The frustration hypothesis Flashcards
What is catharsis?
The process of releasing negative emotions, such as grief and anger, to relieve their psychological impact.
What is displacement?
Redirecting aggressive impulses to a less powerful target.
What are defense mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies used by the ego to redirect psychic energy and manage anxiety.
What is the original frustration-aggression hypothesis?
Frustration always leads to aggression, and aggression is always the result of frustration.
Aggression is a psychological drive, similar to biological drives like hunger.
How does frustration lead to aggression?
When attempts to achieve a goal are blocked, frustration builds up.
This creates an aggressive drive, leading to aggressive thoughts or behaviors.
Once aggression is expressed, catharsis occurs, reducing further aggression.
Why is aggression not always expressed against the source of frustration?
Abstract (e.g., the government, economy).
Too powerful (risking punishment).
Unavailable at the time.
What was greens study?
University student completed a jigsaw puzzle.
Their level of frustration was experimentally manipulated.
The puzzle was impossible to solve.
Ran out of time because another student in the room kept interfering.
The confederate insulted the participant as they failed to solve the puzzle.
What were the results of greens study?
Participants later gave electric shocks to the confederate
Most intense shocks - Insulted participants.
Moderate shocks - Interfered group.
Least intense shocks - Impossible task group.
All frustrated groups were more aggressive than a control group.
What is the weapon effect?
The presence of aggressive cues (e.g., guns) increases aggression when frustration is present.
How did Berkowitz test the weapon effect?
Participants received real electric shocks, creating frustration.
Later, they had a chance to shock the confederate back.
If guns were present in the room, participants gave more shocks than when guns were absent.
