Week 6: Villains & Heroes

Question 1

Is being villainous to act in a socially acceptable manner?

Question 2

Heroes and villains

Answer 2

Socially desirable and socially undesirable

Question 2

Compliance and Obedience- The Milgram Experiment 1960

Answer 2

• Is a behaviour villainous if we consider the influence of others? Good old Iago debates.

Question 3

Social Conformity- The Asch Experiment 1950

Question 4

What is aggression

Answer 4

Aggression is a behavioural phenomenon said to occur from perceived injustices, frustrations and anger overall. Socialisation is used to reign aggressive behaviour.

So far, perceived as inate. However, the activation and inhibiton on aggression depends on culture and learning.

Question 5

Origin of Aggression, and types

Answer 5

-Instinctual perspective
-Evolutionary perspective
-Cognitive neoassociation
-Cognitive-social approaches (cognitive and behavioural perspective)

Question 6

Are we born with aggression

Answer 6

Likely yes, we are socialised and taught to inhibit this behaviour.

Question 7

Instinctual perspective- Inhibited expression from socialisation

Answer 7

Implicit shame- Gilligan 1996 met with incarcerated citizens who described the reasons for their actions as a response to feeling shame from inadequacy and perceived disrespect.

-Passion crimes

-Instinctual- Lorenz anger builds up over time, this isn’t applicable to everyone as there is no general trend of humans following the same pattern.

Question 8

Evolutionary perspective-

Answer 8

What do you know, it’s all because of survival and reproduction.

Males tend to kill other men for reproductive access, and also the children. In doing so, the mother will dedicate their resources to them.

The women displays aggressive in response to attacks from their young.

Question 9

Appeasement techniques

Answer 9

The concept is universal, expression of this concept is divided between cultures.

Question 10

What other techniques have we developed to override our evolutionary inhibitions?

Answer 10

Killing at a distance, inducing harm without being physically present. This inhibits any distress responses from occurring, and overrides this seamlessly.

Question 11

Life history theory

Answer 11

Personality as adaptability

Slow life strategy: Long-term investment in offspring, reared late in age and taken care of for a significant proportion of the parents lifetime.

Fast life strategy: Reared young, with the goal to have as many children within a short-time span. With the expectation that some may die off, but a proportion will persevere. Characters scoring high in the dark triad traits are most likely to be categorised as ‘fast life strategy’. They expect immediate reward.

Question 12

What types believe aggression is inbuilt human behaviour?

Answer 12

Instinctual psychologists
Evolutionary psychologists

Question 13

Physiological aspects of aggression

Answer 13

1. Neural processes- Signals interpreted through the thalamus then sent to the hypothalamus and amgydala are involved in the process. Also sent to the cortex for further consideration. Limbic structure assesses the emotional stimuli. The hypothalamus triggers endocrine responses. Midbrain emphasis for animals. Incarcerated murders and antisocial individuals use their pre-frontal cortex 14-15% less.
2. Hormones and neurotransmitters (Testosterone and serotonin)- Testosterone supposedly heightens feelings of aggression, and is claimed as social dominance. Although, there is an interconnected relationship in which causation cannot be distinguished. So, acting aggressively may also increase testosterone. Also, low levels of serotonin can lead to impulsive aggression.
3. Genetics- Can be inherited, for instance how serotonin is processed.

Question 14

Physiological aspects of aggression

Answer 14

1. Neural processes- Signals interpreted through the thalamus then sent to the hypothalamus and amgydala are involved in the process. Also sent to the cortex for further consideration. Limbic structure assesses the emotional stimuli. The hypothalamus triggers endocrine responses. Midbrain emphasis for animals. Incarcerated murders and antisocial individuals use their pre-frontal cortex 14-15% less.
2. Hormones and neurotransmitters (Testosterone and serotonin)- Testosterone supposedly heightens feelings of aggression, and is claimed as social dominance. Although, there is an interconnected relationship in which causation cannot be distinguished. So, acting aggressively may also increase testosterone. Also, low levels of serotonin can lead to impulsive aggression.
3. Genetics- Can be inherited, for instance how serotonin is processed.

Question 15

Cognitive neoassociations theory (socialised villainary)

Answer 15

The trigger of negative emotions can elicit similar cognitive pathways and memories that can lead to aggression?

Question 16

Frustration-aggression hypothesis- Dollard 1939

Answer 16

Frustration in attempting to achieve a goal, may become aggressive

Question 16

That weird fact…

Answer 16

Hot temperatures can lead to more aggressive behaviour…

Question 17

Cognitive-social perspective (socialised villainary)

Answer 17

-Social rewards and punishment teach aggression. Attributions and observational learning, or rather social learning.

-Parental discipline examples. Harsh discipline contributes to aggressive children. An unattached parental relationship can also lead to an aggressive child.

-Bandura’s Bodo dolls, can aggression be taught?

-More aggressive at the possibility of intent to harm them.

-Exposure to casual violence on screen. Higher associations to aggression, and void of the consequences generally paired with aggression.

-Once again, it is the chicken or the egg debate. Is it that aggression occurs from viewing violence or that aggression is aroused in aggressive individuals who seek it.

Question 18

The general aggression model (GAM)

Answer 18

In consideration of the many perspectives surrounding aggression, the GAM examines a particular person and situation. The model will then consider the unique circumstances and factoring in relevant variables.

The input being an insecure and short-fused individual, disrespected in an environment with easy access to guns. The output likely being violence.

Question 19

Denson 2012 model for aggression

Answer 19

Angry rumination can lead to a high emotional state activating psychological and physiological processes, diffusing self-control. Thus, leading to aggression.

‘Multiple systems model’: Cognitive, neurobiological, affective, effective control and behavioural elements.

Question 20

Social Influence

Answer 20

The collective identity we adopt, resulting in losing our individual identity.

Question 21

Gustave Le Bon

Answer 21

Deindividuation; the anonymity found in a crowd allows the individual to disregard their accountability.

Question 22

Self-fulfilling prophecies

Answer 22

Implicit and explicit expectations of false impressions can influence behaviour. An example of how others can influences us, and group stereotypes in general.

Snyder’s experiment found that treat women as attractive or unattractive formed the way the would respond. Women treated as attractive acted attractive, women treated as unattractive acted unattractive.

Question 23

The three forms of social influence

Answer 23

-Obedience
-Conformity
-Group processes

Question 24

Obedience

Answer 24

The Milgrim Experiment. Participants administer volts to another person in a different room. Each time a mistake was made the participants was instructed to administer a high voltage to the last. A mean voltage of 405 was delivered before refusal.

Question 25

Influences of obedience

Answer 25

-Proximity (other participant and experimenter)
-Authority (power is unconscious, when considering what we would do in that situation we use conscious thinking.)

Question 26

Conformity

Answer 26

The Asch Study. The white lines on a card study. A confederate presented the choice for individuals to either choose between either ostrasisation from the group’s opinion or thinking for themselves. Unless another dissenter spoke up.

Question 27

Factor of influence- Conformity in culture

Answer 27

Varies throughout different cultures. Higher rates of conformity exist when relating to livelihood. Autonomy.

Question 28

Factor of influence- Conformity in gender and age

Answer 28

Women are more likely to conform than men when in a f2f situation or public speaking. Adolescents develop a resistance to peer pressure through age.

Question 29

Group processes

Answer 29

A group of people congregate and impart on each other. The group forms a collective identity, that forgoes their individual identities. Often there is a lack of accountability characteristic of those who identify themselves within a group (implicitly or explicitly).

Question 30

The group operates on a standard of behaviour called…

Answer 30

Norms, explicit and implicit.

Question 31

A reference group…

Answer 31

A group the individual either aspires to or against. It is a standard to measure their behaviour against.

A positive reference group is one we aspire to (not necessarily a positive influence)

A negative reference group is one we aspire against (not necessarily a negative influence).

Question 32

A role…

Answer 32

Predetermined behaviour that an individual is expected to follow for the benefit of the group. Although, a role allows an individual to make decisions without the expectation of consulting others.

Internalise roles as role schema.

Question 33

Group management- Leadership

Answer 33

Instrumental and task leaders

Social-emotional leaders

Question 34

Standford Experiment Zimbardo

Answer 34

Prisoners and Guards, the roles lead to the characters exhibiting behaviour and experiencing emotions attached to their perspective of the role.

The study showed how role’s structed people’s behaviour, emotions and identities.

Question 35

Group Social Influence

Answer 35

Social facilitation- The presence of others can either help or hinder performance. When performing dominant, well-learned and familiar behaviour others presence can help performance. Otherwise, if you were learning a behaviour and it was not familiar, nor dominant; this is likely to hinder performance.

-There are some exceptions like ‘choking under pressure’, or possibly a continuance of the pressure associated with non-dominant behaviour. Like a once-in-a-lifetime-match.

Question 36

Social loafing

Answer 36

Where a task involves many individuals, less accountability is adopted and coordinating efforts is difficult to facilitate.

Question 37

Tasks and social facilitation

Answer 37

Disjunctive task: Performing a task alone, yes or no answer that can only be supplied by you.

Question 38

Disjunctive task/puzzles can be categorised into…

Answer 38

Eureka when the answer seamlessly fits with our expectations/ thinking.

Non-eureka when the answer and our explainations render us unsure.

Question 39

Groupthink:

Answer 39

When decisions are prioristied for the harmonisation of the group and not for the reality of the decision

Seek concurrences and censor dissenting opinions.

Stress + charisma contribute to the devoted actions of groupthink.

Opposition hardens internal groupthink beliefs.

Question 40

Janis 1982 Model of Groupthink

Answer 40

1. Antecedents (seek cohesiveness)
2. Symptoms of groupthink (establish invulnerability)
3. Symptoms of poor decision-making (failure to objectively analyse risks)

Question 41

Group decision making

Question 42

Group polarisation

Answer 42

Move to an extreme position against the views and standards the group previously possessed.

-Deviant opinions can reduce group morale
-Can also widen possibilities

Question 43

Group cohesiveness

Answer 43

When a group aligns themselves closely with each other to be viewed more favourably by their other members.

Question 44

Heroes

Answer 44

Courage, outstanding qualities and achievements.

Sociably acceptable acts of good.

Acts on the call.

Question 45

What is a reluctant hero, according to Zimbardo,?

Answer 45

‘Implicitly supports the perpetrators of evil’

Why

Question 46

Villains

Answer 46

Intentionally commit evils.

Likely to lack morality and conscience.

Question 47

This module considers whether we are socialised into these roles. Heroes and villains. Altruism and aggression. Although, the last is from a socially desirable/undesirable perspective

Answer 47

Is a villain a result of a lack of internal moral insight or misunderstood social perceptions.

Question 48

All experiments give examples of roles. If I could underline roles I would.

Question 49

The articles classification of roles, projected through movies.

Answer 49

Powerful/weak
Benevolent/Malevolent

Question 50

The Dark Triad- Antisocial personality traits

Answer 50

Personality traits that cannot be measured cohesively, and all occur as seperate measures.

-Narcissism
-Machiavellianism
-Psychopathy

Question 51

Machiavellianism

Answer 51

Better to be feared than loved, if you can’t have both.
-Dishonest
-Gullible
-Driven to fulfill their own needs

35% overlap with Psychopathy
Challegning life events
Men
After the 30s

-Probably the worst because they are functionally evil, and capable of escaping unnoticed.

Question 52

Narcissists

Answer 52

Grandiose
Vulnerable