Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Aggression Evaluations, Dual-horomone hypothesis :red_cross:
Mixed…
Aggression Evaluations
-
-
Ethological Explanations
Research Support :check:
Support from research related to genetics and evolution
- Brunner et al showed the MAOA-L gene is closely linked to human aggression. Twin/ adoption studies showed genetics are a part of aggression
- Aggression is also an adaptive behaviour so genetically-based, points to an innate basis of aggression
Suggests ethological approach is correct in claiming aggression is genetically determined, heritable and adaptive
Counterpoint :red_cross:
Behaviours differ between cultures, even in the same country
- Nisbett found a reactive type of homicide was more common in white southern men than northern men. This was concluded to be caused by 'culture of honour' in the south
- This isn't as common in the north, so the reactive homicide was less common. The behaviour comes from a learned social norm rather than instinct
Culture can override innate predispositions, its hard for the theory to explain
Ritualistic Aggression :red_cross:
Aggression against same species aren't just realistic
- Goodall observed a male chimp '4 year war' where one group killed another in a systematic way
- The victims would sometimes be held down while others attacked for minutes. It continued even with appeasement signals
Challenges the ethological view that same species aggression evolved into a self limiting, relatively harmless ritual
FAPs are not fixed :red_cross:
Lorenz's original view is outdated (saw FAP as innate and rigid)
- Psychologists pointed out FAPs are influenced by environmental factors and experience
- Many prefer 'modal action pattern' - instinctual like a dog's desire to chase, but differs per species. Some chase cats, some don't
Patterns of aggressive behaviour are more flexible, especially humans
-
-
Social Learning Theory
Research Support :check:
Poulin and Boivin found aggressive boys 9-12 befriended other aggressive boys
- Friendships mutually reinforced each boy's aggressive behaviour by modelling. Boys would observe successful use of proactive aggression
- They were frequently exposed to models of physical aggression and positive consequences. Also gained reinforcement from 'gang' approval
SL processes made imitation by boys more likely (predicted)
Counterpoint :red_cross:
Study didn't find similarity between friends for reactive aggression
- Researchers found boys less likely to influence reactive aggressive outbursts, they observed but didn't imitate.
- Likely because consequences of reactive aggression are unpredictable and not as positive as proactive, so less reinforcing
SLT is limited as it is a weaker explanation of reactive aggression
Real World Application :check:
SLT can help reduce aggression
- Children imitate models when observing rewarded behaviour, can reduce aggression by rewarding non-aggressive models
- Same learning processes can produce non aggressive behaviour, encouraging friendships with children rewarded for non aggression
SLT offers practical steps to reduce development of aggressive behaviour
Biological Influences :red_cross:
Underestimates influence of biological factors
- Bandura recognises role of biology as he accepted an instinctive aggressive urge in nature but the form it takes is primarily learned and is outcome of 'nurture'
- Well known there are big genetic, neural, hormonal influences, SLT barely acknowledges or explains them
SLT is an incomplete explanation of aggression, underplays biological factors
De Individuation
Research Support :check:
Douglas and McGarty looked at aggressive online behaviour in chatrooms
- Found strong correlation between anonymity and 'flaming'. Also found the most aggressive messages sent by those who chose to hide their real identities
- Common behaviour of 'trolls' - implicated in high profile cases of self-harm and suicide
Supports a link between aggressive behaviour and anonymity, key element
Counterpoint :red_cross:
Evidence de-individuation doesn't always lead to aggression
- Gergen et al's 'deviance in the dark' study - groups of 8 strangers put in a dark room for 1 hour, they can do whatever they want (never meet again)
- Quickly stopped talking and touched/ kissed each other intimately. Second study told ppts they would be identified afterwards. Intimacy reduced
De individuation does not always lead to aggression
Real World De Individuation :check:
De Individuation can explain 'baiting crowds' behaviour
- Mann investigated suicidal 'jumpers', identified 21 cases in US paper of crowd encouraging person to jump
- Occurred in dark, crowds were large and far away from jumpers. Conditions led to de individuation and aggressive baiting
Some validity to the idea that a large group can become aggressive in a 'faceless' crowd
Role of Norms :red_cross:
De Individuated behaviour is normative, not anti-normative
- Theory argues we behave contrary to social norms when less away of private identity. SIDE model argues DI can lead to conformity to group norms
- Can be antisocial or prosocial norms, like helping - anonymity shifts individual's attention from private identity to social identity as a group
Suggests people in a De Individuated state remain sensitive to norms
-
Media Influences
Defining Aggression :red_cross:
Aggression is defined in many ways
- Dependent variables in studies include volume of white noise blasted and criminal convictions, but violence and aggression aren't the same
- All violence is aggression, not all aggression is violence and neither are necessarily criminal. Effects in studies depend on definition
Definition variation means findings are hard to compare
Counterpoint :check:
Meta-analyses can help overcome the problem
- Anderson conducted meta analysis of 136 studies with different definitions. Found exposure to violent games increased all types
- Higher quality studies in analysis showed a more significant effect
Meta-analyses including many definitions are valid for showing affects of media
Unsupported Conclusions :red_cross:
Many studies are methodologically weak (CVs, bad sampling)
- Meta-analyses may be imperfect on basis of GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out), poor quality studies create poor analysis
- Many studies are correlational, causes unjustified. Experimental studies lack external validity (unrealistic measures, non generalisable)
Researchers may be drawing premature conclusions based on invalid findings
Explaining Research Findings :check:
Findings can be explained with SLT
- Anderson presents SLT and 'convincing theoretical framework'. Notes exposure to violence is harmful for children (eg at home)
- Understandable that TV and games are sources of SL, children more likely to imitate rewarded aggressive behaviour, especially from on-screen characters
Key feature of science, unifying explanation to account for findings. Enhances validity
Desensitisation, Disinhibition, and Cognitive Priming
Research Support :check:
Krahé showed ppts non/violent films while measuring psychological arousal via skin conductance
- Habitual viewers of violence had lower arousal levels and gave louder bursts of white noise to confederates unprovoked
Lower arousal in media users reflects desensitisation and greater willingness to be aggressive
Alternative Explanation :red_cross:
Desensitisation cannot explain some aggression
- Study didn't link media viewing, mow arousal and reactive aggression. Catharsis may be a more valid explanation
- The psychodynamic theory suggests viewing violent media is a safety valve to release aggressive impulse without violent behaviour
Not all aggression is from desensitisation, other explanations may be more valid
Dual-horomone hypothesis :red_cross:
Mixed evidence for the link between testosterone and aggression
- Carre and Meta suggest cortisol (stress horomone) blocks influence of testosterone, meaning high levels of testosterone can only lead to aggressive behaviour with low cortisol levels
Cortisol and testosterone are better predictors than testosterone alone
Animal Research :check:
Support research from non-human animals
- Giommanco et al reviewed studies confirming testosterones role. In male rhesus monkeys, there's an increases and aggression in mating season
- In rats, castration reduces testosterone and mouse-killing behaviour. Injecting female rats increases mouse-killing behaviour
Shows role of testosterone in a range of animals
Research Support :check:
Cunningham et al analysed 35 inmate homicides in Texas prisons
- Motivations for violent crimes linked to deprivations identified in Clemmer's model
- Many homicides from arguments between cell-mates, where boundaries may have been crossed, arguments over drugs, sex, possessions
Factors are identified by deprivation model, supports model's validity
Contradictory Research :red_cross:
Model predicts lack of heterosexual contact = high aggression
- Hensley et al studied 256 male/female inmates from 2 Mississippi prisons, which allows conjugal visits (visits for sex)
- No link between involvement of visits and reduced aggression
Suggests situational factors don't significantly affect prison violence
Research Support :check:
Berkowitz and Alioto study supports disinhibition explanation
- Found ppts who saw films depicting aggression as vengeance gave more and longer (fake) electric shocks to confederates
- Media violence may disinhibit aggressive behaviour if presented as justified or acceptable
Demonstrates the link between removal of social constraint and aggression
Cartoon Violence :check:
Can explain the effects of cartoon violence
- Children don't learn specific aggressive behaviours from cartoon models (punching their head 360 degrees)
- But they learn general aggression is acceptable, especially if model isn't punished, which disinhibits behaviour
Disinhibition explains how cartoon aggression leads to observed aggression
Real-World Application :check:
Violent real world situations depend on interpretations of environmental cues, which depends on stored scripts
- Bushman and Anderson argue someone habitually watching violent media store aggressive scripts more readily
- More likely to interpret cues as aggressive and resort to violence without consideration of alternatives
Suggests that interventions could reduce aggression by challenging hostile cognitive bias
Confounding Variables :red_cross:
Research finds playing violent games prime violence more than non violent games
- But violent games usually have more complex gameplay than non-violent, complexity is a confounding variable
- Zendle et al found controlling complexity removes priming effects
Supportive studies into priming may be due to confounding variables
-
-
-
-
-
-
-