L6- Social Psychological explanation of aggression- F-A hypothesis

Question 1

Social psychological explanations of aggression

Answer 1

• Focus on idea that aggression is the result of an interaction between an individuals characteristics and the features of the situation in which the behavior occurs

Question 2

what does f-a hypothesis stand for

Answer 2

Frustration- aggression hypothesis

Question 3

who put forward the f-a hypothesis

Answer 3

Dollard et al

Question 4

what is the idea f-a hypothesis is based on

Answer 4

Freud:
- psychodynamic explanation of catharsis
- believed drive for aggression was innate
- only way to reduce- engage in activity that released it

Question 5

What did Dollard et al propose

Answer 5

• frustration leads to aggression
• aggression is cathartic release of build up of frustration
• individual prevented from achieving goal by external factor= frustration= always lead to aggression

Question 6

3 reasons aggression not always expressed directly against source

Answer 6

• cause of frustration may be abstract (economic situation)
• cause may be too powerful- risk punishment e.g. against boss/teacher
• cause may be unavailable at time

Question 7

what do we have to protect ourselves when using aggression

Answer 7

ego defence mechanisms:
- sublimation= using aggression in acceptable actvities e.g. sport
- displacement= directing aggression outwards onto something/one else

Question 8

The weapon effect

Answer 8

Berkowitz:
- proposed revised f-a hypothesis
- argued frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression- only in presence of certain cues
- e.g. presence of weapons= more likely to trigger aggression

Question 9

Simplified eval

Answer 9

+ research support- jigsaw
+practical application - gun laws
- lab experiment
-link between F+A more complex

Question 10

Strengths

Answer 10

+Green- lab experiment- male undergrads- jigsaw puzzle
- 3 diff conditions to raise levels of frustration: 1. unattainable time limit 2. impossible to complete 3. confederate- derogatory remarks when failed
- opportunity to give shocks to confederate if incorrect answers on another task- group with insults= highest level + all groups more shocks than control group- no frustration
= frustration leads to aggression

+ practical application- Berkowitz- lab experiment- opportunity to shock confederate who previously angered them
- 3 conditions- 1. aggressive cue (gun) 2. non-aggressive cue ( badminton racket) 3. no cue
- presence of aggressive cues= higher levels of shocks than ither groups
- potential new far reaching implications for gun laws USA

Question 11

Weaknesses

Answer 11

• main research support - lab experiments= lack ecological validity - extent to which they would carry out actual aggression with external stimulus not certain
• link between F+ A more complex than theorized- very early research= f not always leads to A- not ‘automatic’ link
  could feel helpless, determined if frustrated
  aggressive behavior not always need to be frustrated - MAOA-L= more likely to show aggression
  = does not factor other factors- genes, biology= limited explanation