Week 9 - Aggression Flashcards
What factors can increase aggression?
- Negative feelings
- Aggressive cues
- Learning
- Individual differences
- Alcohol
The frustration-aggression hypothesis (Dollard et al, 1939)
Frustration always elicits the motive to aggress & all aggression is caused by frustration.
What is the motive to aggress?
A psychological drive that resembles a physiological drive
What can the motive to aggress lead to?
Displacement - which is when the individual is aggressive toward a substitute target.
What reduces displacement?
Catharsis
Barker et al study
High frustration led to destructive behaviour - when children had to wait to play with toys they threw them around/smashed them
When do levels of frustration increase?
- When people are closer to their goals
- The obstacle is unexpected
The frustration-aggression hypothesis revised
Negative feelings, not solely frustration that trigger aggression
What noxious stimuli create negative feelings?
- Provocation
- Pain
- Heat
Provocation
Insults can increase aggression unless mitigating factors are known in advanced.
Pain
Hand in cold water = more aggression
Heat
More uprisings, family disturbances, rapes, and assaults occur in the summer.
Limits
- When negativity is too intense, escape or fatigue become more dominant and aggression decreases.
- Positivity (laughter) can cancel out negative feelings
Aggression related cues
Weapons effect - The mere presence of weapons can increase the likelihood of aggression
Weapons effect study (Berkowitz & Le Page, 1967)
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.
Learning from Direct experience with rewards and punishments
Social Learning Theory (Bandura)
Indirect experience (observing others) affects the likelihood of future aggressive responses
Bobo Doll Study
When children watched an adult display aggressive behaviour towards a toy they repeated the behaviour
Exposure to Violent Media - childhood
There is a positive correlation between the amount of violent TV shows watched as a child and aggressiveness as a teenager.
Exposure to Violent Media - adolescence
There is a positive correlation between time spent watch violent TV shows and subsequent violent acts against others in adulthood
Violence in media is more influential on aggressive behaviour when?
- 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
Culture of Honor
Emphasis is placed on honor and status, particularly for males and aggression is used to protect them.
Cultural Differences between North and South US
North US - Honor is not a paramount value
South US - Honor is a paramount value
Culture of Honor Studies (Cohen, 1996)
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.
Narcissism
When individuals have higher levels of narcissism they display greater aggression. Brought on by negative feedback of the individual.
Self-control
Being able to resist impulses and act in line with personal/societal standards for appropriate behaviour
Poor self-control shows greater aggression in what aspects
- towards strangers and romantic partners
- crime
- cyberbullying
Alcohol myopia
Alcahol leads to more extreme behaviour when there is inhibition conflict. People respond to salient (most noticeable cue) but not inhibiting cue
Zeichner and Phil (1979)
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.
How to reduce aggressive behaviour
- Punishment
- Cartharsis
- Empathy
- Self-control
Why can physical punishment backfire?
- models aggressive behaviour
- physical punishment increases antisocial behaviour
When can punishment be effective?
- Prompt - immediately after behaviour
- Certain - consistently applied
- Seen as fair/legitimate
- Strong enough to deter behaviour but not too harsh
Original theory of Catharsis to reduce aggressive behaviour
Thought to be effective by releasing pent up aggression ‘blow off steam’
Catharsis - Geen et al (1975)
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.
Reasons why catharsis backfires?
- Low levels of aggression loosen restraints against more violent behaviour
- Feelings of hostility and anger persist and increase
Increase Empathy
Children who were put in programs to learn about empathy were more empathetic, higher self esteem, more generous and less aggressive
Increase Self-Control
Participants who were given self-control training displayed less aggressive behaviour
