Frustration Aggression Hypothesis

Question 1

who proposed the frustration aggression hypothesis
what does it propose aggression is caused by

Answer 1

• Dollard et al
• frustration resulting from an event or stimulus that prevents an individual from attaining some goal

Question 2

what does the hypothesis hypothesis see aggression as

Answer 2

• cathartic release of the build up of frustration - based on freuds psychodynamic explanation
• frustration leads to the arousal of an aggressive drive, leads to aggressive behaviour

Question 3

why cant aggression not always be directed at the source

Answer 3

• source is abstract - ecomic situation, ideological
• source could produce punishment - police, parents, teachers

Question 4

what two defence mechanisms may be used in cathartic expression of aggression

Answer 4

1. sublimation - using aggression in acceptable activites eg: sports like boxing, axe throwing
2. displacement - directing aggression onto someone/ something else eg: an innanimate object

Question 5

who suggested the

Answer 5

Berkowitz

Question 6

what does the revised frustration aggression hypothesis say

Answer 6

• frustration does not always cause cathartic aggression
• frustration is only one type of unpleasant experience that can lead to aggression - jealousy and pain can also cause aggression in some individuals
• unanticipated events which prevent us from achieving our goal are more likely to result in aggressive behaviour than anticiapted frustraiting events
• aggression may only occur in the presence of certain cues (stimuli associated with aggression), Eg: if a frustrated person is ‘cued’ by the presence of a weapon, this will be more likely to trigger aggression

Question 7

strength: supporting experimental

Answer 7

I: supporting experimental evidence that frustration causes aggression
E: Geen deliberately frustrated male students by giving them a jigsaw to complete that was impossible. ppts were then asked to administer an electric shock to another confederate who had made a mkistake on nother task
frustrated ppts gave more intense shocks than a control group
C: increases the validity that aggression is a result of being prevented from achieving goals

Question 8

strength: real life

Answer 8

I: supporting real life evidence that frustration causes aggression
E: priks investigated Swedish football hooliganism and found that, when a team performed worse, objects were thrown onto the field by their supporters.
supporters were also more likely to fight with rival supporters when their team performed worse than expected
C: this increases the validity that aggression is a result of unanticipated events which prevents achieving goals

Question 9

Strength: supporting revised

Answer 9

I: evidence supporting the revised theory suggesting aggression is cuased by adversive stimuli
E: Reifman et al examined baseball games in the US and found that as temperatures increased so did the likelyhood that pitchers would display aggressive behaviour towards the batters
Eg: ball speeds were recorded at 90mph towards the batters head
C: frustration is only one of the many different types of unpleasant experiences causing aggression

Question 10

weakness: contradictory

Answer 10

I: contradictory evidence against aggression being cathartic
E: Bushman found that frustrated ppts who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag actually became more aggressive in a later task, rather than less aggressive. doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting anger
C: aggression does not provide an emotional release of frustration but increases it