Chapter 9: Aggression (hurting others)

+ Lecture content from March 11th & 14th

T or F: Aggression is defined by its intentions NOT by the form it takes

T or F: Aggression is defined by its intentions NOT by the form it takes

TRUE

Agression

Physical, verbal, and nonverbal behaviour that is intended to hurt others

What are 3 main types of aggression

1. Hostile

2. Instrumental

3. Relational

Hostile aggression

Hurting someone else because we are angry

Driven by anger → performed as an end in itself

Instrumental aggression

Hurting someone else to achieve some other purpose

A means to someone other goal

*Linked to terrorism

Relational aggression

Aggression that harms someone else through the manipulation of friendships

*Leverages the knowledge that everyone wants to be included

Ex. cyberbullying, in-person bullying

What are 2 challenges that pose studying this aggression question: “Kids who watch more violent TV are more aggressive on the playground”

1. Reverse causality → opposite relationship

   • Maybe it is not the violent TV shows that cause aggression

   • Perhaps it is just that aggressive kids tend to watch more violent TV

2. 3rd variables

   • Perhaps there is another variable that is causing both the aggressive behaviour AND The TV show tendencies

     • E.g., lack of TV supervision at home OR parents fight at home

How is aggression operationalized in the lab?

1. Self-report & scenario complete

2. Shocks, noise blasts, hot sauce, demanding yoga poses

3. Costly punishment in an ultimatum game

Is aggression based on nature or nurture?

Nature

• Evolutionary instincts

• Genes → males = more aggressive (esp. hostile aggression)

• Testosterone

Nurture

• Social learning theory

• Culture of honour

Social learning theory (aggression)

We learn how to behave by behaving and experiencing consequences

AND we learn how to behave by observing others behaving and observing the consequences of their behaviour

E.g., Bobo doll experiment

*We can learn to be aggression simply by watching other people aggressive and seeing whether they are rewarded

Culture of honour

Southern US states are classified as “culture of honour”

Strong concerns about reputation caused a this culture of honour

Responses to insults are often returned with violence

• Insults deserve retaliation

• Willingness to use violence to avenge perceived wrongs or insults

Murder rates x culture of honour

U.S Southern states = increased argument-related murders (in comparison to North)

*Felony-related murders are relatively similar → but South is still higher

Aggression hallway experiment

(1) Participants from Northern and Southern states were asked to carry a box of supplies down an office hallway → on the way a confederate purposefully bumps into them and calls them an “asshole”

• Facial expressions observed

• RESULTS = Southerners → more angry faces & Northerners → more amused faces

(2) Participants then completed different scenarios describing threat to honour

• Cortisols and testosterone measured

• RESULTS = Southerners → increased cortisol ; answered scenarios stories with violence

Culture of honour in Canada

If you live farther away from Mountie forts (you have less local Mountie authority) = more likely to have a culture of honour because you have to fend for yourself

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

Frustration = anything that blocks us from attaining goals

• Frustration → leads to aggression

We aggress when our goals are block (AKA when we are frustrated)

Critiques of frustration-aggression hypothesis

Frustration & goal blocking = does not always cause aggression

• Valid excuses

• Apologies

Frustration & goal blocking = causes different responses → learned helplessness

Neo-associationistic account of aggression

Aversive event → anger → aggression

Mediating process (anger) = determines whether you will be aggressive in response to an aggressive event

• Aggression occurs when ager stays elevated

Relative deprivation theory

When you think that you (or your social group) has less than you deserve → associated with aggression

Believing you are less well off when comparing yourself to others

Income inequality and aggression

Countries with lower income inequality = lower aggression

E.g., Norway, Denmark, Sweden

Examples of situational causes of aggression

Relative deprivation theory

Frustration-aggression theory

Neo-associationistic account of aggression

The weapons effect

Hot weather

Alcohol

Video games

Heat x aggression

Heat = environmental irritant → naturally frustrating

Hotter weather = more aggression

• More road rage

• More violent crime

• More bad batters

Heat causes aggression because it make you uncomfortable → increases arousal

• Misattribution arousal → to other people RATHER than the weather

Alcohol x aggression

Alcohol = increases aggression

Reduces anxiety & inhibitions against aggression

Interferes with info processing that would override aggressive impulses → makes us forget to think about future consequences

Interpreting ambiguous acts as provocations

“Alcohol myopia” → reduces self-awareness and enhanced de-individualization

Alcohol x aggression in relationships study

Participants asked to recall an argument in their relationship → asked how both they and their partner felt about the aggression

RESULTS = Increased negative self-emotions and partner emotions when drunk

• Alcohol made negative emotions worse

The weapons effect

The mere presence of weapons acts as a cue that can cause violence

Priming effect → guns and weapons associated with violence and aggression

Video games x aggression

Increased aggressive behaviour, thoughts, & emotions

*Decreased prosocial behaviour

Catharsis

Venting emotions→ emotional release

Aggression

Physical or verbal behaviour intended to cause harm

Comes in many different forms

Ex. physical → hurting someone’s body

Ex. relational → hurting someone’s feelings or status

Ex. hostile → stems from emotions such as anger

Ex. instrumental → aims to injure

Social leaning theory x aggression

Aggression = learned behaviour

Ex. Bandura Bobo doll experiment

What are the effects of viewing violence?

1. Increased aggressive behaviours → esp. in provoked people

2. Desensitizes viewers to aggression

3. Alters viewers perceptions of reality

*Linked to the finding that violent porn can increase men’s aggression towards women

T or F: heavy exposure to televised violence correlates with aggressive behaviour

TRUE

Why might playing violent video games increase aggression more than TV or movies?

Playing video games = requires more active participation

Aggression as an instinctive behaviour

Instinctive behaviours = innate, unlearned, universal

Aggression is adaptive > self-destructive

T or F: aggression correlates with testosterone in men

TRUE

Displacement

When we redirect our aggression to a target OTHER than the source of the frustration

Typically new target = safer or more socially acceptable

According to Bandura, when do we aggress?

1. When we are aroused → frustration, pain, insults

2. When it seems safe and rewarding to aggress → based on the consequences we anticipate

Catharsis view of aggression

Aggression is reduced when we “release” aggressive energy either by:

1. Acting aggressively

2. Fantasizing aggression

What are some factors that predict aggression

Being male

Aggressive or anger-prone temperaments

Alcohol use

Violence viewing

Anonymity

Provocation

Weapons effect

Group interaction