W8.b Flashcards
What is aggression?
Behaviour intended to harm someone else
What is instrumental aggression?
Aggression used as a means to an end
What is hostile aggression?
Aggression driven by anger (at insult, disrespect, or threats to identity/esteem)
Manifestations of aggression
Active (direct/indirect) vs. Passive (direct/indirect)
Physical vs. Verbal
Factors that influence aggression
Culture
Emotions
Cues
Models
Aggressive culture
Cultures of honor
Norms for aggression:
- Men should be tough, loyal and ready to fight
- Enforce one’s rights and protect family, home and possessions
- Such reputations serve as deterrents
Frustration-aggression hypothesis
Frustration: follows blocking of an important goal
Frustration-aggression hypothesis (Dollard et al., 1939):
Frustration inevitably triggers aggression
Refined by Berkowitz (1989):
Not goal blockage per se, but negative feelings/arousal (E.g., anger, irritation) that arise therefrom
Cues to aggression
Aspects of the environment linked to aggression (semantically) can activate thoughts of aggression…
Weapons effect (see a gun)
Social learning of aggressive
Aggressive models: Exposure to violent role models increases aggression
Video games and violence (Anderson & Dill, 2000):
- Play violent or non-violent video game
- Assess accessibility of aggressive thoughts
- Aggressive behaviour
Two appraisal and decision processes:
Superficial or deep processing
Initial, automatic aggressive tendencies can be overcome by deeper processing
Factors that impair deep processing and increase aggression
Arousal
Time pressure
Alcohol
General Aggression Model
Anderson & Bushman (2002)
Order:
1.a. Personal variables: low A & C and High N…
1.b. Situational variable: Frustration; violent media; cues (weapons)…
- Present internal state (affect, cognition, arousal)
- Appraisal and decision processes (superficial or deep)
- Behavior
What doesn’t work for dealing with aggression?
Catharsis/venting
Bushman (2002)
-Hit punching bag or not
-Those who hit punching bag: rumination or distraction
-Control vs vent/rumination vs vent/distraction
-Venting by punching a bag increases aggression,
especially if accompanied by rumination
What works for dealing with aggression?
Promoting norms of non-aggression (changing role models)
E.g., prosocial video games
Minimizing cues (undermining cues)
Cognitive re-appraisal (of the situation)
E.g., self-immersion: reflect from a first person perspective, get the self back in the situation); self-distance: from a different perspective)
Increase empathy
Non-aggressive strategies
Decrease:
Accessibility of aggressive cognition;
Arousal;
Negative affect.
Bushman (General Aggression Model):
“Present internal state”: Delay, distraction, relaxation, incompatible responses
