Aggression

Aggression

Any behavior that “hurts” others (not necessarily true)

Behavior that is intended to hurt others (physical or psychological)

Hostile Aggression

Behavior motivated by feelings of anger or hostility intended to physically or psychologically harm someone

Instrumental Aggression

Behavior intended to harm someone in service of motives other than pure hostility

Displaced Aggression

Directed toward someone other than the instigator

Theories of Aggression

Biological, Pain, Frustration, Social Learning

Instinct Theory (Biological)

Freud

Unlearned & universal

Urge to aggress builds over time ; has to come out

• most people believe we have the innate ability to behave aggressively

Evolution (Biological)

Aggression exists because it improved reproductive success

• helps us survive & pass down our genes

Biochemistry (Biological)

e.g. Testosterone

Pain & Aggression (Pain)

Experience pain → more likely to lash out on others

• weather & aggression

Frustration-Aggression Theory (Frustration)

Goals are blocked or removed → arouses aggression

Includes:

Family: stresses ; Work: job conflicts ; Other examples

Stronger when goal is close & expectations are high

Relative Depravation (Frustration)

Feeling depraved of something leads to more frustration when other social groups are perceived to have it

EX: money

Social Learning Theory (Social Learning)

Imitation

EX: Bobo doll study (Bandura)

Ostracism Leads to Aggression

Twenge

Aggressive toward people who hadn’t even provoked them or were involved (neutral parties)

Online Disinhibition

People say or do things online they wouldn’t do face-to-face