Week 2: Theories of Aggression

Question 1

What are the 4 major biological theories?

Answer 1

1. Ethology
2. Sociobiology
3. Behaviour genetics
4. Hormonal explanations

Question 2

What are the 8 major psychological theories?

Answer 2

1. Freudian psychoanalysis
2. Frustration-aggression hypothesis
3. Cognitive Neo-associationist model
4. Excitation transfer theory
5. Social learning theory
6. Social information processing models
7. I3 theory
8. General Aggression Model

Question 3

Ethology

Answer 3

Aggression is an internal, inevitable, and universal energy released by external cues

The steam boiler model
- no releasing cue then we boil over with aggression

Mainly animal studies

Question 4

Limitations of ethology

Answer 4

No empirical support

Assumes depletion after aggressive act

Question 5

Sociobiology (natural selection)

Answer 5

Aggression is a product of evolution through natural selection

i.e., intrasexual competition, defence, gaining status

Question 6

Limitations of sociobiology

Answer 6

Support for correlation but not causal links

Question 7

In order for aggression to be an adaption it must possess these 3 requirements:

Answer 7

1. Phenotypic variation (some people are more aggressive than others)
2. Differential reproduction (aggression must facilitate survival/ reproductive success)
3. Heritable

Question 8

Behaviour genetics

Answer 8

Aggression is transmitted through heritable genes

Twin studies suggest that roughly half of the variance in aggression is due to genetics

Question 9

Adoption versus twin studies

Answer 9

Adoption studies:
- Can look at genetic effects if one of the twins is kept and the other is adopted

Twin studies:
- Can look at genetic effects by comparing MZ and DZ twins

Question 10

MAO-A gene

Answer 10

“Warrior gene”

Low version of this gene = increased risk of aggression (specifically violent)

Question 11

Epigenetics

Answer 11

Environment can change expression of genes

Question 12

Hormonal

Answer 12

Aggression is influenced by sex hormones and cortisol

Question 13

Endogenous testosterone

Answer 13

Level of testosterone someone has

Question 14

Exogenous testosterone

Answer 14

Testosterone applied

Question 15

Both endogenous and exogenous testosterone is associated with increased aggression across species but mostly for ________

Answer 15

men

some evidence for women but may be a weaker relationship

Question 16

The biosocial model of status that has to do with testosterone states that after a loss testosterone may ___________ and after a win it may _______________

Answer 16

decrease; increase

Question 17

The challenge hypothesis is a revised theory of the biosocial model of status and states that….

Answer 17

T rises in response to threat

T decreases to facilitate adaptive responses to childcare and long-term bonding

Question 18

Cortisol

Answer 18

Inhibitory effect on aggression

Lower levels = higher aggression

Question 19

Dual hormone model

Answer 19

High T and low C = more aggression

• lower empathy
• higher dominance
• evidence for men but evidence is inconclusive for women

Question 20

Oxytocin

Answer 20

Associated with bonding, maternal behaviour, and attachment

BUT

experiments using exogenous oxytocin has found it to be associated with antisocial behaviour (envy and gloating)

Question 21

Freudian psychoanalysis

Answer 21

Aggression is a destructive instinct

Idea of catharsis

No empirical evidence

Question 22

Frustration-Aggression theory

Answer 22

Blocked goal = frustration = aggression

Explains displaced aggression

Frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression but it tends to be more likely when there is an aggressive cue

Question 23

Cognitive Neo-associationism

Answer 23

Aversive stimuli may lead to negative affect and then to aggression

*Explains why frustration may lead to anger but not always

Question 24

Theory of excitation transfer

Answer 24

Aggression is based on intensity of arousal and interpretation of arousal

Question 25

Social learning theory

Answer 25

Learning through observation and reinforcement

Question 26

Social information processing model

Answer 26

Aggression results from the cognitive appraisal of aggressive cues and of potential responses

Question 27

I3 theory

Answer 27

Developed to be applied specifically to intimate partner violence but also can explain other aggressive interactions

1. Instigating triggers
2. Impelling influences (increase aggression)
3. Inhibiting influences (decrease aggression)

Question 28

General aggression model

Answer 28

Aggression is the result of personal and situational variables eliciting effective, cognitive, and physiological arousal responses