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Psychology - Paper 3 > Aggression > Flashcards

Aggression Flashcards

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1
Q

What is proactive aggression?

A

‘Cold-blooded’, planned method of getting what you want

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2
Q

What is reactive aggression?

A

‘Hot-blooded’, in the moment, angry, impulsive and accompanied by physiological arousal

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3
Q

What are the two type of aggression?

A

Proactive
Reactive

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4
Q

What does the limbic system contain?

A

Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Amygdala

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5
Q

What is the role of the hypothalamus in the limbic system?

A

Central control centre. Produce hormones and regulate mood, hunger, thirst, sexual arousal etc

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6
Q

What is the role of the hippocampus in the limbic system?

A

Important for memory e.g. consolidation of STM into LTM
Helps with spatial navigation and emotional processing

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7
Q

What is the role of the amygdala in the limbic system?

A

Role in aggression, eating and drinking, and how you experience emotions and feelings

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8
Q

What is Pardini’s study into male brain scans and amygdala anomalies?

A

Longitudinal study of 56 (26yr old) male pps with varying histories of violence
Bran scans showed a correlation between smaller volume of amygdala and higher levels of violence
Demonstrates amygdala and the limbic system has an effect on aggression

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9
Q

What is Berman’s research into the effects of serotonin on aggression?

A

Pps gave and received electric shocks in response to provocation.
One group took Paroxetine (enhances serotonin) and consistently gave fewer and less intense shocks than a placebo groups
Show a correlation

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10
Q

What are the effects of decreased serotonin?

A

Reduces self control and increases impulsive behaviours (aggression)

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11
Q

What is the role of testosterone in the body?

A

Development of masculine features. Regulate social behaviour via influence on areas in the brain and body involved in aggression.

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12
Q

What is Simpson’s study into hormone subtraction and replacement?

A

Measured normal aggression in mice
Then castrated which results in decreased testosterone
Hormone therapy to replace testosterone and found it caused increased aggression

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13
Q

What study challenges that testosterone may be the cause of aggression?

A

Sapolsky’s middle ranking monkey study

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14
Q

What is Sapolsky’s procedure and what were his findings?

A

Monkeys normally sort into hierarchy based off testosterone levels
Sapolsky increased middle monkeys testosterone to exceed the leader
Found increased aggression at lower ranking monkeys but made no attempts to become leader
Demonstrates testosterone only exaggerates existing aggression, and does not cause it

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15
Q

What is the issue and debate for hormonal mechanisms?

A

Biological reductionism - only explains reactive aggression, cognitive aggression may be more important for proactive aggression

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16
Q

What are low levels of the MAOA gene associated with?

A

Closely associated with aggressive behaviours

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17
Q

Which variant of the MAOA gene leads to violent behaviour?

A

MAOA-L combined with negative early life experience

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18
Q

What are two different studies that find out how genetics influences our behaviour?

A

Studying twins - concordance rate for MZ and DZ twins
Studying adopted children

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19
Q

What is Caspi’s longitudinal study of MAOA gene in NZ?

A

1027 children pps studied from birth to 26yrs old
Recorded MAOA activity and recorded any notable upbringing (abuse or maltreatment) and measured anti-social behaviour
Found the MAOA gene variant had no effect on it’s own, only in circumstances of abuse as children but when paired, found abused men carrying the genotype were 3x more likely to commit violent crimes

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20
Q

What is the anti-social criteria that Caspi used in his longitudinal NZ study into the MAOA gene?

A

Diagnosis of conduct disorder during adolescence
Conviction for a violent crime
Tendency towards violent behaviour
Signs of an anti-social personality

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21
Q

What is Brunner’s study into the effect of the MAOA gene paired with extreme violence in Dutch family?

A

28 male family members repeatedly involved with violent, impulsive criminal behaviours
All had MAOA-L variant and all had abnormally low levels of MAOA enzyme

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22
Q

What is the issue and debate for genetic factors of aggression (MAOA gene)?

A

Socially sensitive/determinist - excuses bad behaviour e.g. Bradley Waldroup - has implications on the criminal justice system

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23
Q

What does the ethological explanation of adaption suggest aggression is in animals?

A

Adaptive
Ritualistic
Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM) and Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)

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24
Q

Why does the ethological explanation suggest aggression is adaptive?

A

Beneficial to survival as:
Reduces competition = defeated animal forced elsewhere
Establishes dominance = mate and resources

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25
Why does the ethological explanation suggest aggression is ritualistic?
Series of behaviours carried out as a display of strength or dominance without causing death e.g. baring teeth, beating chest Avoids threatening extinction
26
What is an Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM)?
Neural network triggered by a specific 'sign stimulus' - initiates the associated Fixed Action Pattern
27
What is a Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)?
An innate sequence of movements that cannot be altered once triggered
28
What are the rules for IRM and FAP?
Stereotyped - behaviour always occurs in the same way Universal - same behaviour in all intraspecific species members Independent of individual experience - innate behaviour Ballistic - once triggered, FAP cannot be stopped or changed Specific triggers - each FAP has a specific trigger (sign stimulus)
29
What is Tinbergen's stickleback fish experiment?
Carried out an experiment by showing clay models to male stickleback fish during mating season. Realistic model with no red had not response from the males Unrealistic models with red on initiated the threat posture Demonstrated that red is the sign stimulus to initiate this FAP
30
What is the evaluation for ethological explanations of aggression?
Tinbergen's stickleback fish experiment FAP's in humans - non-aggressive e.g. new-borns grab anything that feels like hair which is evolution from primates grabbing mothers hair to climb trees Lacks temporal validity - no more sabre-tooth tigers Deterministic as suggests an FAP will happen no matter what
31
What is the evolutionary explanation of human aggression?
Suggests that aggression increases individual survival and reproduction Anti-cuckoldry behaviours Mate retention strategies Bullying
32
What are anti-cuckoldry behaviours?
Avoid cuckoldry as it's a waste of resources Risk of investing in child - male worry about sexual infidelity = become jealous and therefore aggressive Look for faithful, fertile women
33
What are the two different mate retention strategies?
Direct guarding and vigilance Negative inducements
34
How do males demonstrate direct guarding and vigilance?
Check who partner has been with Restrict movements Monopolise her time at a party Coming home from work early Checking messages on her phone Checking social media posts
35
How do males demonstrate negative inducements?
Threats of consequences for infidelity Can be financial control Threat of violence Domestic abuse
36
What are the common features of male bullying?
Physical to have access to women Suggest dominance, strength and resources Ward off potential rivals Characteristics naturally selected as in more reproductively successful men
37
What are common features of female bullying?
Verbal - secure partners fidelity and ensure resources for offspring e.g. downplay attractiveness of other women Characteristics naturally selected as in more reproductively successful women
38
What is the evaluation for evolutionary explanations of aggression?
Shackelford - demonstrate a link between mate retention strategies, violence and jealousy Temporal validity - hugely outdated Socially sensitive - should never be used as an excuse for domestic abuse/bullying
39
What is Shackelford's research into evolutionary explanations of aggression?
461 men and 560 women Found a positive correlation between men who used MRS and their use of violence against partners Also positive correlation between women who had jealous partners and being victims of violence
40
How does evolutionary explanations of aggression lack temporal validity?
Not all relationships are heterosexual Some don't want children Adoption, fostering, IVF children not biologically related but loved
41
What is Dollard's frustration-aggression hypothesis?
If goal is blocked by an obstacle then leads to frustration. Causes aggression. If successful then get a cathartic success, if not successful then results in more frustration
42
Why may aggression not always be towards the source of frustration?
Cause may be too abstract - economic situation May risk punishment by aggressing against it e.g. teacher Cause may be unavailable at the time
43
Which factors affect the likelihood and target of the aggression?
Motivation Proximity Justified? Displacement
44
How does motivation affect the likelihood and target of the aggression?
Depends how motivated you are to reach the goal e.g. queuing for lunch
45
How does proximity affect the likelihood and target of the aggression?
Depends how close you are to the goal e.g. near the counter to pay when someone pushes in
46
How does being justified affect the likelihood and target of the aggression?
e.g. bus not stopping when full of people - less aggression, bus not stopping when empty - aggression
47
How does displacement affect the likelihood and target of the aggression?
If abstract unavailable or too powerful then aggression will be displaced to gain a cathartic feeling
48
What is the evaluation of the frustration-aggression hypothesis?
Harris - queuing study Geen - jigsaw puzzle study Deterministic - people behave in different ways, aggression is not automatic - doesn't account for choice
49
What is Harris's queuing study?
Used pps who were naturally queuing at various places Cut in line either near the front or at the back Aggression from the person was coded Found pps in closer proximity displayed more aggression than if at the back of the queue
50
What is Geen's jigsaw puzzle study?
4 groups 1. Impossible puzzle 2. Interrupting confederate 3. Rude confederate 4. Control - no frustration All had opportunity to give socks to the confederate after Found strongest shocks were from the insulted group, then the interfered group, then the impossible puzzle
51
Who can act as an aggressive model?
People we look up to People we identify with (age/gender/size/interests) People who are influential
52
What is vicarious reinforcement of aggressive behaviours?
If model rewarded in an attractive way, then reward is indirectly felt and therefore more likely to copy behaviour
53
What is self-efficacy?
The extent to which we believe out actions will achieve the desired goal Increases each time aggression brings rewards
54
What is the evaluation for the SLT in relation to aggression?
Bandura's bobo doll study (socially sensitive) Charlton - St Helena study Nature/nurture - ignores nature e.g. MAOA gene, limbic system, testosterone
55
What happens in Charlton's St Helena study?
Assess impact of TV on learning aggressive behaviours in a remote community Assess children's behaviour before and after introduction of TV. Aggression measured through peer and teacher ratings Challenge SLT as found no significant increase in aggressive play following the introduction of TV
56
How can a person become deindividuated?
Anything that hides our individuality from others or from ourselves: Uniforms Groups Masks Hoods Intoxication The dark Online Intoxication
57
What happens when we have a reduced sense of personal responsibility?
Lead to disinhibited behaviours - blame and responsibility
58
What is private self awareness?
A concern we have for our own thoughts and feelings (internal standards)
59
What is public self awareness?
A concern about the impression presented to other people - knowledge that they will evaluate you
60
What is the evaluation of deindividuation?
Research support - Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment Research support - Gergen dark room arousal study Socially sensitive/deterministic
61
What is Gergen's dark room arousal study?
24 pps - 12 men and 12 women Control group in a light room with no instructions for 60 minutes - simple small talk Experimental group in dark room with no instructions for 60 minutes - small talk first 15 minutes, by 60 - 80% 'got physical' and were sexually aroused Challenges deindividuation causing aggression Supports that deindividuation causes behaviour against social norms and values
62
How is deindividuation socially sensitive and deterministic?
Socially sensitive - removes responsibility/excuses poor behaviour Deterministic as says you will act this way
63
What are the two explanations of institutional aggression (in the context of prisons)?
Dispositional explanation - importation model Situational explanation - deprivation model
64
What does the dispositional explanation/importation model suggest about aggression in prisons?
Institutional aggression results from characteristics of prisoner's themselves Prisoners import their own characteristics into prisons and continue to behave this way Import subcultures including beliefs, norms, attitudes, learning experiences and personal characteristics
65
What are the characteristics of the dispositional explanation/ importation model?
Disenfranchisement - separated from mainstream society's norms and values that promote pro-social methods of meeting basic needs and solving interpersonal conflict Addiction - higher levels of 'serious institutional misconduct' amongst prisoners rated with severe levels of alcohol dependency Subcultures - aggression is valued, respected and reinforced
66
What does the situational explanation/deprivation model suggest about aggression in prisons?
Institution aggression caused caused due to stress and frustration created by the prison environment itself
67
What are some of the deprivations experienced in prison?
Liberty Autonomy Goods and services Heterosexual relationships Security Overcrowding Inadequate living conditions
68
What is the evaluation that can be used for institutional aggression?
Zimbardo - supports situational explanation DeLisi - prisoner study - support dispositional explanation Hard determinism Beta bias
69
How does Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment support the situational explanation and challenge the dispositional explanation?
24 American males Found all displayed aggressive behaviour though were psychologically healthy before Therefore must have been the situation that caused it
70
How does Delisi's prisoner study support the dispositional explanation?
Studied juvenile delinquents from negative backgrounds e.g. childhood trauma, substance abuse, violent behaviour Compared to a group of inmates without any of those characteristics Found negative background group more likely to be involved in suicidal activity, sexual misconduct and aggression
71
How does institutional aggression demonstrate hard determinism?
Says all prisoners are going to display aggression no matter what However some demonstrate good behaviour and get parole - free will
72
What are the 3 different ways media can influence aggression?
Excessive TV viewing Violent film content Computer games
73
How is excessive TV viewing linked to aggression?
Robertson - number of hours of TV watched in childhood was associated with amount of adult convictions for aggressive crimes Reduced learning of social norms and values - may be an indirect link Reduced social interaction and poorer educational achievement
74
How is violent film content linked to aggression?
Bandura's second study - children imitated aggressive model even when shown through a TV screen Children were reinforced through the TV screen
75
How much does TV/film affect aggression compared to other sources?
Only 1-10% Minor role compared to other sources of aggression
76
How may computer games have a more powerful effect on aggression than TV/film content?
Player is more active than passively watching TV Direct rewards whereas TV viewing rewards are indirect
77
How could the effects of computer gaming be studied?
Lab condition often using blasts of white noise to indicate aggression Correlational studies and meta analyses are also used Demonstrates a cause and effect
78
What is the evaluation of media influences on aggression?
Matthews - fMRI Bandura's 2nd study Determinism
79
How does Matthew's study support that video games cause violent tendencies?
44 adolescent pps into two conditions 1 - violent game 2 - non-violent game Play games for 20mins then fMRI scans taken immediately afterwards In violent condition found increased activity in amygdala (increased emotions) and decreased activity in pre-frontal cortex (self-control and concentration)
80
What are the three different explanations of media influences?
Desensitisation (biological) Disinhibition (social) Cognitive priming (cognitive)
81
What is desensitisation and how does it explain violent tendencies?
E.g. horror films that are scary as a child are not scary as an adult Due to a tolerance Reduction in physiological arousal when exposed to real violence can occur after repeated exposure to media violence Desensitised individuals are less likely to: Notice violence in real life Feel sympathy for victims of violence
82
What is disinhibition and how does it explain violent tendencies?
If large amounts of violence seen in media then may be viewed as acceptable Made to feel normative and will increase likelihood of imitation
83
What is cognitive priming and how does it explain violent tendencies?
Play violent video game - more likely to get in an immediate fight Due to schemas being set off After watching violence, the viewer is 'primed' to respond aggressively Aggressive behaviours may be recalled in later situations
84
What is Krahe's study and how does it support desensitisation?
Showed pps violent clips while measuring physiological arousal Those who were habitual viewers of violent media had lower arousal levels - more pleasure arousal and lower anxious arousal
85
How does Berkowitz support disinhibition?
Pps watching a film depicting aggression as vengeance gave more fake electric shocks for a longer duration
86
How does Bushman support cognitive priming?
1- 15 mins of aggression from Karate Kid 2 - 15 mins non-aggressive film Each pps did a reaction time task against an imaginary opponent If won then could subject to white noise Condition 1 pps delivered longer and higher intensity punishments
87
What is the issue and debate for explanations of media influences?
Deterministic

Psychology - Paper 3 (4 decks)

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