social psychological explanations; frustration-aggression hypothesis

Question 1

what is the OG aggression-frustration hypothesis

Answer 1

dollard et al (1939)
= frustration always leads to aggression, and aggression always result of frustration

aggression = psych. drive similar to bio. drive, e.g., hunger
= cathartic response to when attempts to reach goal are blocked by some external factor (frustration)

Question 2

3 reasons why aggression not always expressed directly against source of frustration

Answer 2

1. abstract cause of frustration
   e.g., state of economy, government
2. too powerful of a cause = risk punishment by aggressing
3. cause may be unavailable at the time

= displace anger

Question 3

weapon effect

Answer 3

berkowitz = frustration merely creates readiness for aggression

• presence of aggressive cues
  = increased likelihood of acting on aggression

Question 4

how did berkowitz and lepage test for the weapon effect

Answer 4

lab study, pps given electric shocks by confederate = create anger/frustration

pps later had opportunity to reciprocate on confederate

guns on table = increased no. of shocks pps gave

Question 5

who conducted research into how frustration affects aggression

Answer 5

geen (1968)

Question 6

geen’s (1968) research on frustration-aggression

Answer 6

• investigated how frustration affect aggression

method;
male uni students completed jigsaw puzzle
- level of frustration = experimentally manipulated in 1/3 ways;
1. puzzle impossible to solve
2. ran out of time due confederate continuously interfering
3. confederate insulted pps as failed to solve puzzle
= all pps later given opportunity to give confederate electric shocks

findings;
insulted pps gave strongest shocks on avg, followed by interfered groups
- all 3 groups = selected more intense shocks than control group

Question 7

strength of frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 7

research support
newhall et al = metanalysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression
= concluded displaced aggression is a reliable phenomenom

• provoked frustrated pps unable to retaliate directly against source of frustration directly = more likely to displace compared to unprovoked frustrated pps

= support idea that frustration can lead to aggression against weaker/more available target

Question 8

limitation of frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 8

research against aggression being cathartic
bushman = found pps who vented anger by repeatedly hitting punchbag acc became more aggressive compared to pps that simply did nothing
- argued that using venting to reduce anger, is like using petrol to put out fire

= suggest central assumption of FAH is invalid

Question 9

further limitation of frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 9

misleading link
OG hypothesis = suggest frustration always lead to aggression
- nothing acc ‘automatic’ about link between the 2

• feeling frustrated may behave in range of diff ways, e.g., helpless/determined rather than aggressive, vice versa for someone who is acting aggressively = not necessarily due to frustration

= suggest FAH inadequate due to only explaining how aggression arises in some situations, not all