Aggression

Question 1

Aggression

Answer 1

any act intended to harm another person who does not want to be harmed

Question 2

Hostile aggression

Answer 2

aggression that stems from feelings of anger and aimed at causing pain

Question 3

Instrumental aggression

Answer 3

aggression as a means to some goal other than causing pain

Question 4

Is aggression innate?

Answer 4

We are intrinsically built with the capacity for aggression, whether we do it really depends on our social experience and social situation

Question 5

Can severe physical punishment reduce aggressive behaviour?

How does it work for children and for adults?

Answer 5

• Only for adults
• Will backfire for children
• Children learn through social learning → if you use aggression, children will use aggression
• Use other non-aggressive punishment types like time-out and grounding
• For adults, using severe physical punishment (caning, death penalty) can be quite effective in deterring people from committing aggressive acts or criminal behaviours

Question 6

Are males more aggressive than females?

Answer 6

• Across multiple cultures, males are found to be more physically aggressive than females → due to more testosterone than females
• Females show greater relational aggression

Question 7

Relational aggression

Answer 7

harm is caused by damaging someone’s relationship or social status (eg. spreading negative rumours, sabotage etc.)

Question 8

Two factors that have to be met for adult physical punishment

Answer 8

• Punishment has to be prompt → cannot have long trials
• Punishment has to be certain

Question 9

Does catharsis work?

Answer 9

No. Prior aggression led to increased aggression

Question 10

Does media violence increase actual violence?

Answer 10

• Merely watching → inconclusive
• Active playing → strong evidence (strongest effect on those who already have an aggressive tendency)

Question 11

What are the effects of exposure to media violence?

short-term and long-term

Answer 11

• Short-term effects
  
  • Increased physiological arousal and excitement
  • Aggressive acts highly accessible
• Long-term effects
  
  • Numbing and dehumanising effect → reduces empathy → more likely to commit violence in real life
  • Social learning → if other’s can do it, I can do it too

Question 12

Ways of reducing aggression

Answer 12

• Venting → not very effective
• Self-awareness → journal taking (opportunity to cool your anger), diffuse aggression by apologising, build empathy