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A-level Psychology > Aggression > Flashcards

Aggression Flashcards

1
Q

What is proactive aggression?

A

Planned method of getting what is wanted

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2
Q

What is reactive aggression?

A

Angry and impulsive, accompanied by psychological arousal

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3
Q

What are the 2 neural mechanisms to explain aggression?

A

The limbic system
Orbitofrontal cortex + seretonin

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4
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

Subcortical structures in the brain (including amygdala + hippocampus) involved in regulating emotional behaviour, such as aggression

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5
Q

How is the amygdala involved in aggression? What is the name of the study to provide evidence for this?

A

Quickly evaluates environmental threats’ importance to provide an appropriate response
The reactivity of the amygdala is an important predictor of aggressive behaviour

Gospic et al

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6
Q

How does Gospic et al’s study illustrate the role of amygdala activity in aggression?

A

Ultimation game where unfair offers led to provocation
fMRI scan showed fast + heightened response by amygdala
If benzodiazepine given before provocation, decreased activity of amygdala + halved the number of aggressive reactions

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7
Q

How is the hippocampus involved in aggression? What is the name of the study to provide evidence for this?

A

Associated with LTM, can compare conditions of current threat with similar past experience
If impaired, prevents nervous system from placing in relevant context, leading to inappropriate amygdala reaction
Boccardi et al

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8
Q

How does Boccardi et al’s study illustrate the role of hippocampus activity in aggression?

A

Habitually violent offenders exhibited abnormal hippocampus functioning

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9
Q

How does serotonin in the orbitofrontal cortex affect aggression?

A

At normal levels in the OFC, the neurotransmitter has a calming effect and inhibits amygdala firing

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10
Q

What is the serotonin deficiency hypothesis?

A

Low serotonin levels means the amygdala is more active, resulting in impulsion and aggression

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11
Q

What is the study to support the role of serotonin in aggression?

A

Virkkunen et al
Levels of a serotonin breakdown product is significantly lower in violent IMPULSIVE offenders than violent NON-IMPULSIVE offenders

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12
Q

What is a strength and weakness of neural mechanisms explaining aggression?

A

Research into the effects of drugs- paroxetine increases serotonin and decreases aggression
- Berman et al either paroxetine or placebo group
- Paroxetine group gave fewer + less intense electric shocks in a lab game
Causal link between seretonin and aggression

Non-limbic brain structures also involved in aggression
-limbic system functions with OFC
- OFC involved in impulse regulation + inhibition of aggression
- Cocarro et al, OFC activity reduced in disorders causing aggression as disrupts impulse control
Neural regulation of aggression is more complex than just the amygdala

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13
Q

What are the 2 hormonal mechanisms to explain aggression?

A

Testosterone
Progesterone

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14
Q

How does testosterone influence aggression?

A

It is a male sex hormone (androgen) responsible for the development of male characteristics, such as aggression
Men reach peak aggression around 20 years, when testosterone levels are highest
Its action on brain areas is implicated in aggression

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15
Q

What is the research that supports testosterone influencing aggression?

A

Giammanco et al
Castration animal studies- removed the testes (source of testosterone)
This reduced aggression in males of many species
Injecting synthetic testosterone restores aggressive behaviour

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16
Q

How may the female ovarian hormone ‘progesterone’ play a role in aggression in women? Include research

A

Levels of progesterone vary during menstrual cycle, lowest just after menstruation
Ziomkiewicz at al found a negative correlation between progesterone level and self-reported aggression
Thus, low levels are linked to aggression in women

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17
Q

Who devised the duel-hormone hypothesis?

A

Carrè and Mehta

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18
Q

What is the duel hormone hypothesis?

A

Cortisol plays central role in stress response
Low cortisol allows high testosterone levels to lead to aggression
But high cortisol means that testosterone’s influence on aggression is blocked

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19
Q

What is a strength and weakness of hormonal mechanisms explaining aggression?

A

Research support from non-human studies
- Giammanco et al castration
- he also reviewed studies and found: 1. during monkey mating season, increase in testosterone and aggression 2. injecting female rats with testosterone increases mousekilling
Demonstrates role of testosterone in a range of species

Mixed evidence on link between testosterone and aggression
- duel hormone hypothesis
- testosterone only leads to aggression when cortisol levels low
Combined activity a better predictor of aggression than testosterone alone

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20
Q

How are genetic factors influencing aggression studied?

A

Twin studies
Adpoption studies

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21
Q

How can twin studies explain how genetic factors influence aggression? Give the findings from one study

A

If monozygotic twins are more alike in terms of aggression, than due to genes

Coccaro et al: genetic factors account for 50% variance in direct aggressive behaviour (19% dizygotic)

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22
Q

How can adoption studies explain how genetic factors influence aggression? Give the findings from two studies

A

If positive correlation between aggression in adopted children + biological parents, there is a genetic effect

Hutchings et al: significant number of adopted boys with criminal convictions had biological dad with violent convictions

Rhee + Waldman: meta-analysis of adoption studies, genetic factors accounted 41% variance in aggression

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23
Q

What gene is linked to aggression?

A

MAOA

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24
Q

What does the MAOA gene do?

A

Controls production of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) enzyme
This regulates serotonin which plays a role in aggression

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25
Q

Which variant of the MAOA gene is linked to aggression?

A

MAOA-L (low activity/deficiency of MAO-A)
Thus, abnormal serotonin levels, increased aggression

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26
Q

What study looks at the MAOA gene influencing aggression?

A

Brunner et al
Studied impulsive, aggressive Dutch criminal family
All had low levels of MAO-A enzyme, and MAOA-L variant

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27
Q

What are gene-environment interactions also known as?

A

Diathesis stress
Epigenetic effect

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28
Q

What do gene-environment interactions suggest? Include research

A

Environment (eg: early trauma) influences affect the expression of genes

Frazzetto et al: association between aggression and MAOA-L, but only if experienced trauma in first 15 years of life

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29
Q

What is a strength for genetic factors in aggression?

A

Support for role of MAOA gene in aggression
- Mertins et al
- MAOA-H were more cooperative + less aggressive in lab task
- converse is true
SUpports importance of MAOA gene in aggression

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30
Q

What are 3 weaknesses of genetic factors in aggression?

A

Mertins’ study showed non-genetic factors are crucial
- MAOA-L participants behaved cooperatively when aware others were
- knowledge of social norm determined aggression
Genes influenced by environmental factors

Twin studies may lack validity
- assume DZ treated same as MZ (equal environments assumption)
- but DZ treated less similarly, inflating concordance rate
Genetic influence on aggression not so big

Findings depend of how aggression is measured
- measures differ eg: self-report, observation
- Rhee and Waldman found greater genetic influence on aggression in self-report studies than parent/teacher report
- findings differ depending on measurement
Hard to draw valid conclusions on the role of genetic factors

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31
Q

What is ethology?

A

Study of animal behaviour in natural settings

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32
Q

How is aggression described according to the ethological explanation?

A

Adaptive + ritualistic

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33
Q

How is aggression adaptive (beneficial to survival)?

A
  • defeated animal rarely killed, finds new territory so spreads out for resources, decreases competition and possible starvation
  • establishes dominance hierarchy, provides access to mates/food
    Pettit et al found aggression played important role in dominance hierarchies for young children
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34
Q

Why is aggression ritualistic?

A

Lorenz found that fights of the same species resulted in little physical damage

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35
Q

How is aggression ritualistic?

A

Ritualistic signalling (eg: display teeth) to assess relative threat
Loser displays submissive appeasement gesture to prevent harm (eg: wolf exposes neck)

This is all adaptive as it doesn’t threat the existence of the species

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36
Q

What is an innate releasing mechanism?

A

Inbuilt physiological process activated by an environmental stimulus to trigger FAP

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37
Q

What is a fixed action pattern?

A

Specific sequence of pre-programmed behaviour triggered by an IRM

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38
Q

How does a sign stimulus trigger an FAP?

A

Sign stimulus → sensory recognition → IRM → motor control activates FAP

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39
Q

Who devised the 6 main features of FAPs? What are they?

A

Lea 1984

Stereotyped
Universal
Unaffected by learning
Ballistic
Single-purpose
Response to an identifiable specific sign stimulus

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40
Q

Who researched into male stickleback fish?

A

Tinbergen

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41
Q

What did Tinbergen find in his research?

A

Male sticklebacks are highly territorial during mating season and develop a red spot on underbelly
The red spot is a sign stimulus, triggering an IRM, triggering an aggressive FAP
If a model had red spot, fish would aggressively display = attack, regardless of shape
If no red spot, no FAP, even if realistic

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42
Q

What is a strength of the ethological explanation of aggression?

A

Research support related to genetics
- Brunner et al showed MAOA-L gene closely associated with aggression
- twin/adpotion studies show significant genetic component to aggression in humans
- shows innate basis to aggression
Ethological explanation is valid in claiming aggression is genetically determined/heritable

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43
Q

What are 3 weaknesses of the ethological explanation of aggression?

A

Cultural differences in aggressive behaviour
- Nisbett found some homicide more common in white men in south USA than Northern states
- due to ‘culture of honour’ in south
- aggression is from social norm, not instinctive
Culture overrides innate predispositions, ethological theory fails to explain this

FAPs not that fixed
- Hunt found they are greatly influenced by environment + learning
- now prefer ‘modal behavioural pattern’
Much more flexible than thought

Unjustified generalisations to human aggression
- Lorenz didn’t study higher mammals
- Tinbergen didn’t study extremely destructive violence
- Lorenze extrapolated animal behaviour to countries
Should be more cautious as humans have more complex behaviours eg: warfare

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44
Q

What does the evolutionary explanation say about aggression?

A

It is an inherited psychological mechanism to enhance survival and reproductive success (adaptive)

45
Q

What is sexual jealousy?

A

Occurs as men can’t be sure if they’re their child’s parent
Parental uncertainty means threat of cuckoldry (raising non-genetic offspring- waste of resources)
In evolutionary past, men who avoided cuckoldry had increased reproductive success
Psychological mechanisms evolved to present, where sexual jealousy drives aggression in the form of domestic violence to prevent partners from straying

46
Q

What are the 2 types of mate-retention strategies according to Wilson and Daly?

A

Direct guarding- male vigilance (caution) eg: home early, tracking apps
Negative inducements- threats eg: I’ll kill myself if you leave me

47
Q

What is the study on sexual jealousy?

A

Wilson et al
Women reporting mate retention strategies in partners twice as likely to have experienced physical violence
Of this:
73% needed medical attention
53% feared life
Supports that mate retention strategies linked to physical aggression

48
Q

Why does bullying occur?

A

Due to power imbalance, aggression towards weaker person

49
Q

Why do males bully according to the evolutionary explanation of aggression?

A

Attractive characteristics- eg: strength, dominance. desirable, less competition, increased reproduction (Volk et al)

Fends off rivals- increased reproduction

Health- others avoid aggressive contact, less stress (Sapolsky)

50
Q

Why do females bully according to the evolutionary explanation of aggression?

A

Within a relationship for control, secures partner’s fidelity (loyalty) to provide resources, enhanced reproductive success (Campbell)

51
Q

What are 3 strengths of the evolutionary explanation for aggression?

A

Explains gender differences in aggression
- males more physical
- females more verbal to retain partner, so own/child’s survival not at risk
Supports evolutionary explanation to aggression

¡Kung San not so harmless
- high homicide rate
- may be due to observer bias (Lee)
Aggression may be inherited as research against is invalid

Real-world application for anti-bullying intervention
-understanding it is adaptive, so increase cost of bullying and reward for prosocial alternative
- eg: give a school role so still have status
Increased effectiveness for interventions

52
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of the evolutionary explanation for aggression?

A

Cultural differences in aggression
- ¡Kung San tribe have negative attitude to aggression, discouraged + not accepted
- social/cultural norms constrain aggression
As some cultures not aggressive, may not be adaptive

Methodological issues of research questions validity
- hard to test hypotheses for evolution
- correlational
Not manipulated, so can’t rule out other factors affecting aggression

53
Q

What are the 3 social-psychological explanations for aggression?

A

Frustration-aggression hypothesis
Social learning theory
Deindividuation

54
Q

Who proposed the frustration-aggression hypothesis? What is the underlying principle of the theory?

A

Dollard et al
Frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of frustration

55
Q

How does the frustration-aggression hypothesis explain aggression?

A
  1. Frustration occurs when attempts to achieve a goal is blocked by an external factor
  2. This leads to an aggressive drive, resulting in aggressive behaviour
  3. This removed the negative emotion (catharsis- a psychodynamic concept)
  4. The aggression created by the frustration is satisfied, reducing the aggressive drive so further aggression is less likely
56
Q

In the FA hypothesis, why may aggression not be expressed directly against the source of frustration?

A
  1. Abstract
  2. Too powerful so risks punishment
  3. Unavailable
57
Q

In the FA hypothesis, if aggression can’t be expressed directly against the source of frustration, what is aggression displaced onto?

A
  1. Non-abstract
  2. Weaker
  3. Available alternative
58
Q

Who completed research into the frustration-aggression hypothesis? Describe the procedure

A

Geen- male uni students completed a jigsaw, with frustration manipulation in three conditions: 1. impossible, 2. ran out of time as confederate interfered 3. confederate insulted participant
Then had to give electric shocks to the confederate

59
Q

What were the findings from Geen’s research into the FA hypothesis?

A

Participants who were insulted gave the strongest shock, then those who ran out of time, then those with an impossible puzzle
All gave more intense shocks than the control group with a normal puzzle
The strength of aggression determined by the strength of frustration

60
Q

What is the negative affect theory (Berkowitz)?

A

Frustration can create many negative feelings, but interaction with an environmental trigger creates aggression (weapon effect)
Aggression may be triggered by these general negative feelings, rather than frustration specifically

61
Q

Describe Berkowitz’s (and LePage’s) research into the weapon effect

A

Participants got shocks, leading to frustration
They had the opportunity to give shocks back
If 2 guns were on the table, average number of shocks 6.07, if none, 4.67
Supports idea that environmental cues increases aggression

62
Q

What are 2 strengths of the frustration-aggression hypothesis explaining aggression?

A

Original hypothesis reformed to fit new evidence
- frustration is one of many aversive stimuli creating negative feelings
- aggression may be triggered by these general negative feelings, rather than frustration specifically
As the hypothesis is flexible, it can form part of a wider explanation for aggression

Real-world application
- open presence of guns may be aggressive cues
- Berkowitz’s argument relevant in the US gun control debate
If removed from environment, can save lives

63
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of the frustration-aggression hypothesis explaining aggression?

A

Complex link between frustration and aggression
- frustration doesn’t always cause aggression, aggression can occur without frustration
- nothing is automatic
- if frustrated, may be helpless, or may be aggressive for a different reason
Inadequate explanation as only explains how aggression arises in some situations

Research that aggression isn’t cathartic
- Bushman found that participants who vented anger by hitting a punching bag became more aggressive
- doing nothing instead is more effective at decreasing aggression
Central assumption of FA hypothesis may not be valid

64
Q

According to the SLT explanation of aggression, what did Bandura acknowledge?

(ps: use this to start an AO1)

A

That there is direct learning of aggression via operant conditioning (positive/negative reinforcement, punishment)

65
Q

What is vicarious reinforcement in the context of aggression?

A

Person observes behaviour AND consequences of model’s aggression
This is stored as an expectancy of future outcomes: if the model received a positive reward for aggression, the child may imitate aggression
Then, the aggression may be maintained through direct experience

66
Q

What is vicarious punishment?

A

If the model is punished, the observer is less likely to imitate aggression

67
Q

How can similar role models affect the likelihood of imitation?

A

More likely to imitate eg: same gender, likeable, high status

68
Q

What are the 4 cognitive conditions for the learning of aggressive behaviour (SLT)?

A

Attention
Retention
Reoproduction
Motivation

69
Q

What is self efficacy?

A

Extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal

70
Q

How is self-efficacy linked to aggression?

A

Confidence to be aggressive grows when learning that aggression can bring rewards
With each successful outcome, the self-efficacy develops as they are confident the aggression worked in the past, so will be aggressive in the future

71
Q

What is Bandura’s 1961 research into aggression?

A

Children observed the model hit the Bobo Doll
Children imitated both physical + verbal aggressive behaviour
Boys had higher physical aggression and were more likely to imitate a same-sex model
In the control, aggression was non-existent

72
Q

What are 2 strengths of SLT explaining aggression?

A

Real-world application to help decrease aggression
- children imitate rewarded models easily too
- so provide rewarded non-aggressive models eg: friends, media
SLT offers practical steps to reduce the development of aggressive behaviour in children

Can explain cultural differences in aggression
- Yanomamo tribe has cultural norms of aggression, these values transmitted through observance
- ¡Kung San has no aggressive role models and less aggression
SLT can explain these differing behaviours well

73
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of SLT explaining aggression?

A

SLT can’t explain all forms of aggression
- proactive have high self-efficacy, this is well-explained
- psychologists more interested in reactive aggression, but this isn’t used to achieve anything bar retaliation
Weak explanation for reactive aggression

Underestimates the influence of biological factors
- boys more aggressive than girls in Bobo doll
- undermines hormonal influence of testosterone on aggression
SLT incomplete explanation, decreases validity

74
Q

What is deindividuation?

A

Psychological state where one loses their personal identity, and takes on one of the group, so has less concern over others, maybe increasing their aggression

75
Q

What are the 3 factors that may cause a deindividuated state?

A

Group size/diffusion of responsibility/crowd behaviour (Le Bon)
Anonymity
Reduced self-awareness (Dunn and Rogers)

76
Q

How does group size/diffusion of responsibility/crowd behaviour cause aggression according to Le Bon?

A

Usually public behaviour is constrained by social norms as we’re easily identified
In a crowd, we lose restrain and individual self-identity/responsibility
Thus, we disregard social norms as the responsibility is shared, so there is less personal guilt, increasing aggression

77
Q

How did Zimbardo explain aggression through deindividuation?

A

Rational and normative behaviour when individualised
But deindividuation leads to: emotional, impulsive, irrational, disinhibited, anti-normative behaviour
This causes people to lose self-awareness and live in the moment

78
Q

How does anonymity cause aggression?

A

Less fear of punishment as small and unidentifiable part of crowd, so a bigger group increases anonymity
Less opportunity to be judged negatively by others

79
Q

What is the consequence of anonymity?

A

Reduced self-awareness (public and private) according to Dunn and Rogers

80
Q

Why is private self-awareness lost when anonymous?

A

Attention is focused outwardly, less self-thoughtful/critical

81
Q

Why is public self-awareness lost when anonymous?

A

Amongst many so anonymous, less likely to be judged so less accountable, increasing aggression

82
Q

What is the Dodd study into deindividuation influencing aggression?

A

Asked 229 uni students if they could do anything not detected/responsible (anonymous), what would it be?
36% gave something antisocial
26% were criminal acts
Only 9% were prosocial
Shows link between anonymity, deindividuation, and aggression

83
Q

What are 2 strengths of deindividuation explaining aggression?

A

Research support for deindividuation influencing aggression
- Douglas + McGarty found strong correlation between anonymity online and flaming
- the most aggressive messages were by those hiding their identity
- implicated in self-harm
Link between aggression and anonymity a key factor of individuation

Can explain real behaviour of baiting crows
- Mann identified 21 suicide jumper incidents
- occurred in darkness, with a large crowd, and distance from the jumper
- shows deindividuation affects aggressive baiting
Validity that large deindividuated crowd can become aggressive

84
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of deindividuation explaining aggression?

A

Deindividuation doesn’t always lead to aggression
- Gergen et al did black room experiment, where 8 participants left and not identified
- lots of kissing, 80% sexually aroused- not antisocial behaviour
- if face-to-face after, this was much lower
Deindividuation doesn’t always result in aggression, maybe social

Deindividuated behaviour is normative, not anti-normative
- social identity model of de-individuation (SIDE) argues deindividuation leads to conformity to anti/prosocial group norms
- anonymity shifts private identity to group identity
People in the deindividuated state are sensitive to norms and don’t ignore them, so this idea lacks validity

85
Q

What is institutional aggression?

A

Violent, aggressive behaviour that takes place in the social context of the prison

86
Q

What are the 2 explanations for institutional aggression?

A

Dispositional- The Importation model (Irwin + Cressey)
Situational- The deprivation model (Clemmer)

87
Q

How does the importation model explain institutional aggression?

A

Prisoners bring in subculture of criminality based on nature + nurture from outside world
They import beliefs, norms, attitudes, learning experience, gender, ethnicity, etc
Willing to use aggression to settle/have status in hierarchy, reflects their lives before imprisonment

88
Q

What is research into the importation model?

A

DeLisi et al
Offenders in Californian institutions with negative backgrounds (eg: trauma, substance abuse) are more likely to engage in misconduct such as physical aggression compared to inmates without these negative features

89
Q

What is a strength and weakness of the dispositional explanation for institutional aggression?

A

Research support
- Camp and Gaes studied inmates with similar criminal histories either in low/high security prison
- no sig difference in aggressive misconduct (33%/36%)
Characteristics most important predictor of aggression

Ignores key factors that influence prisoners’ aggression
- eg: way prison is run
- administrative control model states poor prison management (eg: distant staff) results in violence
Inadequate explanation as institutional factors also important

90
Q

How does the deprivation model explain institutional aggression?

A

Harsh prison environment is stressful, prisoners cope by resorting to aggression as an adaptive solution
Psychological factors (eg: loss of freedom) and physical factors (eg: loss of goods/increased competition)
Aggression also influenced by unpredictable lock-up prison regime reducing stimulation + access to goods

91
Q

What is research into the deprivation model?

A

Steiner
Inmate-on-inmate violence more common in prisons with…
1. more female staff
2. overcrowding
3. more inmates in protective custody
These are all prison-level (situational) factors

92
Q

What is a strength and weakness of the situational explanation for institutional aggression?

A

Real-world application
- HMP Woodhill prison got 2 new units for violent prisoners that were less claustrophobic/view outside/lower temp
- eradicated assaults
Situational factors main cause of prison violence

Contradictory research
- model predicts lack of heterosexual contact = aggression
- Hendley et al found conjugal visits ha dno link to reduced aggression
Situational factors don’t substantially affect violence, decreasing validity of explanation

93
Q

What is a weakness for both explanations for institutional aggression?

A

Interactionist model may be better
- deprivation leads to violence only when combined with characteristics imported
- fuller + more realistic explanation as reflects complex nature of institutional aggression
This explanation has more validity than one alone

94
Q

What is research into excessive TV viewing and its effect on aggression?

A

Robertson et al
Regardless if content is violent or not, found time spent watching TV as child/adolescent a reliable predictor of aggression behaviour in early adulthood
Do to link with reduced social interaction + poor educational achievement
Indirect link

95
Q

What is research into violent film content and its effect on aggression?

A

Violent film content has most significant media influence on aggression
Bandura et al (1963)
Replication of original study, but children watched Bobo doll hit on film
Similar imitation results no matter if real/cartoon model
Social learning processes also operate via media

96
Q

What is research suggesting that TV/film effects on aggression are not strong?

A

Paik and Comstock
Meta-analysis of 200 studies
Significant positive correlation between TV/film violence and antisocial behaviour BUT TV/film only accounted for 1-10% of variance in children’s aggression
Plays minor role

97
Q

Why do computer games have a more powerful effect on aggression?

A
  1. Player takes more active role than a passive viewer
  2. Game playing is more directly rewarding (operant conditioning)
98
Q

What is the lab study on the effects of computer games on aggression?

A

Bartholow and Anderson
Playing Mortal Combat (violent) for 10 minutes, students selected significantly higher volumes of white noise in Taylor Competitive reaction time task than golf game PGA Tour (non-violent)

99
Q

What is the correlational study on the effects of computer games on aggression?

A

DeLisi et al
Juvenile offenders’ aggression significantly correlated with how often/enjoyment of violent computer games
Such a well-established link, aggression is a public health issue with violent computer games as a risk factor

100
Q

What is a strength of the effects of TV/computer games on aggression?

A

Playing computer games can have a positive effect
- provides outlet for anger to relieve stress, cathartic (psychodynamic) effect
- can develop cognitive skills eg: problem-solving, teamwork
Accepted and effective outlet for strong emotions

101
Q

What is are 3 weaknesses of the effects of TV/computer games on aggression?

A

Aggression is defined in various ways
- DV is violent behaviour for DeLisi
- DV is white noise blasted in TCRTT for Bartholow and Anderson
- DV is criminal convictions for Robertson et al
- all violence is aggression, but not all aggression is violence
- not all violence/aggression is criminal
Effects found depend on how aggression defined, hard to compare

Methodological issue, games not equal in difficulty
- complexity/challenge of game is confounding variable as may result in frustration leading to aggression
- due to complexity not aggressive exposure
Lowers validity for studies into the effect of computer games unless equivalent in complexity

Negative effects (aggression) don’t influence all equally
- individual differences in vulnerability to aggression
- eg: young children still impressionable + developing moral code, so more influences but media
- also biological vulnerabilities
Not valid to say media increases aggression for all groups of people

102
Q

What are 3 explanations for how media influences aggression?

A

Desensitisation
Disinhibition
Cognitive priming

103
Q

How does desensitisation influence aggression?

A

Normally, physiological arousal occurs associated with the sympathetic nervous system

BUT repeated exposure reduces normal levels of physiological (eg: lowered heart rate) + psychological (eg: less empathy for victims) arousal to usually aversive stimuli
This increases likelihood of aggression as less fear/emotional reaction towards it

104
Q

What is a piece of research into desensitisation affecting aggression?

A

Weisz and Earls
Participants watched ‘Straw Dogs’ with prolonged rape scenes OR non-violent movie
Both watched re-enactment of rape trial
Men watching ‘Straw Dogs’ showed greater acceptance of rape myths + aggression
They has less sympathy and were less likely to charge guilty
No effect for women

105
Q

What is a strength and weakness of desensitisation affecting aggression?

A

Research support
- Krahé et al showed violent films
- measured physiological arousal using skin conductance
- habitual viewers showed lower arousal, then gave louder bursts of white noise (proactive)
Lower arousal reflects desensitisation and leads to more aggression

Cannot explain some aggression
- Krahé study failed to link media viewing & lower arousal to reactive aggression
- better explained by catharsis where violent media is a safety valve to release aggressive impulses
Not all aggression is result of desensitisation so alternative explanation more valid

106
Q

How does disinhibition influence aggression?

A

Normally, see aggression as antisocial + harmful so strong social/psychological inhibitions against aggression. this is learned via SLT

BUT usual restraints loosened after exposure to violent media as aggression appears normative as…
1. effects on victim minimised
2. aggression justified
3. violence rewarded/minimised consequences
New social norms so less inhibited to be aggressive

107
Q

What are 2 strengths of disinhibition affecting aggression?

A

Research support
- Berkowitz & Alioto found ppts who saw film depicting aggression as vengeance (revenge) gave higher + longer fake shocks to confederate
- disinhibits aggression when presented as justified/socially acceptable
Demonstrates link between removal of social constraints and aggression, increasing validity of explanation

Can explain effects of cartoon violence
- children don’t learn specific aggressive behaviours from cartoon models (eg: not possible to punch someone so their head spins 360º)
- instead learn aggression is acceptable, especially if model not punished
Explains how cartoon aggression leads to aggression for observers

108
Q

How does cognitive priming influence aggression?

A

Repeated viewing provides us with a pre-determined, violent script
Stored in memory so we become ready/primed to be aggressive automatically
This can direct behaviour without being aware
Script triggered by aggressive cues in environment

109
Q

What is a strength and weakness of cognitive priming affecting aggression?

A

Real-world application
- whether situations become aggressive is based on interpretation of environmental cues –> this depends on cog scripts
- those who habitually watch violent media have stored aggressive scripts ready, more likely to interpret cues as aggressive and resort to violent solution
Interventions could reduce aggression by challenging these cognitive scripts/biases

Confounding variables in research
- games not equal in difficulty
- complixity/challenege of game is confounding variable which causes priming
- Zendle et al found when complexity controlled, priming effect disappeared
Supporting studies lack validity as partially due to CV

A-level Psychology (11 decks)

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