Chapter 10: Aggression and Antisocial Behavior

aggression

any behavior intended to harm another person who is motivated to avoid the harm

displaced aggression

any behavior that intentionally harms a substitute target rather than the provocateur

direct aggression

any behavior that intentionally harms another person who is physically present

indirect aggression

any behavior that intentionally harms another person who is physically absent

reactive aggression

(also called hostile, affective, emotional, angry, impulsive, or retaliatory aggression) “hot,” impulsive, angry behavior motivated by a desire to harm someone

proactive aggression

(also called instrumental aggression) “cold,” or premeditated, calculated harmful behavior that is a means to some practical or material end

bullying

persistent aggression by a perpetrator against a victim for the purpose of establishing a power relationship over the victim

cyberbullying

the use of the internet (e.g., email, social network sites, blogs) to bully others

violence

aggression that has as its goal extreme physical harm, such as injury or death

antisocial

behavior that either damages interpersonal relationships or is culturally undesirable

instrinct theory

views aggressive behavior as an evolutionary adaptation that bad enabled creatures to survive better

instinct

an innate (inborn, biologically programmed) tendency to seek a particular goal, such as food, water, or sex

eros

in Freudian theory, the constructive, life-giving instinct; the drive for sensory and sexual gratification

thanatos

in Freudian theory, the destructive, death instinct

instinct theory of aggression

a buildup of aggressive urges would inevitably lead to aggression if not released through some other activity

social learning theory

states that aggression isn’t innate; people learn aggressive behaviors by direct experience and by observing others

modeling

observing and copying or imitating the behavior of others

frustration-aggression hypothesis

proposal that “the occurrence of aggressive behavior always presupposes the existence of frustration,” and “the existence of frustration always leads to some form of aggression”

frustration

blockage of or interference with a personal goal

appetitive aggression

aggression that is motivated, in part or whole, by an intrinsic enjoyment of the aggressive act

desensitization

a psychological process that occurs when emotional reactions to a stimulus decrease following repeated exposure to it

sensation-seeking

the tendency to pursue pleasure excitement, such as by engaging in thrilling or even risky activities

sadism

the act of experiencing pleasure, excitement, adn perhaps sexual arousal, after hurting an innocent person

holitistic attrubution bias

the tendency to perceive ambiguous actions by others as aggressive

hostile perception bias

the tendency to perceive social interactions in general as being aggressive

hostile expectation bias

the tendency to assume that people will react to potential conflict with aggression

fight or flight syndrome

a response to stress that involves aggressing against others or running away

tend and befriend syndrome

a response to stress that involves nurturing others and making friends

relation (social) aggression

behavior that involves intentionally harming another person’s social relationships, feelings of acceptance, or inclusion within a group

domestic (family or intimate-partner) violence

physically harmful actions that occur within the home or family, between people who have a close relationship with each other

weapons effect

the increase in aggression that occurs as a result of the mere presence of a weapon

third-person effect

the belief that media messages have a stronger impact on others than on oneself

density

the number of people divided by the area of the space they share

crowding

the subjective and unpleasant feeling that there are too many people in a given area

testosterone

the male sex hormone, high levels of which have been linked to aggression and violence in both humans and animals

serotonin

the “feel good” neurotransmitter, low levels of which have been linked to aggression and violence in both humans and animals

running amok

according to Malaysian culture, refers to behavior of a young man who becomes “uncontrollably” violent after receiving a blow to his ego

culture of honor

a society that places high value on individual respect, strength, and virtue, and accepts and justifies violent action in response to threats to one’s honor

honor killing

killing another individual who has brought “dishonor” to the family (e.g., a woman who has committed adultery)

humiliation

a state of disgrace or loss of self-respect (or of respect from others)

lying

deliberately making a false statement, usually to mislead someone.

identity theft

consists of stealing someone’s personal information (e.g., Social Security number, bank account, credit card number) and using it without their permission, usually to obtain money or goods

plagiarism

to claim the ideas or words of another person as one’s own without crediting that person

deindividuation

a sense of anonymity and loss of individuality, as in a large group, making people especially likely to engage in antisocial behaviors such as theft

injunctive norms

norms that specify what most others approve or disapprove of

descritpive norms

norms that specify what most others approve or disapprove of