social psychological explanations of aggression Flashcards
What is the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis and how does it explain aggression?
It proposes that aggression is always the result of frustration from being blocked from achieving a goal.
Frustration builds an aggressive drive, leading to aggressive behaviour. Acting aggressively is cathartic and reduces this drive.
Why might aggression not be directed at the source of frustration, and what is displaced aggression?
If the source is abstract, powerful, or unavailable, aggression is redirected to a weaker, accessible target. This is called displaced aggression
What is the Weapons Effect and how do cues influence aggression?
Frustration creates readiness for aggression, but environmental cues like weapons increase the chance of acting on it. A study showed more shocks were given when guns were present, proving that cues can trigger aggression.
What research supports and challenges the FA Hypothesis?
Support: Green found insulted participants gave stronger shocks. Marcus-Newhall’s meta-analysis confirmed displaced aggression.
Challenge: Bushman showed venting increases aggression, not reduces it. Berkowitz reformulated the theory as negative affect theory, adding other causes like pain or jealousy.
How does SLT explain aggression?
Aggression is learned through observation and reinforcement. Children imitate aggressive models if the behaviour is rewarded (vicarious reinforcement).
Learning involves four processes: attention, retention, reproduction, motivation.
What did the Bobo Doll experiment show, and what is self-efficacy in aggression?
Children imitated aggression, especially when the model was the same gender. Self-efficacy is the belief that aggression will achieve goals; it grows with each successful aggressive act.
What are strengths and weaknesses of SLT in explaining aggression?
Strengths: Research by Poulin & Boivin showed peer reinforcement. SLT offers real-world applications like rewarding non-aggressive models.
Limitations: SLT underplays biological influences like hormones and genetics.
What is deindividuation and how does it relate to aggression?
It’s a state where people lose their identity in a group (e.g. crowd, masks), reducing self-awareness and accountability. This can lead to impulsive, aggressive behaviour.
What evidence supports or challenges de-individuation as a cause of aggression?
Support: Online anonymity (Douglas), and crowd studies during suicide attempts (Mann).
Challenge: In dark room studies, people didn’t become aggressive. Some argue group norms—not anonymity—guide behaviour (SIDE model).
