Human Aggression

Define aggression.

Intentional infliction of some form of harm on others

Aggression is a multi-faceted set of _____ _____.

Social mechanisms

Just because something is natural does not mean that it is _____ or _____.

Inevitable; good

What did the 1986 Seville Declaration say about human nature?

It is scientifically incorrect to say that …

• War or any other violent behavior is genetically a\programmed into our human nature

• Humans have a “violent brain”

• War is caused by “instinct” or any single motivation

What does modern biology say about instincts?

• Organisms have mechanisms that maximize their survival

• Human have more instinct than other primates

What is the evidence for historical human violence?

• Iberian mesolithic rock art

• First contact w/ isolated groups of people

• Remains at ancient burial sites

• Modern hunter-gather groups have high percentages of death due to warefare

• Most violent acts that wipe out substantial portions of the world’’s population are before the 20th century

What are the common patterns of aggression in Fiske’s Social Modes of Cognition?

• Community sharing: in-group/out-group, de-invidiuation, racism

• Authority ranking: following orders

• Equality matching: tit for tat retaliation, revenge

• Market pricing: exploitation, slavery, killing to protect profits

Why is nature v nurture a false dichotomy?

• Learning is a biological process

• Some things are learned more rapidly/easily than others

“Humans are not naturally good or naturally bad but naturally _____” - Terry Pratchett

Human

What are common characteristics of in-group aggression?

• Not necessarily dehumanizing

• Rituals & rules

• Non-lethal, male-male, between social equals

• Individuating

What are common characteristics of out-group aggression?

• Group unity (de-individuation)

• Images of pollution, corruption, vermin, outsiders, & lesser beings

• Cartoonish exaggeration of differences

• Trophy taking

• Lack of empathy for outsider

• Tends towards enslavement/genocide

What is de-individuation? What are some examples?

The process of creating a group identity & reducing individual responsibility; masks, uniforms, rituals

Why do 50% of crowds jeer at suicide baiters?

De-individuation - membership of large crowd, cover of night-time, physical distance between crowd & victim

What did the Bobo doll experiment show?

Children who observe violent behavior from a grown-up role-model are more likely to copy the behavior (social learning)

What factors contribute to dehumanization?

• Out-group aggression

• De-individuation

• “Pollution” mentality

• Imitation

• Exaggeration & stereotyping

• Lack of empathy

What expectations of masculinity (in UK/US) may contribute to male aggression/violence?

• Must be a fighter & winner

• Must be a provider & protector

• Must maintain mastery & control at all times

A study of spree gun killing in the US found what 2 types of shooters? What are their motivations?

• School shooter - not gaining status when they should

• Suicide by cop - losing status when they should be around peak

Define hybristophlia.

A paraphilia involving being sexually aroused/attracted to people who have committed an outrageous or gruesome crime

What are the 2 types spree killer fans?

• Celebrity fans: like fans of normal celebs, don’t focus on violence, love/reform fantasies

• Killer fans: enjoy the pain/fear, focus on the acts, openly aware that the killing is erotic in itself

What are the theories about the logic of male-male competition?

• Frustration/aggression

• Cultures of honor

• Inter-sexual display

• Intra-sexual competition

• Levelling

What did a study on traveller fights find?

• Little support for frustration/aggression or egalitarian enforcement

• No support for inter-sexual display

• Good support for cultures of honor & intra-sexual competition