PBSI 315 Exam 3

🧠 Aggression

Definition of Aggression

• Aggression: Behavior intended to harm another person either physically or psychologically.

• Must be intentional, not accidental.

Types of Aggression

• Hostile Aggression:

  • Driven by anger, impulsive, retaliatory.

  • Example: Punching someone in a fit of rage.

• Instrumental Aggression:

  • Premeditated, used as a means to an end.

  • Example: Tackling someone to steal their wallet.

Displaced Aggression

• Aggression aimed at someone not responsible for the frustration.

• Example: You get yelled at by your boss and then snap at your roommate.

🧪 Theories of Aggression

1. Biological Theories

• Instinct Theory (Freud):

  • Aggression is an unlearned, universal drive.

  • Builds up over time and must be released (catharsis).

• Evolutionary Theory:

  • Aggression improves reproductive success and survival.

  • It can increase access to mates or protect offspring.

• Biochemistry:

  • Testosterone linked to higher aggression.

  • Example: Male animals with higher testosterone show more dominance and aggression.

2. Pain and Aggression

• Physical pain increases likelihood of aggression.

• Heat hypothesis: More violent crimes happen during hot weather.

  • Why? Discomfort leads to irritability and aggression.

3. Frustration-Aggression Theory

• Aggression is the result of frustrated goals.

• The closer the goal and the higher the expectations, the more intense the frustration.

• Relative deprivation: Feeling deprived compared to others increases frustration.

• Alexis de Tocqueville quote: “Evils which are patiently endured when they seem inevitable become intolerable once the idea of escape from them is suggested.”

4. Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

• Aggression is learned by observing and imitating others.

• Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study:

  • Children watched adults beat up a Bobo doll.

  • Result: Kids imitated the same aggressive behavior.

• Media violence, video games, and parental modeling all contribute.

5. Alcohol Myopia Theory

• Alcohol impairs ability to evaluate competing impulses.

• Increases aggressive behavior by reducing self-control.

🤠 Culture and Aggression

Culture of Honor (Cohen & Nisbett)

• Found in Southern U.S. cultures.

• Strong emphasis on reputation and respect.

• Even minor insults are met with aggression.

• Study (Cohen et al., 1996):

  • Participants bumped into and insulted (“asshole”).

  • Southerners showed more aggressive responses (e.g., increased cortisol/testosterone, more confrontational behavior).

👥 Social Categorization

Ingroup vs. Outgroup

• Ingroup: Group you belong to.

• Outgroup: Group you do not belong to.

• We naturally categorize people to simplify the world.

🧠 Stereotypes

Definition

• Beliefs that associate traits with group membership.

• Can be positive, negative, or neutral.

Why We Use Them

• Act as heuristics (mental shortcuts).

• Simplify processing of complex information.

• Influenced by normative and informational factors.

Outgroup Homogeneity Effect

• Tendency to view outgroup members as all alike.

• Example: “All athletes are dumb” or “All engineers are introverted.”

Stereotype Dimensions

• Stereotypes are judged based on:

  • Competence (smart, capable)

  • Warmth (kind, friendly)

⚠ Stereotype Threat

Definition

• Anxiety and underperformance due to fear of confirming a negative stereotype.

• Especially affects performance on tasks tied to identity.

• Examples:

  • Women in math tests

  • Black students on verbal exams

  • Latino students in academic settings

Why It Matters

• Affects self-esteem and performance.

• Increases inequality over time.

❤ Prejudice

Definition

• Negative attitude toward people based solely on group membership.

Ingroup Favoritism

• Positive bias toward your group, even in randomly assigned groups (Minimal group paradigm).

• Example: Favoring someone just because they share your school, race, or team.

Sources of Prejudice

• Evolutionary perspective: Protecting group survival.

• Cognitive: Simplifies the world, even if inaccurate.

• Social identity: Boosts self-esteem through group pride.

• Media influences: Shape perceptions.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social Identity Theory

• We derive self-worth from group membership.

• Stronger ingroup identity → stronger outgroup dislike.

• Example: TAMU students disliking UT students.

🏕 Realistic Group Conflict Theory

• Prejudice arises from competition for scarce resources.

• Robber’s Cave Study (Sherif):

  • 22 boys split into two groups: Rattlers and Eagles.

  • Created strong ingroup bonds.

  • Competition led to hostility, name-calling, and sabotage.

  • Peace restored only through superordinate goals (shared tasks like fixing a water tank).

🚫 Discrimination

Definition

• Behavioral expression of prejudice.

• Unequal treatment of people based on group membership.

Examples

• Direct: Denying someone a job due to race.

• Indirect: Policies that unintentionally hurt certain groups.

🤫 Modern Racism

Definition

• Subtle, unconscious forms of bias.

• Often socially masked, but still influential.

• Tool vs. Gun Task:

  • People more likely to misidentify a tool as a gun when shown a Black face.

Key Points

• Everyone has implicit biases.

• It's how we act that matters most.

• Racism is not always overt or intentional.

✌ Reducing Prejudice

1. Identify with the Outgroup

   • Not easy, but helps build empathy and reduce stereotypes.

2. Intergroup Contact (Allport’s Contact Hypothesis)

   • Requires equal status, common goals, and institutional support.

   • Friendship across groups is especially effective.

3. Conscious Control of Stereotypes

   • Awareness helps override automatic prejudices.

4. Superordinate Goals

   • Focus on shared identity (“We’re all Aggies,” “We’re all human”).

   • Promotes cooperation over competition.

5. Live with Integrity

   • Actively work to reduce biases and increase empathy.