Week 9 - Aggression

Question 1

What factors can increase aggression?

Answer 1

• Negative feelings
• Aggressive cues
• Learning
• Individual differences
• Alcohol

Question 2

The frustration-aggression hypothesis (Dollard et al, 1939)

Answer 2

Frustration always elicits the motive to aggress & all aggression is caused by frustration.

Question 3

What is the motive to aggress?

Answer 3

A psychological drive that resembles a physiological drive

Question 4

What can the motive to aggress lead to?

Answer 4

Displacement - which is when the individual is aggressive toward a substitute target.

Question 5

What reduces displacement?

Answer 5

Catharsis

Question 6

Barker et al study

Answer 6

High frustration led to destructive behaviour - when children had to wait to play with toys they threw them around/smashed them

Question 7

When do levels of frustration increase?

Answer 7

• When people are closer to their goals
• The obstacle is unexpected

Question 8

The frustration-aggression hypothesis revised

Answer 8

Negative feelings, not solely frustration that trigger aggression

Question 9

What noxious stimuli create negative feelings?

Answer 9

• Provocation
• Pain
• Heat

Question 10

Provocation

Answer 10

Insults can increase aggression unless mitigating factors are known in advanced.

Question 11

Pain

Answer 11

Hand in cold water = more aggression

Question 12

Heat

Answer 12

More uprisings, family disturbances, rapes, and assaults occur in the summer.

Question 13

Limits

Answer 13

• When negativity is too intense, escape or fatigue become more dominant and aggression decreases.
• Positivity (laughter) can cancel out negative feelings

Question 14

Aggression related cues

Answer 14

Weapons effect - The mere presence of weapons can increase the likelihood of aggression

Question 15

Weapons effect study (Berkowitz & Le Page, 1967)

Answer 15

Participants who had a gun in the room with them administered more shocks to the confederate than those who had nothing or a badminton racquet.

Question 16

Learning from Direct experience with rewards and punishments

Answer 16

Question 17

Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

Answer 17

Indirect experience (observing others) affects the likelihood of future aggressive responses

Question 18

Bobo Doll Study

Answer 18

When children watched an adult display aggressive behaviour towards a toy they repeated the behaviour

Question 19

Exposure to Violent Media - childhood

Answer 19

There is a positive correlation between the amount of violent TV shows watched as a child and aggressiveness as a teenager.

Question 20

Exposure to Violent Media - adolescence

Answer 20

There is a positive correlation between time spent watch violent TV shows and subsequent violent acts against others in adulthood

Question 21

Violence in media is more influential on aggressive behaviour when?

Answer 21

• described as real vs fictitious
• morally justified by the situation
• described as revenge
• is carried out by someone who relates to the individual
• is approved by an adult

Question 22

Culture of Honor

Answer 22

Emphasis is placed on honor and status, particularly for males and aggression is used to protect them.

Question 23

Cultural Differences between North and South US

Answer 23

North US - Honor is not a paramount value
South US - Honor is a paramount value

Question 24

Culture of Honor Studies (Cohen, 1996)

Answer 24

White males from the South of the US showed higher levels of cortisol and testosterone, and displayed more aggressive behaviour after being bumped into by confederate and called and asshole.

Question 25

Narcissism

Answer 25

When individuals have higher levels of narcissism they display greater aggression. Brought on by negative feedback of the individual.

Question 26

Self-control

Answer 26

Being able to resist impulses and act in line with personal/societal standards for appropriate behaviour

Question 27

Poor self-control shows greater aggression in what aspects

Answer 27

• towards strangers and romantic partners
• crime
• cyberbullying

Question 28

Alcohol myopia

Answer 28

Alcahol leads to more extreme behaviour when there is inhibition conflict. People respond to salient (most noticeable cue) but not inhibiting cue

Question 29

Zeichner and Phil (1979)

Answer 29

Participants who were given an alcoholic drink rather than a placebo drink gave the other participant longer shocks when they received an obnoxious tone in their ear.

Question 30

How to reduce aggressive behaviour

Answer 30

• Punishment
• Cartharsis
• Empathy
• Self-control

Question 31

Why can physical punishment backfire?

Answer 31

• models aggressive behaviour
• physical punishment increases antisocial behaviour

Question 32

When can punishment be effective?

Answer 32

• Prompt - immediately after behaviour
• Certain - consistently applied
• Seen as fair/legitimate
• Strong enough to deter behaviour but not too harsh

Question 33

Original theory of Catharsis to reduce aggressive behaviour

Answer 33

Thought to be effective by releasing pent up aggression ‘blow off steam’

Question 34

Catharsis - Geen et al (1975)

Answer 34

Participants were angered by confederate then given the opportunity to shock him. Participants that did shock the confederate were more likely to give him more shocks the second time.

Question 35

Reasons why catharsis backfires?

Answer 35

• Low levels of aggression loosen restraints against more violent behaviour
• Feelings of hostility and anger persist and increase

Question 36

Increase Empathy

Answer 36

Children who were put in programs to learn about empathy were more empathetic, higher self esteem, more generous and less aggressive

Question 37

Increase Self-Control

Answer 37

Participants who were given self-control training displayed less aggressive behaviour