Chapter 12: Aggression

Social Psy: Longest

Aggression

Intentional behavior aimed at causing physical or psychological harm to another person.

Violence

Extreme physical harm. All violence is aggression, but not all aggression is violence.

Hostile aggression

driven by anger, with the goal of causing harm 

Instrumental aggression

harm is used as a means to an end. there is a reason for the aggression.

Social-cognitive learning theory to aggression

Says aggression is learned by observing and imitating others and by seeing aggressive behavior rewarded.

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study

Children imitate aggressive models, especially if the model is rewarded or admired.

Frustration

When a person is blocked from achieving a goal they are striving for. 

Frustration-aggression theory

Dollard- frustration always leads to aggression. any time goals are blocked, you experience frustration, then you become aggressive.

Reformulated frustration-aggression theory

Berkowitz- frustration increases the likelihood of aggression but does not guarantee it. Frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression, but instead creates an aggressive inclination by arousing negative feelings

What factors increase the level of frustration?

• Greater goal proximity (the closer you are, the more frustrating it is)

• Expectations of success

• Being blocked illegitimately or unfairly

• More valuable goals

• Repeated or chronic goal blocking

Excitation-Transfer Theory

Zillman- Arousal from one situation can intensify aggression in another situation if misattributed.

Negative affect and aggression

Berkowitz- argued that any negative affect can trigger aggression, not just frustration. Negative affect makes aggressive thoughts and reactions more likely.

Triggers of aggression

• Pain

• Heat

• Frustration

• Aggressive cues (e.g., weapons)

• Provocation (being insulted)

• Alcohol

• Media violence

Relative Deprivation

feeling you have less than you deserve or less than others have, even if your actual situation hasn’t changed. Perceieved unfairness increases anger and aggression.

Alcohol on aggression behavior

• Alcohol impairs cognitive control, making it harder to inhibit aggressive impulses.

• Alcohol narrows attention, causing people to focus on provocative cues rather than consequences.

• Beliefs about alcohol can increase aggression even when drinking placebos.

Heat and aggression

Correlational: hot cities have higher violent crime rates.

Experimental: participants in hot rooms behave more aggressively.

Archival: most assaults and domestic violence occur during heat waves.

Field studies: hot days increase aggression in real-world setting. (baseball pitchers hit more batters)

Heat increases aggression 

Weapons effect

the presence of a weapon increases aggressive thoughts and behaviors even if the weapon is not used.

Culture of honor hypothesis

Southerners may respond more aggressively to insults because of norms emphasizing honor and reputation.

Alternative explanation: Differences may be due to climate, economics, or urbanization—not culture.

Experimental research on media violence

watching violent media immediately increases aggressive thoughts and behavior.

Longitudinal research on media violence

long-term exposure predicts future aggression

Consequences of exposure to media violence

• Increased aggressive behavior

• Increased aggressive thoughts and emotions

• Desensitization to violence

• A belief that the world is more dangerous (mean-world syndrome)

• Reduced empathy for victims

Catharsis

Is a myth. Acting aggressively increases future aggression because it reinforces aggressive scripts, heightens arousal, and leads to dissonance reduction.

Cognitive dissonance and aggressive behavior

If someone harms another person, they may experience dissonance (“I am a good person, but I hurt someone”).
To reduce dissonance, they may:

• Dehumanize the victim

• Blame the victim

• Minimize the harm

This makes continued aggression more likely in the future.