Application: Aggression (LEC) Flashcards
(32 cards)
Which of the following best illustrates aggression based on the behavioral definition of aggression?
a) A dentist accidentally hurts a patient while performing a root canal.
b) A child pushes another child to get to the front of a line.
c) A toddler throws a toy out of frustration.
d) A parent disciplines a child with the intent to teach responsibility
a) A dentist accidentally hurts a patient while performing a root canal.
At what age do children typically begin showing clear signs of aggression?
a) During the first year
b) Between 1-2 years
c) Between 2-4 years
d) After 4 years
c) Between 2-4 years
A 3-year-old child fights with another child for taking their toy. This behavior is an example of:
a) Physical aggression
b) Verbal aggression
c) Instrumental aggression
d) Relational aggression
c) Instrumental aggression
(aggression motivated by the desire to obtain a concrete goal, such as gaining possession of a toy or getting a better place in line.)
Most aggression exhibited by children ages 2 through 6 is instrumental, with the majority of outbursts happening in fights over materials and toys. Toddlers and preschoolers are impulsive, have limited language skills and are egocentric. As a result, they may hit, grab, kick, or bite to get what they need.
According to Freud, aggression is derived from:
a) Learned experiences through observation.
b) The death drive, or thanatos, in the psyche.
c) Social rejection during early development.
d) Poor role-taking abilities in childhood.
b) The death drive, or thanatos, in the psyche.
In Kuo’s study with kittens, which condition resulted in the lowest likelihood of attacking a rat?
a) Kittens raised in isolation
b) Kittens raised with their mother
c) Kittens raised with a rat
d) Kittens exposed to aggressive models
c) Kittens raised with a rat
Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study demonstrated that:
a) Children learn aggression through direct experience.
b) Physical punishment leads to higher aggression in children.
c) Observing aggression increases the likelihood of imitating aggressive behavior.
d) Aggression is innate and cannot be modified through social interaction.
c) Observing aggression increases the likelihood of imitating aggressive behavior.
What is a limitation of using physical punishment as a strategy to reduce aggression in children?
a) It fails to address relational aggression.
b) It may reinforce aggression in children through modeling.
c) It only works with highly aggressive children.
d) It eliminates prosocial behavior.
b) It may reinforce aggression in children through modeling.
Which of the following is an example of indirect aggression?
a) Pushing a peer during a disagreement.
b) Spreading rumors about a classmate.
c) Yelling at a parent in frustration.
d) Throwing objects during a tantrum.
b) Spreading rumors about a classmate.
Hyper-aggressive children are more likely to:
a) Display enhanced role-taking abilities.
b) Exhibit a hostile attribution bias.
c) Avoid coercive interactions.
d) Thrive in environments with permissive parenting.
b) Exhibit a hostile attribution bias.
Hostile Attribution Bias is a cognitive distortion commonly observed in hyper-aggressive children, as described by Dodge’s theory. It involves the tendency to interpret ambiguous or neutral actions of others as hostile or intentionally harmful. For example, if someone accidentally bumps into a hyper-aggressive child, they are more likely to assume it was done on purpose, which can lead to an aggressive reaction.
What parenting strategy did Patterson recommend to reduce aggression in children?
a) Using physical punishment to discourage aggressive behavior.
b) Ignoring aggression to prevent reinforcement.
c) Employing timeouts and a point system to reward positive behavior.
d) Allowing natural consequences to discipline the child.
c) Employing timeouts and a point system to reward positive behavior.
Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between aggression and prosocial behavior?
a) They are positively correlated throughout development.
b) The correlation disappears after age 4.
c) Prosocial behavior always increases as aggression decreases.
d) They are negatively correlated in early childhood.
b) The correlation disappears after age 4.
Age 4 and Up
Physical aggression decreases after 4
Correlation between aggression and prosocial behavior disappears.
General decline in aggression, with studies traditionally focusing on direct/overt forms of aggression.
Positive correlation with prosocial disappears:
Level of aggression declines (these studies have traditionally focused on physical (direct or overt) aggression)
What outcome did role-taking training achieve in Chandler’s study?
a) Increased aggression in experimental groups
b) Reduced hostile attribution bias
c) Lowered frequency of arrests in experimental groups
d) Increased permissive parenting practices
c) Lowered frequency of arrests in experimental groups
Chandler’s study investigated how improving role-taking abilities (the capacity to understand another person’s perspective) could reduce aggressive behaviors in hyper-aggressive individuals. The training involved exercises designed to enhance empathy and perspective-taking, such as having participants play multiple roles in a scenario (e.g., in a filmed play). This improved their ability to consider the viewpoints of others, which is critical for reducing aggressive responses that often stem from misunderstandings or poor social cognition.
One key finding from Chandler’s study was that participants who received role-taking training were less likely to engage in criminal activities later on, as evidenced by a lower frequency of arrests in the experimental group compared to control and placebo groups. This result highlights the practical benefits of role-taking training in mitigating aggressive behaviors and promoting prosocial interactions.
Based on studies of media influence, children exposed to violent TV programming are more likely to:
a) Develop prosocial behaviors.
b) Show increased aggression, especially if they are already aggressive.
c) Display reduced aggression due to vicarious punishment.
d) Remain unaffected by media content.
b) Show increased aggression, especially if they are already aggressive.
What is a potential cause of aggression in children raised in coercive family environments?
a) Increased focus on role-taking abilities.
b) Parental encouragement of prosocial behaviors.
c) Reinforcement of aggressive behavior through negative interactions.
d) High levels of parental monitoring.
c) Reinforcement of aggressive behavior through negative interactions.
What change in aggression is observed after age 4?
a) Physical aggression becomes more frequent.
b) Relational aggression decreases significantly.
c) Physical aggression decreases, and relational aggression remains stable.
d) Prosocial behavior decreases in frequency.
c) Physical aggression decreases, and relational aggression remains stable.
Research on developmental trends in aggression indicates that physical aggression tends to decline after age 4 as children develop better emotional regulation, social skills, and language abilities. They rely less on physical means to express frustration or achieve goals.
At the same time,
Relational aggression (e.g., social exclusion, gossip, or spreading rumors) tends to remain stable or become more prominent as children age. This type of aggression often replaces physical aggression because older children use more sophisticated, non-physical strategies to assert dominance or harm others.
Which scenario best illustrates hostile attribution bias?
a) A child trips over a rock and blames their clumsiness.
b) A student accidentally bumps into another student in the hallway, and the second student assumes it was done on purpose and retaliates.
c) A toddler shares a toy but takes it back moments later.
d) A teacher accidentally spills coffee and apologizes to the student whose papers were soaked.
b) A student accidentally bumps into another student in the hallway, and the second student assumes it was done on purpose and retaliates.
This scenario reflects hostile attribution bias because the second student interprets an ambiguous action as hostile.
A child with hostile attribution bias is most likely to react how if a peer accidentally spills water on them?
a) Laugh it off and move on.
b) Assume it was an accident and accept an apology.
c) Accuse the peer of doing it on purpose and become aggressive.
d) Ignore the situation entirely.
c) Accuse the peer of doing it on purpose and become aggressive.
Hostile attribution bias leads the child to interpret ambiguous actions as intentional and respond aggressively.
How does Dodge’s hostile attribution bias explain a child’s aggressive behavior during recess?
a) The child is genetically predisposed to aggression.
b) The child misinterprets another child’s accidental bump as a deliberate provocation and pushes them.
c) The child uses aggression to gain social approval from peers.
d) The child is trying to resolve a conflict through physical means.
b) The child misinterprets another child’s accidental bump as a deliberate provocation and pushes them.
A teacher notices that a student often reacts aggressively in social situations. Which of the following interventions would best address hostile attribution bias?
a) Teach the student relaxation techniques to manage stress.
b) Provide role-playing activities to improve their ability to see others’ perspectives.
c) Encourage the student to express their emotions through art or writing.
d) Reward the student for non-aggressive behavior during conflicts.
b) Provide role-playing activities to improve their ability to see others’ perspectives.
Role-playing can help reduce hostile attribution bias by improving the child’s ability to interpret situations more accurately.
In a classroom setting, which behavior is most consistent with hostile attribution bias?
a) A student refuses to participate in group activities out of shyness.
b) A student accuses a peer of intentionally hiding their pencil, even though the peer was unaware.
c) A student apologizes after realizing they made a mistake.
d) A student volunteers to mediate conflicts between classmates.
b) A student accuses a peer of intentionally hiding their pencil, even though the peer was unaware.
Dodge’s theory suggests that children with hostile attribution bias are likely to:
a) Have reduced levels of empathy.
b) Interpret ambiguous actions by peers as intentional harm.
c) Display high levels of prosocial behavior.
d) Show no reaction to potential social threats.
b) Interpret ambiguous actions by peers as intentional harm.
This is the core concept of hostile attribution bias, which influences aggressive responses.
Which of the following would be the most effective way to measure hostile attribution bias in a child?
a) Observing the child during play to count instances of physical aggression.
b) Presenting the child with ambiguous social scenarios and asking them to explain others’ intentions.
c) Testing the child’s emotional intelligence through standardized assessments.
d) Conducting a survey of peers about the child’s behavior in group activities.
b) Presenting the child with ambiguous social scenarios and asking them to explain others’ intentions.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a coercive interaction in a family, as described by Patterson’s theory?
a) A child negotiates with their parent to extend their curfew by an hour.
b) A parent repeatedly gives in to their child’s demands after the child screams and throws a tantrum.
c) A parent calmly enforces a timeout after the child hits their sibling.
d) A child apologizes for breaking a vase after their parent explains the consequences.
b) A parent repeatedly gives in to their child’s demands after the child screams and throws a tantrum.
This illustrates a coercive interaction where the child’s aggressive behavior is reinforced because it successfully manipulates the parent’s response.
Family Characteristics (Patterson’s Findings): “certified monsters”
Parental Rejection and Hostility: Linked to children’s aggressive behaviors.
Household Conflict and poor monitoring contribute to increased aggression.
He’d randomly call the parents and ask where the hyper aggressive child was
Permissive Parenting: Inconsistent consequences for aggressive behavior can reinforce it.
Permissive or even encouraging aggression/ condone
Coercive Interactions: Negative reinforcement (it works) perpetuates aggression; aggression becomes a tool to control outcomes. Yelling, hitting, teasing, in hopes to get a reaction out of the other family member. Coercive to get the other family member to back off. Kid gets their way by being aggressive/ coercive.
Lack of Social Approval: Children in these environments often receive little positive feedback for prosocial behavior. Rarely reinforcing good behavior
Intervention (Patterson’s Parent Training Program):
Behavioral Strategies:
Avoid reinforcing aggressive behaviors.
Use timeouts and a point system to encourage positive behavior.
Affection and Approval: Encourage prosocial behavior by rewarding it with social approval.
According to Patterson, what is a common characteristic of family environments that foster hyper-aggression in children?
a) High levels of consistent discipline and monitoring.
b) Frequent reinforcement of prosocial behaviors.
c) Parental rejection and hostile interactions.
d) Parents using timeouts to address aggressive behaviors.
c) Parental rejection and hostile interactions.
Patterson’s research indicates that hostile and rejecting family environments contribute to the development of hyper-aggression in children.
