Social psychological explanations of aggression: Frustration aggression hypothesis

Question 1

Who cam up with the frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 1

John Dollard

Question 2

Frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 2

Aggression is always the result of frustration

Question 3

How does frustration lead to aggression

Answer 3

We experience frustration when our goals are blocked by external factor= aggressive drive which leads to aggressive thoughts and behaviour (e.g violent outburst)
-This removes the negative emotion (catharsis)

Question 4

Why is aggression not always expressed directly against source of frustration

Answer 4

-Source is abstract (e.g economic situation)
-Source is too powerful (so risk punishment)
-Source is absent

So aggression is displaced

Question 5

The weapon effect (Berkowitz)

Answer 5

Frustration merely creates readiness for aggression but presence of aggressive cues in environment make acting on it more likely

Question 6

How did Berkowitz demonstrate the weapon effect

Answer 6

Lab study pps were shocked by confederate (=anger/frustration) then could give shocks back

-Gave more shocks when guns on the table

So presence of aggressive cues= aggression

Question 7

Russel Green’s research on how frustration affects aggression- procedure

Answer 7

Students solved jigsaw puzzle with frustration experimentally manipulated e.g:
-Impossible
-Confederate interfering
-Insulted

Question 8

Russel Green’s research on how frustration affects aggression- Findings

Answer 8

Insulted pps gave strongest shocks
All three groups gave more intense shocks than control group

Question 9

Strength of frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 9

Research support for displaced aggression
-e.g Marcus-Newhall meta-analysis said reliable phenomenon as provoked pps who couldn’t retaliate significantly more likely to displace anger onto innocent party

Shows that frustration can lead to aggression against a weaker/more available target

Question 10

Weakness of frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 10

Contradictory research to role of catharsis
-e.g Bushman found pps who vented anger with punchbag became + aggressive/doing nothing was more effective

= Central assumption of frustration-aggression hypothesis may not be valid

Question 11

Weakness 2 of frustration-aggression hypothesis (complex link)

Answer 11

Frustration does not always lead to aggression (e.g could= determination)/Not all aggression caused by frustration

=hypothesis inadequate as only explains how aggression arises in some situations

Question 12

Counterargument to complex link

Answer 12

Berkowitz said negative affect theory to take into account:
-Frustration just one negative stimuli that= negative feelings
-Aggression triggered by these negative feelings generally
-Outcome of frustration can be range of responses

Therefore frustration can form a wider explanation of what causes aggression