TOPIC 4 Flashcards
What is aggression?
Behavior intended to harm someone who
doesn’t want to be harmed.
What are the 3 forms of aggression?
– Physical
– Relational
– Verbal
What is physical aggression?
Hitting, punching to harm someone
What is relational aggression?
Manipulating relationships, gossiping, etc in order to do harm
What is verbal aggression?
Insulting, sarcasm etc to produce harm to someone
What are the two different types of function for aggression?
– Proactive
– Reactive
What is proactive aggression?
More of a cold blooded form of aggression, calm cool and collected, thoughtfully planned aggression.
What is reactive aggression?
Aggressive that results from being angry at someone who may have done something to you. (e.g. someone insults you so you punch them in the face)
What are methods of measuring aggression?
- Peer nominations
- (e.g. “who kicks the most in this class”) - Self-reports
- Observational
- Laboratory paradigms
- CRT (after being angered –> expose others to more harmful levels of noise)
- Hot sauce (giving someone an amount of hot sauce)
- Chopstick study (hitting hand with chopstick)
- Voodoo study (sticking pins inside doll - more pins = more angry)
Is aggression present in animals? (give examples)
Yes
– Physical (animals fighting each other)
– Relational (social exclusion from a pack/group)
– Verbal (barking, hissing, roaring)
When does physical aggression levels peak in humans?
In babies (18 months to 2.5 years old)
When does relationship aggression levels peak in humans?
Around the middle school age (10 - 12 years old)
What are the consequences of aggression for victims (physical and relational)?
• Physical aggression consequences:
– Internalizing problems, school avoidance, school failure, peer rejection
• Relational aggression consequences:
– Internalizing problems (depression, loneliness, social anxiety and avoidance, withdrawn behaviors, somatic complaints, low self-esteem and self concept), peer rejection, eating disorders
What are the consequences of aggression for the perpetrators (physical and relational)?
• Physical aggression consequences:
– Serious and violent delinquency later in life; peer rejection, academic problems
• Relational aggression
– Peer rejection (controversial - popular but disliked by a lot of people), internalizing problems, externalizing problems; Perceived popularity
• Non-normative aggression
What was a finding about psychopaths and criminals when it comes to their brain anatomy?
18% reduction in the size of the Prefrontal cortex (thinking part of brain) and changes in their amygdala
Does genetics have a role in aggressive behaviour?
Yes, about 50% of the variance in aggressive behaviour is heritable (twin studies).
What role does gender have with aggressive behaviour and what causes this?
Yes, males tend to be more aggressive due to high levels of testosterone (e.g. hyenas –> more testosterone = more aggressive)
However in humans higher testosterone has not indicated more aggressive behaviour
What is the Frustration aggression hypothesis?
When you get frustrated at someone or something enough to behave aggressively towards them/it (e.g. popquiz –> angry at professor / blender explodes –> throw it across the room)
What is the Evolutionary Theory? (Intrasexual aggression)
Hottie study - women (college aged) acted more aggressive and said bad things about a more attractively dressed and thinner women vs normally dressed or larger women. –> as they saw the hottie as more of a threat to them
What is Social Learning Theory?
How we learn and imitate behaviour, attitude and emotions by observing others doing. (e.g. the bobo doll experiment –> beating it up)
What are some family and cultural influences that impact aggressive behaviour?
Family: • Physical punishment • Abuse • Absentee fathers • Psychological control • Negative parenting in INFANCY sets the stage for aggression in middle childhood
CULTURE
• Culture of honor (–> when honor is insulted –> act aggressively in response –> this is seen in the south of USA where most school shootings occur)
What are some things that can increase aggression?
- Pain
- Heat
- Media violence
Does catharsis help decrease aggression?
No, it actually increases aggression
What does sugar do to aggression?
Helps reduce aggression
