stress, obtain desired resources and gain some control over their lives.
Evaluate the deprivation model
zimbardo’s Stanford prison simulation could be used to support the idea that psychologically normal individuals become aggressive when placed in a prison situation. However, this was not a real prison and “guards” may have been conforming to a social role. The research may therefore lack ecological validity. Recent research evidence in this area is inconsistent - McCorkle - looked at 371 state prisons in the US and found little evidence of a relationship between violence and measures such as over-crowding are consistent whereas major outbreaks of violence such as prison riots happen only occasionally. (Although low level aggression is common).
Poole & Regoli - study found for juvenile delinquents the best predictor of inmate aggression was pre-institutional violence, regardless of the particular features of the institution.
Explain the idea of The power of situation
The loss of personal identity that comes from wearing a uniform may explain an increase in aggression. Deindividuation may also occur among prisoners if they are dressed the same. This may dehumanise prisoners and make them targets of aggression. In ‘The Lucifer Effect’ Zimbardo suggests the situation had a major influence on people’s willingness to harm other such as Abu Ghraib, where Iraqui prisoners were tortured and humiliated by US military police. There are a number of social processes involved including conformity by guards amd dehumanisation of prisoners. During WW2 German soliders treated British prisoners of war better than Russians because they regarded them as equals.
Explain institutional aggression in initiation rituals
Fraternities are support networks for undergraduates inthe college US system. They have been criticised for their use of hazing - the ritualistic harassment or abuse of an individual in a group. Probationary members may experience mental or physical stress over periods of weeks or months to prove they are worthy of membership. It has led to physical injury even death and is illegal in many states.
