Aggression and Prosocial Behaviour in Psychology - IN DEPTH NOTES

Acknowledgment of Traditional Custodians

  • The University of Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where we meet.
  • We pay respects to Ancestors and descendants for their cultural and spiritual connections to Country.
  • Recognition of their contributions to society at large.

Introduction to Aggression and Prosocial Behaviour

  • Topic covered: PSYC1030 - Introduction to Psychology (Developmental, Social, & Clinical Psychology).
  • Presented by Dr. Mick Zeljko in Semester 1, 2025.

Human Social Behaviour

  • Human social behaviour encompasses both aggression and prosocial actions.
    • Aggression: Unintended harm towards others.
    • Prosocial: Positive behaviors intended to benefit others.
    • Mitigation and encouragement of these behaviors are essential.

What is Aggression?

  • Defined as behavior intended to harm another individual.
  • Can manifest in various forms:
    • Physical Aggression: Violence and assault.
    • Verbal Aggression: Threats and insults.
    • Relational/Indirect Aggression: Activities like gossip and cyberbullying.

Multifaceted Causes of Aggression

  • Biological Factors: Genetics and brain chemistry can influence aggression.
  • Psychological Factors: Personality traits and exposure to violence play significant roles.
  • Environmental Factors: Influence of alcohol and social dynamics.

Biological Factors Contributing to Aggression

  • Genetics: Twin studies showing identical twins exhibit more similar aggression levels than fraternal twins.
  • Hormones:
    • Testosterone: Associated with aggression; complexity in its role as an amplifier of social motivations.
    • Serotonin: Low levels linked to impulsive aggression due to poor emotional regulation.
  • Brain Structure:
    • Amygdala: Heightened sensitivity can contribute to aggression.
    • Prefrontal Cortex: Impairments can lead to poor decision-making and emotional control.

Interaction Between Biology and Environment

  • While biological factors can predispose individuals to aggression, the expression of this aggression is heavily influenced by environmental triggers such as:
    • Exposure to violence in family settings.
    • Lack of role models for positive behavior.

Psychological Factors Influencing Aggression

  • Personality traits such as:
    • Trait Hostility/Irritability: Causes misinterpretation of cues as hostile.
    • Impulsivity: Leads to reactive expressed aggression.
    • Narcissism: Involves responses to perceived threats to self-image.
    • Psychopathy: Associated with instrumental aggression without empathy.

Impact of Childhood Experiences

  • Early exposure to violence in childhood can normalize aggression as a conflict resolution method.
  • Influence of violent media can increase aggressive behaviors and desensitize individuals.

Josephson’s Hockey Study (1987)

  • Investigated the effects of violent TV on children’s behavior.
  • Results: Boys watching violent programming exhibited more aggressive behavior in a controlled hockey game.
  • Higher aggression noted in those given reminders of the violent content.

Environmental Factors: Alcohol and Aggression

  • Alcohol: Can increase impulsivity and reduce decision-making capabilities, resulting in aggressive behavior due to cognitive narrowing.
  • Situational cues become more salient than long-term consequences while under the influence.

Social Dynamics and Group Influence on Aggression

  • Example: Cronulla beach riots (2005) highlighting racially motivated violence and group dynamics.
  • Stanford Prison Experiment: Showed how ordinary individuals can enact cruelty under situational pressures.

Psychological Aggression and Its Forms

  • Encompasses non-physical harm like:
    • Verbal abuse, relational aggression, cyberbullying, etc.
  • Effects on mental wellbeing: Social rejection leads to anxiety, mood disorders, and retaliation.

Ostracism and Its Psychological Consequences

  • Williams’s Ball-Tossing Studies demonstrate effects of social exclusion:
    • Resulted in lowered mood and increased feelings of anger.
    • Neuroimaging showed overlap between social pain and physical pain responses.

Strategies to Reduce and Manage Aggression

  • Developing empathy and communication skills can mitigate aggression.
  • Creating environments that minimize aggression triggers through design and norms.

Prosocial Behaviour: Definition and Motivation

  • Defined as voluntary acts performed for the benefit of others.
  • Motivations include:
    • Kin selection, reciprocal altruism, personal rewards, and empathy.

Situational Factors that Influence Prosocial Behaviour

  • Time Pressure: Hurrying reduces willingness to assist.
  • Clarity of Situation: Clear recognition of emergency increases helping behavior.
  • Similarity and Relationships: More likely to help those perceived as similar or known personally.

Bystander Effect and Social Responsibility

  • The case of Kitty Genovese illustrates the bystander effect: failure to act due to perceived diffusion of responsibility among witnesses.
  • Studies by Darley & Latané demonstrated how group presence can inhibit individual action.

Encouraging Prosocial Behaviour

  • Utilizing social norms and modeling prosocial actions can enhance altruism.
  • Education on helping skills and reducing ambiguity in emergency situations can cultivate a supportive atmosphere for prosocial actions.