9. Aggression EQs Flashcards
(11 cards)
Briefly explain how cognitive priming in the media might influence aggressive
behaviour. (2 marks)
- aggressive images in the media e.g. guns act as priming stimuli for a script of an aggressive behaviour
- exposure to these cues in a similar context can trigger the memory leading to reproduction
of the aggressive behaviour - effect may be specific (reproduction of specific aggressive acts) or more general (tendency to behave in a generally aggressive way).
Jane is talking about her husband to a friend.
Jane says, “Bill gets angry if I text any of my male friends. He’s always looking at my
mobile phone. He gets upset if I want to go out with friends and insists on coming along
too. I suppose it is nice in a way because he is so strong and protective.”
Use your knowledge of evolutionary explanations of aggression to explain Jane’s
comments. (4 marks)
- Evolutionary theory states that males compete for females – Bill gets angry because he sees Jane’s male friends as potential rivals – this is an example of sexual jealousy
- Bill is anxious to prevent Jane forming a relationship with other males so as to avoid cuckoldry, ie Jane being unfaithful
- Bill shows mate retention strategies, eg checking Jane’s mobile is an example of male vigilance over partner’s behaviour; going along on nights out is an example of direct guarding
- Jane is referring to Bill as a dominant male (strength and protectiveness)
An expert in institutional aggression focuses on how living conditions and environment can affect prisoner aggression. He visits Sharksville prison where there has recently been a prison riot. He observes the prison accommodation, prison conditions and how
decisions about daily routine at the prison are made.
Describe what the expert could recommend to
reduce institutional aggression at Sharksville prison. (4 marks)
- recommend prisoners have more space/liberty, eg fewer prisoners per cell, individual cells, use of open prisons, avoidance of over-crowding
- recommend allowing access to material goods, services, visits etc to avoid deprivation
- recommend more interesting daily routines, eg activities (learning/study opportunities, for the acquisition of new skills) to avoid boredom/aimlessness
- recommend the prisoners be given some choice/influence over their daily routine to allow
autonomy/control eg use prisoner representatives to contribute to decision-making.
News correspondents in inner cities have remarked upon how young males frequently carry weapons and engage in threatening behaviour.
Using your knowledge of evolutionary explanations of aggression, account for these high levels of aggression in young males. [4 marks]
- Volk et al. (2012) argued that aggression derives from an innate need to acquire and defend resources/establish status. Through threatening behaviour (e.g verbal aggression) and carrying a weapon men can climb the social hierarchy and establish dominance as a leader.
- This accounts for high levels of aggression in males as it benefits them to show these aggressive characteristics socially making them more attractive to women.
- Male aggression also derives from sexual jealousy where men act aggressively in order to prevent their partner from ‘straying’ as they experience paternity uncertainty of cukoldry.
- Men may be displaying these behaviours through using threatening language to other men who try to engage with their partner in order to prevent them from tempting the wife to have sex with them
What are the five negative effects of deprivation? (5 marks)
liberty, autonomy, heterosexual relationships, goods/services,
security
Describe neural mechanisms in aggression. (6 marks)
- limbic system, particularly the hypothalamus and amygdala, is responsible for aggressive
behaviour - fMRI scans show heightened amygdala activity during aggressive response
- stimulation of the amygdala can increase/decrease aggression response
- frontal cortex moderates the expression of aggression – reduced serotonin activity in the
prefrontal cortex is related to reduced self control/disinhibition - lower levels of 5-HIAA (by-product of serotonin breakdown) are found in impulsive/poorly
controlled offenders
A psychologist used a set of negative images to assess violent attitudes before and after participants played a 30-minute computer game. In a repeated measures design, 15 participants were tested before and after playing the game using a single set of images.
Explain how two sets of images could be used in this study and why this would be an
improvement. (4 marks)
Each participant had a different total score in the before condition, where the maximum score was 40 and the median score was 23. How many of the participants had a score < the median in the before condition?
Explain your answer. (2 marks)
- the researcher should use a different set of images for the before and after test
- counterbalance the two sets of images, eg half the
participants see A first followed by B, the other half see B first followed by A - this would reduce effects of demand characteristics/the problem of order effects
- participants might guess the purpose of the study and therefore respond according to
expectations/participants might be affected by boredom/practice. - 7
- we are told that all 15 scores are different
Researchers observed two brightly coloured male Siamese fighting fish. The fish were in
separate tanks with a slide screen between the tanks so the fish could not see each other. When the slide screen was raised so that the fish could see each other, they both reacted by puffing themselves up to appear larger. The fish also puffed themselves up when a small, brightly
coloured piece of card was displayed alongside the tank.
Describe what is meant by a fixed action pattern. Refer to the study above in your answer. (8 marks)
- a fixed action pattern (FAP) is an stereotyped sequence of behaviours
- universal within a species − all members of a species show the same pattern of behaviour
- the ritual is ‘ballistic’, ie cannot be stopped once initiated
- ritual is situation specific
- FAPs occur when innate releasing mechanisms respond to specific environmental stimuli
Possible application points:
1. the fish displayed a ritualised ‘puffing’ behaviour (FAP) to make themselves more threatening
2. they both reacted the same way, showing universality
3. their innate releasing mechanism (IRM) was elicited by presentation of a specific stimulus − the other male fish that was brightly coloured
4. the same response occurred using other materials that resembled the original stimulus, ie brightly coloured card.
- The players were fighting on the pitch
- Our team lost again – it’s not fair
- Supporters of the other team ganged up on us
- I was with my mates – we were all punching at once
- Everyone else was fighting, so I just joined in
Identify one or more social psychological explanations for aggression. Refer to some of the comments in the table above in your answer. (3 marks)
- frustration-aggression: John’s fighting might be triggered by frustration due to his team
losing. John displaces anger at losing match / unfairness
onto rival supporters - social learning: John observes players fighting on the pitch – these are his role models –
he identifies with these high status models – observes, imitates; John saw everyone else
fighting and imitated - de-individuation: John is part of a group/co-acting; therefore less likely to feel individually
responsible for his aggressive act due to de-individuation
Briefly outline the possible role of cognitive priming in the effects of computer games on
aggression. (2 marks)
- Cognitive priming refers to the priming effects of media images on previously learnt behaviours or cognitive schema, activating the memories and making aggression more likely
- Violent computer games may increase the likelihood of aggression in players who
have learned aggressive responses in the past and/or who hold aggressive schema
What are innate releasing mechanisms? (2 marks)
- hard-wired brain networks that respond to specific
stimuli (signs or releasers) by initiating a fixed action pattern, a set sequence of behaviours. - IRMs are a key part of the ethological (instinctive) approach to aggression. Examples of IRM in relation to aggression include
the male stickleback showing aggressive behaviour to red-bellied sticklebacks (male
rivals).
