Chapter 9: Aggression/Hurting Others
Aggression: physical or verbal behaviour intended to hurt someone
Hostile aggression: aggression driven by anger and performed as an end in itself
Instrumental aggression: aggression that is a means to some other end
Theories of aggression
As a response to frustration
Aggressive behaviour is learned
Biological phenomenon
Instinctive behaviour: an innate, unlearned behaviour pattern exhibited by all members of species
Neural influences in humans and animals that facilitate aggression
Blood chemistry also influences neural sensitivity to aggressive stimulation
Frustration aggression theory: the theory that frustration triggers a readiness to aggress
Frustration: the blocking of goal-directed behaviour
Displacement: the redirection of aggression to a target other than the source of the frustration
Relative deprivation: perception that open is less well off than others to whom one compares oneself
The family: aggressive children tend to have physically punitive parents
The culture: the social environment outside the home also provides models
Social learning theory: the theory that we learn social behaviour by observing and imitating and by being rewarded and punished
Influences on aggression
Aggression cues: violence is more likely when aggressive cues release pent-up anger
Media influences: porn and sexual violence
Adverse incidents: pain, uncomfortable heat, or attack
Catharsis: emotional release. The catharsis view of aggression is that aggressive drive is reduced when one releases aggressive energy, by acting aggressively or by fantasizing aggression
Pro-social behaviour: positive, constructive, and helpful social behaviour
Television's effect on thinking
Social scripts: culturally provided mental instructions for how to act in various situations
Desentralization
Group influences
Groups can amplify aggressive reactions partly by diffusing responsibility
Diffusion of responsibility increases not only with distance but with numbers
How can aggression be reduced
Retaliation in the short run, reduce tension and provide pleasure/ long run, fuels more negative feelings
There are non-aggressive ways to express our feelings and to tell others how their behaviour affect us
Viewing or participating in violence fails to produce catharsis
Social learning approach
Anticipated rewards and costs influence instrumental aggression
Punishing the aggressor is less consistently effective
Aversive experiences such as frustrated expectations and personal attacks predispose hostile aggression
Must prevent aggression before it happens
Alek Karthikeyan
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