Lecture 10 - Ch 11 - Aggression - for D2L

Aggression Overview

  • Course Information: PSY 124 Social Psychology, Dr. Lloradanon Efimoff, Toronto Metropolitan University

Outline of Key Concepts

  • What is aggression?

  • Individual differences in aggression

  • Origins of aggression

  • Situational influences on aggression

  • Role of media in aggression

  • Strategies to reduce aggression

What is Aggression?

  • Definition: Behavior intended to harm another individual, which may not necessitate physical or emotional harm.

  • Aggressive behaviors include:

    • Proactive/Instrumental aggression: Aggression used as a means to achieve a goal.

    • Reactive aggression: Aggression expressed as a reaction to an event or situation.

Other Relevant Definitions

  • Violence: Extreme forms of aggression, e.g., murder.

  • Anger: Intense displeasure in response to perceived injury or wrong.

  • Hostility: Antagonistic attitude toward another person or group.

Origins of Aggression

Evolutionary Perspective

  • Aggression linked to reproductive success through successful fighting and warfare.

  • Research indicates increased aggression towards non-biological relatives (e.g., children).

  • Gender Differences:

    • Males may aggress to achieve or maintain status.

    • Females often aggress primarily to protect offspring.

Genetic Factors

  • Heritability plays a role, as evidenced by twin/adoption studies indicating genetics account for 30% to 50% of aggression variation in children.

  • Variants of the MAOA gene are significantly associated with aggression levels.

Hormonal Influences

  • Testosterone: Correlation with aggression, but relationship is weak (r = 0.14).

  • Serotonin: Low levels linked to higher aggression; increasing serotonin can reduce impulsive behaviors.

Brain Function and Aggression

  • Executive Functioning: Essential cognitive abilities that influence behavior regulation.

  • Poor executive functioning is related to higher aggression.

  • Brain injuries may correlate with increases in aggression, impacting decision-making capacities.

Learning and Aggression

  • Aggression is learned behavior, reinforced positively or negatively.

  • Corporal punishment is correlated with antisocial behavior, emphasizing the negative impacts of using physical discipline as a control method.

Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

  • Behavior can be learned by observing others, where witnessed aggression may perpetuate aggressive behavior in future generations.

  • Non-aggressive role models can mitigate violence.

Culture, Gender, and Individual Differences

Cultural Variations in Aggression

  • Individualist vs. collectivist cultures show differing attitudes towards aggression.

  • Acceptance of physical aggression varies significantly across cultures and is related to domestic violence rates.

Gender Differences

  • Men generally exhibit higher rates of physical violence than women in most cultures.

  • Women are more likely to be victimized in domestic violence situations but may also report equal rates of physical assault against intimate partners.

  • Males also display higher rates of severe cyberbullying.

Situational Influences on Aggression

  • Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: Frustration triggers aggression; displaced aggression can occur when the target is inaccessible.

  • Negative Affect: Various negative feelings can lead to aggressive behaviors (e.g. jealousy, rejection).

  • Aggressive Cues: Contextual elements (e.g., presence of weapons) have a profound impact on the likelihood of aggressive actions.

Media Effects

  • Research links violent media exposure to increased aggression and later criminality, with notable findings related to childhood media consumption.

  • Non-violent pornography may not directly lead to sexual aggression, but exposure to violent pornography tends to elevate male-to-female aggression.

Reducing Aggression and Violence

Long-Term Trends

  • Documented declines in homicide rates over centuries, potentially linked to enhanced education and cognitive strategies to manage aggression.

Interventions

  • Cognitive reappraisal, self-control strategies, and mindfulness practices have shown effectiveness in reducing aggression.

  • Sociocultural strategies focus on improving living conditions, reducing poverty, and promoting non-violent conflict resolution.

  • Multisystemic Therapy: A comprehensive approach that addresses multiple environmental factors surrounding adolescents has proven successful.

Bullying Prevention

  • Effective and comprehensive school programs are necessary to mitigate bullying behavior globally, including empathy training and intervention strategies.

Summary of Key Concepts

  • Definition of Aggression: Behavior intended to harm others.

  • Origins: Influenced by biological, social, and environmental factors.

  • Individual Differences: Personality traits, cultural contexts, and gender roles significantly affect aggression.

  • Situational Influences: Feelings, cues, and self-regulation play vital roles.

  • Media Influence: Violent media exposure can contribute to aggression in predisposed individuals.

  • Reduction Strategies: Include educational interventions and sociocultural improvements aimed at reducing provocations to aggression.