Unit 3: Aggression

Question 1

Social Explanation - SLT

Bandura (1961)

Answer 1

Participants aged 3-6 saw an adult playing aggressively or non aggressively with a Bobo Doll. The results showed the children replicated the demonstrated behaviour and even added to the aggressive behaviour (yelling bang).
This supports ARAM as the children were motivated to replicate if rewarded.g

Question 2

Social Explanation - SLT

Phillips (1986)

Answer 2

Positive correlation between homicides and high profile boxing matches.
This suggests adults learn aggression and therefore supports the theory.

Question 3

Social Explanation - SLT

Williams (1981)

Answer 3

Physical and verbal levels of aggression increased in Canada after the introduction of TV.
This supports the theory as it supports Bandura increasing reliability.

Question 4

Social Explanations - Deindividuation

Zimbardo (1971)

Answer 4

The results showed an increase in aggression after the guards were publicly deindividuated (glasses) and the prisoners publicly deindividuated (numbers not names).
This supports the theory as normal males became violent due to situational rather than dispositional factors.

Question 5

Social Psychology - Deindividuation

Diener (1976)

Answer 5

Trick or treaters asked names and left unattended with sweets and asked to take 1. The results showed those deindividuated were significantly more likely to take >1 + steal money.
This supports the idea that deindividuation increases antisocial behaviour.

Question 6

Social Psychology - Deindividuation

Watson (1973)

Answer 6

Tribes war paint were more likely to commit more savage war acts (death, mutilation, torture).
This supports Deindividuation hypothesis as Warriors were not violent when not in war showing the aggression was situational and due to Deindividuation.

Question 7

Institutional Aggression - Importation Model

Kane and Janus (1981)

Answer 7

Variables (greater unemployment, low education, young, non-white) more aggressive.
Environment which they come from and the people they associated with can influence the amount of institutional aggression.

Question 8

Institutional Aggression - Importation Model

Poole and Regoli (1983)

Answer 8

History of violence before the prison was predicting factor of whether they’d be violent in a juvenile institution.
Importing the aggression into prison and therefore supports the theory that dispositional factors influence aggression.

Question 9

Institutional Aggression - Deprivation Model [Sykes (1958)]

McCorkle (1995)

Answer 9

GLAHS deprivations increase institutional violence.

Increase frustration and therefore are more likely to act aggressively causing institutional aggression.

Question 10

Institutional Aggression - Popcorn Model

Lahm (2008)

Answer 10

Both dispositional and situational factors (overcrowding and age).
Suggests both models correct to an extent but more susceptible.

Question 11

Biological Explanation - Neural

Lenard (2008)

Answer 11

49 monkeys with low serotonin more likely to die young whereas those with higher levels were more affectionate. This suggests serotonin suppresses aggressive behaviour.
This supports the idea of serotonin acting as a mood regulator.

Question 12

Biological Explanation - Neural

Mann (1990)

Answer 12

Serotonin artificially depleted in 35 healthy volunteers. The results showed an increase in self reported feelings of aggression in men not women.
This partially supports the theory as men felt more aggressive however it suggests women have a different response to the serotonin. Self report further reduced validity as it doesn’t mean they’ll be aggressive.

Question 13

Biological Explanation - Neural

Raine (1997)

Answer 13

PET scan 41 murderers and compared with control group. Reduced activity in prefrontal cortex in murderers. This suggests a reduction in activity increases chances of aggression as there is a reduction in decision making and therefore they’re more likely to act on impulse.

Question 14

Biological Explanation - Hormonal

Dabbs (1995)

Answer 14

693 male prisoners measured testosterone levels and crime type. Higher testosterone levels more likely to commit crimes involving sex and violence.
This suggests testosterone affects neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine and their pathways in the brain leading to the development of aggression.

Question 15

Biological Explanation - Hormonal

Wagner (1979)

Answer 15

Biting attacks in mice decreased after castration and increased when testosterone levels were replaced.
Suggests testosterone plays important role however not most prominent as there will still biting attacks after castration.

Question 16

Biological Explanation - Hormonal

Book (2001)

Answer 16

Meta analysis found small but significant correlation of 0.14.
Supports the theory however since the correlation is small, it implies other factors influence aggression.

Question 17

Biological Explanation - Genetic

Brunner (1993)

Answer 17

Family in Holland with extreme violence (males) lacked MAO-A gene and low levels of MAO-A enzyme.
This is supported by various mice studies (ethics) which supports the idea that aggression is passed down through families and not environmental factors as only the males were violent.

Question 18

Biological Explanation - Genetic

Moffitt (1992)

Answer 18

Studied 442 males from 0-26 years (longitudinal) and indicates the interaction between genes and environment is required to make someone aggressive.
This suggests both nature and nurture play a role in aggression and partially contradicts the genetic theory of aggression.

Question 19

Biological Explanation - Genetic

McGuffin and Gottesman (1985)

Answer 19

MZ (85%) antisocial behaviour and DZ (72%).
Supports the idea there is a genetic component as the twins share the same environment growing up. However since DZ twins were 72% not 50%, aggression partially due to similar environment proving aggression is not monocausal.

Question 20

Evolutionary Explanation - Sexual Aggression

Shackelford (2005)

Answer 20

The results showed 461 24 year old males had a positive correlation between mate retention strategies (shouting) and aggression towards their female partner.
Even though this supports the idea that aggression may be used to prevent the woman from having another man’s child, the results are unclear of whether it would happen to older males.

Question 21

Evolutionary Explanation - Sexual Aggression

Wilson (1995)

Answer 21

Homicide (uxoricide) rates increased if the partners were separated rather than living together.
Prevent having another man’s child.

Question 22

Evolutionary Explanation - Sexual Aggression

Shackelford (2000)

Answer 22

13670 uxoricides. Younger women more likely to be murdered because more fertile.
Maladaptive as males killing waste resources, several explanations: unintentional, preventing her having other man’s child, abnormal aggressive reactions.

Question 23

Evolutionary Explanation - Warfare

Chagnon (1988)

Answer 23

Studied Yanomamo tribe for 23 years. Those who killed were more likely to be married and men frequently dropped out of raids were labelled as cowardice.
Evolved to enhance reproductive success however the results may not be cross cultural.