SP explanations for aggression: Frustartion-aggression hypothesis Flashcards
1
Q
What are Social Psychological explanations of aggression?
A
- Any theory that argues aggression is the result of an interaction between an individuals characteristics & features of the environment
2
Q
Who first formulated the frustration-aggression hypothesis?
A
- Dollard (1939)
3
Q
What does Dollard’s frustration-aggression hypothesis state?
A
- that frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of frustration
4
Q
Explain Dollard’s whole original frustration aggression hypothesis
A
- aggression is a :
1) psychological drive that arise when we experience frustration
2) because our attempts to reach a goal are blocked by some external factor
3) creates an aggressive drive, which leads to aggressive thoughts E.G. verbal outburst
4) outbursts removes negative emotion (catharsis)
5) aggressive drive is satisfied, further aggression less likely
5
Q
What three reasons are there for why aggression is not always expressed directly against the source of frustration?
A
- because the cause of our frustration may be abstract (economic situation, government etc)
- cause may be too powerful & we risk punishment (teacher gave you low grade than expected)
- cause may just be unavailable at the time
6
Q
What happens when aggression is not directly expressed against source of frustration?
A
- aggression is displaced onto an alternative, one that is not abstract, weaker and available
7
Q
How was frustration aggression hypothesis tested and what was found?
A
- concept was tested by Geen et al who studied male university students under 3 conditions > manipulating their frustration while completing a puzzle
- Those who were insulted by confederate whilst doing so administered the strongest shocks
- followed by the interfered group
- whereas those who simply found the puzzle impossible delivered the weakest shocks
- followed by the lowest levels being displayed by the non-frustrated control group
- supports Dollard’s original idea that frustration is displaced onto other targets when aggression cannot immediately be reduced by drive reduction
8
Q
What does Berkowitz (1989) argue in his updated frustration-aggression hypothesis?
A
- Berkowitz (1989) > frustration merely creates a readiness for aggression
- but the presence of aggressive cues in the environment make acting upon this much more likely
cues= additional element
= weapon effect
9
Q
What was the research procedure of the study done to support the weapon effect?
A
- Berkowitz & LePage (1967) lab study
- when p’s were given the opportunity to give fake shocks to confederate who had previously given them electric shocks, the
- number of shocks was greater when there were two guns on a table compared to other conditions when there were no guns
- supports Berkowitz’s contention that the presence of aggressive environmental cues stimulates aggression
10
Q
What is a strength of the F-A hypothesis?
A
- support for key concept
- Marcus- Newhall et al > meta-analysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression
- studies investigated situations in which aggressive behaviour had to be directed against a human target other than the one who caused frustration
- Frustrated p’s who were provoked but unable to retaliate directly against source of frustration > more likely to aggress against an innocent party than people who were not provoked
- increases reliability of hypothesis
11
Q
What is a limitation of the role of catharsis?
A
- aggression may not be cathartic
- Bushman > found that p’s who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punching bag became more aggressive rather than less
- doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting
- ‘using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire’ > it does not work
- central assumption of hypothesis is not valid
12
Q
What is another limitation of the F-A hypothesis?
A
- link between aggression & frustration is complex
- early research into the frustration-aggression hypothesis made clear that frustration does not always lead to aggression & aggression can occur without frustration
- someone who feels frustrated may behave in different ways > may be helpless or determined
- likewise someone who behaves aggressively may do so for other reasons
- incomplete explanation, doesn’t explain how aggression arises in other situations
13
Q
What is a counterpoint to the point that frustration & aggression is complex?
A
- Berkowitz 1989 > reformulated the initial hypothesis
- Negative affect theory argues that frustration is just one of many undesirable stimuli that create negative feelings others include: loneliness, jealousy & pain
- aggressive behaviour is triggered by these negative feelings than frustration specifically
- frustration which leads to negative feelings forms part of a wider explanation > accommodating new theories
