Aggression

Question 1

Defining aggression

Answer 1

What is considered aggression is shaped by societal and cultural norms

Social psychology defines aggression in many different ways:

Behavior that is intended to harm others and results in personal injury or destruction of poverty

The targets are motivated to avoid the behavior

Question 2

Operational definition

Answer 2

operational definition developed by Researchers
Defines theoretical term in a way that it can still be manipulated

Different operationalisations of different researchers
1. analogues of behavior
„Imitate the real thing“
Device/measure as a replacement for a real person to investigate behavior
EG. Punching a plastic doll

2. signal of intention
   Verbal expression about willingness to use violence in experimental laboratory setting
3. Ratings by self or other (Einschätzungen)
   Evaluations about one‘s own/others aggressive behavior (eg. report/pencil paper ratings)
4. indirect aggression

External validity=
similarity between circumstances of an experiment and those of everyday life

Question 3

Nature-nurture controversy

Answer 3

Classical debate, whether genetic or environmental factors determine human behavior

Interaction of both
Generally accepted by scientists

Question 4

Biological explanations

Answer 4

Aggression is an inborn tendency of action

therefore only the behavior can be modified

Human instinct: Genetically predetermined to aggress

Question 5

Characteristics of an instinct (Riopelle)

Answer 5

1. goal-directed and leads to specific consequence (eg. attack)
   
   2. beneficial to the individuals and the species
   3. adapted to a normal environment
   4. shared by most members of the species
   5. developed in a clear way as the individuals grow up
   6. unlearned on the basis of individual experience (depends on learnt aspects within a context)

Question 6

Psychodynamic theory

Answer 6

Oldest approach, early part of twentieth century

Human aggression comes from an inborn Instinct=THATANOS
Opposite to life instinct EROS (sexual drive/urge)

Initially focused on self-destruction, in later development directed towards other people
Builds up naturally from bodily tensions and needs to be expressed

Neo-Freudians
Theorists modified original theory of Freud (aggression as more rational but still inborn)

Process of healthy release for primitive survival instincts (basic to all animal pieces)

Question 7

Ethnology

Answer 7

Study of instincts and fixed action patterns (among all species when living in natural environment)

Instinctual basis of human behavior, can be compared to animal behavior

Behavior genetically determined and can is controlled by natural selection

Aggression has SURVIVAL VALUE
Make efficient use of available resources, sexual selection, food..

Releasers

Instinct for aggressive behavior might be inborn
BUT Actual aggressive behavior provoked by specific stimuli in the environment

Question 8

Two-face theory

Answer 8

1. inborn urge to aggress
2. depends on stimulation by environmental releasers

Implications of inherent fighting instinct of humans

1. we dont know when to stop when we start being violent
2. we generally need to use weapons in order to kill

Dangerous when weapons are nuclear bombs

Question 9

Evolutionary Social Psychology

Answer 9

Evolutionary social psychology

Modified perspective on the entire discipline of psychology, derived from Darwinian theory

Views complex human behavior as adaptive and to help individual and species to survive as a whole

Aggression is adaptive aswell
Linked to live long enough to procreate
Have social and economic advantage

Assumes innate basis and biological basis for ALL social behavior

Question 10

Biosocial theories

Answer 10

There might be an innate component to aggress, but not so an instinct

A drive/state of arousal predicts aggression

It differs how internal/external factors interact to support aggression

Question 11

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 11

All frustration leads to aggression and all aggression comes from frustration

Aggression as a result of a frustrating event/situation (eg. job loss) =very different to Freudian approach

Limits

Difficult to determine which kinds of frustrating circumstances lead to aggressive behavior

Loose definition of aggression

Too simple/incomplete

Question 12

Excitation-transfer model Zillmann

Answer 12

The expression of aggression as a function of:

1. a learned aggressive behavior
2. arousal/excitation from another source
3. persons interpretations of an arousal    state (so that aggressive response seems appropriate) 

Arousal transfers from one situation into another in a way that promotes the likelihood of an aggressive response

EG. Student worked out at the Gym, a motorist takes last parking space, he shows aggressive behavior

Heightened arousal makes us more aggressive than we would usually act

Especially when: aggressive behavior of a person is already well established

Question 13

Social learning theory

Answer 13

Wide-ranging, behavioral approach in psychology

Processes responsible for
A) acquisition of behavior
B) making overt acts
C) maintainable of behavior

Question 14

Experiences and learning can happen in two ways

1. learning by direct experience

Answer 14

B.F Skinners operant reinforcement principles

Behavior maintained by rewards/punishments

Question 15

Experiences and learning can happen in two ways

2.Learning by vicarious experience

Answer 15

Learning through processes of modelling and imitation of other people

Modelling effect
EG. Aggressive video games

Question 16

Learning via script

Answer 16

Children learn cognitive schema about an event

They learn rules of conduct, so that aggression becomes internalisier

Question 17

Social learning theory Bandura

Applied social learning theory to aggression

Answer 17

Acknowledges role of biological factors

Emphasizes role of experience and socialization

Bandura: whether a person is aggressive in particular situation depends on:

1. persons previous experience of aggressive behavior (and that of others)
2. success of aggressive behavior in the past
3. current likelihood of the aggression being rewarded/punished Acknowledges role of biological factors

Question 18

Personality and aggression

Common characteristics of violent offenders

Answer 18

Low self-esteem
Poor frustration tolerance

Narcisstic people with high self-esteem

Question 19

Personality and aggression

Answer 19

Tendency to aggress develops early in life and becomes a stable behavioral pattern

Unlikely that some people are „naturally“ more aggressive than others

Depends on experiences due to life, age. Gender and culture

Question 20

Attachment style

Answer 20

Description of nature of peoples close relationships, established in childhood

Question 21

Insecure attachment style

Answer 21

Due to childhood history

Associated with with criminality

Question 22

Type A personality

Answer 22

Personality pattern

Behavior can be socially destructive, more aggressive

Characterized by: striving to achieve, competitiveness, time urgency

Often managers

Question 23

Sociocultural theory/social role theory

Answer 23

Psychological gender differences are determined by individuals adaptions to restrictions based on their gender in society

Different socialization in gendered characteristics (eg. homemaker vs worker)

Question 24

Sexual selection theory

Answer 24

Sex differences in behavior are determined by evolution history rather than by society

Question 25

Relational aggression

Answer 25

When gender and nationality interact EG. More on Italian girls than boy, less frequently Chinese girls than boys

Question 26

Catharsis

Answer 26

Refers to process: using behavior to release stored emotions Cathartic hypothesis „Just let it all out“ Idea: acting against a frustrating object helps to cope with aggression Criticism: Efficiency questionable EG. People who hit a punching bag later on more likely to punish someone EG. Correlation between violent music and violent thinking

Question 27

Alcohol and aggression

Answer 27

People who drink tend to be more aggressive Alcohol increases activity in more primitive brain areas Harms cognitive operations eg. attention and outs people at risk in interpersonal encounters Disinhibition hypothesis Alcohol releases behavior that is normally under control (eg. antisocial, illegal, embarrassing acts) Alcohol myopia To pay more attention to provocative cues Placebo effect If we expect alcohol to make us more aggressive, it might turns out like this There can also occur a priming effect

Question 28

Disinhibition

Answer 28

Reduction of learned controls against antisocial behavior (Illegal/inmorally) Alcohol can have disinhibiting effect

Question 29

Deindividuation

Answer 29

Process in which people lose their sense of socialized individual identity Engage in unsocialized, antisocial behavior Often more deindividuaded in anonymus groups More likely to be aggressive

Question 30

Dehumanization

Answer 30

Seeing others as „less than human“ (humiliate their dignity/humanity)

Question 31

Situational variables on aggression

Answer 31

Physical environment: aspects of our environment that impact our levels of aggression 1. heat= When temperature rises, domestic and collective violence increase (also correlation heat and more alcohol) 2.crowding= Feeling, that one‘s personal space has been taken Also increased verbal aggression 3.sport events=Associated with fan violence, „hooliganism“ Interplay of: individual, interpersonal, situational, social environmental factors Deindividuation in crowd setting

Question 32

Collective aggression

Answer 32

Group of individuals unite their aggression against other individuals/groups EG. Football fans

Question 33

General aggression model Anderson

Answer 33

Interplay of different theories to explain aggression Model includes both personal and situational factors that activate three kinds of internal state 1. Input=Person/situation 2. Internal state=Affect, cognition, arousal 3. Evaluation=Either Thoughtful or impulsive 4. Action=Social encounter

Question 34

Criminality and women

Answer 34

Gender stereotypes characterize men significantly more aggressive than women But: rate of violent offending/actions has increased more rapidly among women Could be due to re-definition of gender roles in western societies

Question 35

Disadvantaged groups

Answer 35

Societal disadvantage can be an underlying cause of aggression Feeling that improvement cant be achieved legitimately leads to criminal action

Question 36

Relative deprivation

Answer 36

Having less than we feel we are entitled to

Question 37

Fraternalistic relative deprivation

Answer 37

Key factor in relationship between disadvantage and aggression of a disadvantaged group

Question 38

Culture of honor

Answer 38

Cultures that approve make violence as away to preserve social reputation and economic position of oneself and family Female unfaithfulness damages man`s reputation Reputation can be partly repaired by making use of violence Women are expected to remain loyal Honor killings

Question 39

Honor killings

Answer 39

Stronger among adults from poorer/less educated families with traditional background

Question 40

Partriarchal cultures

Answer 40

Proud of male-directed violence, ashamed of female-directed violence

Question 41

Subcultures of violence

Answer 41

Subgroup of society in which higher level of violence is accepted as the norm and legitimized as a lifestyle Rewards for violence, sanctions for non-compliance EG. Gangs, importance of violence reflected in appearance and behavior

Question 42

Machismo

Answer 42

Key role in encouraging violence among boys and young men Handle challenges, abuse, differences of opinions, making use of weapons and fists „Shape dominant men in the household“

Question 43

Aggression and video games

Answer 43

Common debate: release or decrease aggression? Catharsis or social learning? No significant relationship between gaming and aggression BUT Children less likely to behave prosocially Desensitization effects (drop in brain response) Hostile attributional style gets supported Opposite effects of prosocial games

Question 44

Long and Short term effects of media on aggression

Answer 44

Long term effects of media violence Based on observational learning Acquisition of aggressive scripts Short-term effects of media violence More based on priming

Question 45

New-associationist analysis Berkowitz

Answer 45

Just thinking about an act will promote its performance Real/fictional images of violence presented in the media can turn into antisocial acts Also the other way round: images of people helping can lead to prosocial acts Memory 1. stimulus (eg. viewing film), 2. nature (violent/helpful), 3. Activation of networks (thoughts, feelings, action tendencies), =increased probability (aggressive behavior/prosocial behavior) Memory: Viewed as a collection of networks each consisting of nodes Node=Includes elements of thoughts/feelings connected through associative paths Priming effect=Thought comes into focus and wanders from node via associative pathway to other nodes Automatic/unconscious process=EG. Watching movie of a violent gang Other related thought can be primed eg. „punching“/„shooting a gun“ When feelings are activated, increased probability of an aggressive act

Question 46

Weapons effect

Answer 46

Supports neo-association account and priming effect Just the presence of a weapon can increase the probability that it will be used aggressively Weapons as aggressive images not associated with most other stimuli=attract attention

Question 47

Terrorism

Answer 47

Most extreme form of violence

Question 48

Institutionalised aggression

Answer 48

Aggression that is given formal/informal recognition Social legitimacy Integrated in rules and norms

Question 49

Propaganda

Answer 49

Used by leaders to support psychological structure Maintain good moral of soldiers, people at home

Question 50

Genocide

Answer 50

Result of a legitimized prejudice translated into behavior Belief in genetic differences between groups Justify oppression

Question 51

Obedience

Answer 51

People tend to confirm to norms and obey orders See system justification theory

Question 52

Rape myths

Answer 52

„Most women secretly desire to be raped“ rape acceptance as a cognitive schema (acts as a bias by blaming the victim without having facts)

Question 53

Objectification theory

Answer 53

Womens life experiences and gender socialization includes experiences of sexual objectification =onedimensial image of women, eating disorders, depression Men who objectify women are more likely to have behavioral intentions and to be sexual violent

Question 54

Victim blaming

Answer 54

Mostly attributed to gay victims and womens in cultures of honor

Question 55

Abuse syndrome

Answer 55

Learnt patterns of aggression Cycle of abuse in some families

Question 56

Peace studies

Answer 56

Multidisciplinary movement dedicated to study the promotion of peace

Question 57

Proactive aggression

Answer 57

Planned aggression (cold, cognitive focus, gain money/power)

Question 58

Reactive aggression

Answer 58

Provoked aggression Bodily hot, anger, response to a threat

Question 59

Assessment methods

Answer 59

``` Self-report Observational methods Official records Peer nominations Parents/teacher reports Behavioral measures ```

Question 60

Gate waiter model

Answer 60

Model: there are many triggers for aggression that are controlled and inhibited by the „gate waiter“ (self control) You need glucose (energy) for that inhibition - don’t get hangry! - faster triggered for aggression when you are tired

Question 61

Aggression regulation therapy

Answer 61

Therapy against aggression Patients get rewarded for non-aggressive behavior and punished for aggressive behavior More self control but bodily level (arousal) does not change

Question 62

Schema therapy

Answer 62

Psychotherapie based on schemas regulating your behavior

Question 63

Violence inhibition mechanism

Answer 63

Mechanism that your violence is inhibited when you see distress in other peoples faces you were actually aggressive to