Aggression and Psychology Chapter Insights

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Questions and Answers

What is defined as physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone who wants to avoid such treatment?

Hostility

Manipulation

Aggression (correct)

Assertiveness

Which type of aggression is characterized by inflicting harm for its own sake?

Emotional aggression (correct)

Instrumental aggression

Hostile aggression

Reactive aggression

Which biological factor is NOT mentioned as influencing aggression?

Instinct

Genetics

Socioeconomic status (correct)

Hormones

Freud's theory suggests that humans have a death wish, leading them to channel their energy outward through which behavior?

Aggression Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the buildup of aggressive energy that is eventually released?

Catharsis Signup and view all the answers

How does aggression relate to survival according to evolutionary theory?

Aggressive individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of violence against children is perpetrated by parents?

84% Signup and view all the answers

Which conclusion is supported by the content regarding childhood aggression?

Early aggression is linked to future aggression. Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributes to the variance in aggression according to genetic studies?

Genetic factors Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is linked to higher aggression levels in individuals?

Testosterone Signup and view all the answers

According to Social Learning Theory, how do individuals learn aggressive behaviors?

By observation and modeling Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of high testosterone levels on behavior?

Increased readiness to react aggressively Signup and view all the answers

According to frustration-aggression theory, what typically leads to aggression?

Frustration Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic groups are often targeted for displaced aggression?

Immigrants and the unemployed Signup and view all the answers

What neurotransmitter has been linked to aggression?

Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

Which theory encompasses several psychological factors influencing aggression?

General aggression model Signup and view all the answers

What is relative deprivation primarily associated with?

Perceived injustice and frustration Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion is least likely to result from frustration?

Elation Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental factor is linked to an increase in aggressive behavior?

Pollution and crowding Signup and view all the answers

What does the arousal-affect/excitation transfer model suggest about emotions?

Arousal and emotion type can influence aggression Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary outcome of Bandura's classic experiment with the Bobo doll?

Children displayed aggressive behaviors and language Signup and view all the answers

How does repeated exposure to violence in media affect reactions to aggression?

It leads to desensitization towards aggressive images Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method for reducing aggression?

Encourage aggressive modeling Signup and view all the answers

What can the mere presence of an object associated with aggression cause?

Triggering of aggressive behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase best describes how exposure to media violence influences behavior?

It models aggressive behavior and primes aggressive thoughts Signup and view all the answers

What role does empathy play in aggression?

Empathy can reduce the desire to aggress Signup and view all the answers

What is the influence of physiological arousal on aggressive behavior as suggested by arousal theories?

It can amplify existing feelings and prompt responses Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT an effect of aggressive behavior on others?

Promoting peaceful dialogue Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a person's reaction to aggression images after repeated exposure to media violence?

Reactions decrease in intensity Signup and view all the answers

What type of aggression is primarily motivated by the desire to obtain something of value?

Instrumental aggression Signup and view all the answers

Which biological factor is suggested to be a predictor of aggression?

Genetics Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud, how do humans cope with their death wish?

By channeling energy towards aggression Signup and view all the answers

What effect does childhood maltreatment have on future aggressive behavior?

Increases future aggressive tendencies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following theories suggests that aggression is an innate part of human beings?

Lorenz's instinct theory Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of violence against children is perpetrated by parents according to the existing data?

84% Signup and view all the answers

What role does catharsis play in dealing with aggressive feelings, according to the content?

It is not generally effective Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between aggression and survival from an evolutionary perspective?

Aggression promotes reproductive success. Signup and view all the answers

What is one factor that contributes to the higher rates of aggression observed in males compared to females?

Social learning differences Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between testosterone and aggression?

Testosterone can increase aggression and vice versa Signup and view all the answers

According to frustration-aggression theory, what typically happens when the target of frustration is inaccessible?

Aggression is directed towards a more suitable target Signup and view all the answers

What role does social learning theory suggest in the development of aggressive behavior?

Aggressive behaviors are learned from observing rewards and punishments Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological factor is specifically associated with aggression and frustration according to frustration-aggression theory?

Desire to aggress Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of increased testosterone levels in individuals concerning aggression?

Greater irritation and impatience Signup and view all the answers

How does serotonin influence aggressive behavior?

Decreases levels of aggression Signup and view all the answers

What can be a societal consequence of displaced aggression as described in the content?

Targeting of vulnerable groups Signup and view all the answers

Which type of aggression is more likely to result from frustration?

Emotional hostility Signup and view all the answers

How does an increase in temperature relate to aggressive behavior?

It leads to higher incidence of aggressive acts. Signup and view all the answers

What model explains the relationship between arousal and interpretation of aggression cues?

Arousal-affect/excitation transfer model Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT directly suggested to lead to aggression?

Exposure to pleasant stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the reduction of emotional reactions to violence over time due to repeated exposure?

Desensitization Signup and view all the answers

Which method is suggested to effectively reduce aggression in individuals?

Promote empathy Signup and view all the answers

What can the presence of an object associated with aggression trigger?

Aggressive behavior Signup and view all the answers

What psychological effect may arise from exposure to media violence?

Priming aggressive thoughts and feelings Signup and view all the answers

How does physiological arousal influence one's reaction to aggression?

It can misattribute arousal to aggression. Signup and view all the answers

What role does modeling play in the development of aggressive behavior in children?

Children learn aggressive behaviors by observing others. Signup and view all the answers

Which consequence of punishment for aggressive behavior may arise?

Modeling aggressive behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can contribute to aggression-related thoughts and feelings?

Individual differences and situational factors Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Aggression

Aggression is defined as physical or verbal behavior intended to harm, where the target is motivated to avoid such treatment.
Emotional/hostile aggression aims to inflict harm for its own sake.
Instrumental aggression is inflicting harm to gain something of value.

Presentation Overview

Biological factors influencing aggression: instinct, evolution, genetics, hormones.
Social-psychological factors influencing aggression: frustration-aggression theory, cognitive-neoassociation theory, excitation transfer theory, social learning theory, general aggression model.
Media influence on aggression: modelling aggression, priming aggressive thoughts and emotions, creating physiological arousal, reducing reactions to aggression.
Reducing aggression: punishing aggressive behavior, modeling non-aggressive responses, training communication and problem-solving skills, increasing empathy.

Biological Factors Influencing Aggression

Instinct and Evolution: Aggression is innate, part of our hardwired nature.
- Freud's death wish: A drive for self-harm channeled outwards as aggression. Catharsis (releasing pent-up aggression) is not effective.
  - Freud believed we have a death wish or drive and to cope with this we channel energy inwards or outwards (aggression toward others). Aggression is energy that builds up over time until it is released (catharsis). This is not generally an effective way of dealing with aggressive feelings.
- Lorenz's instinct theory: Our innate drive to survive leads to aggression against others. Adaptive, as aggressive individuals and their offspring are more likely to survive. This theory posits violence against children is typically perpetrated by parents. Approximately one-third of Canadians experienced childhood maltreatment and it is estimated that 1 billion children experience abuse each year; 84% of violence is perpetrated by parents, most often towards children under one year of age.
Genetics: Children with high aggression early in life often remain aggressive. Genetics may account for up to 41% of the variance in aggression.
- Children who are highly aggressive early in life are more likely to be aggressive in later life.
Hormones: Males are generally more aggressive than females, often due to testosterone. Higher testosterone levels are associated with aggression in both males and females. There's a bi-directional relationship: Higher testosterone is associated with heightened responses to aggressive stimuli, and aggression can elevate testosterone levels. A link exists between serotonin and aggression.
- In virtually all societies, males are more aggressive than females, perhaps due to the presence of the male sex hormone testosterone. People who are highly aggressive have higher levels of testosterone than those who are less aggressive. Testosterone rates are also correlated with levels of violence in women.

Instinct and Evolutionary Theories

Freud's death wish is the idea that we have an innate desire to cause harm, channeled outwards.
Lorenz's instinct theory proposed that our innate drive to live leads to aggression (as aggressive individuals and their offspring are more likely to survive).

Frustration-Aggression Theory

Frustration always precedes the desire to aggress.
All aggression is caused by frustration.
Displacement: If the target of frustration is unavailable, anger can be directed toward a substitute target. Immigrants, the unemployed, and welfare recipients can potentially become targets of displaced aggression.
Relative deprivation: Discontent stemming from the belief that one is worse off compared to others can lead to aggression and perceived injustice, with economic frustration potentially directed toward minorities.
Critiques: Frustration does not always lead to aggression (other emotions like disappointment and sadness may appear). Not all aggression arises from frustration; emotional aggression emerges more often from frustration than instrumental aggression. - Frustration may not lead to aggression, but instead to other emotions, such as disappointment, sadness and depression. Not all aggression stems from frustration; frustration is more likely to lead to emotional/hostile aggression than instrumental aggression.

Cognitive-Neoassociation Theory

Negative affect (e.g., heat, pain, unpleasant noise) can lead to aggression.
Certain stimuli (aggression in life, media, aggressive acts shown in stories) can trigger aggressive behaviors.
Hot temperatures: The incidence of aggressive acts (murder, sexual assault, etc.) tends to increase with rising temperatures. -As the temperature increases, so does the incidence of aggressive acts (murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, assault). Heat leads to increased physiological arousal and hostile feelings and thoughts.

Other Unpleasant Factors

Aggression can be triggered by unpleasant conditions like pollution, threatened self-esteem, crowding, pain, and poverty.
Aggression is also produced when people experience other bad conditions (pollution, threatened self-esteem, crowding, pain, noise, poverty, etc.)

Cues to Aggression

The presence of objects or people associated with aggression could promote aggressive behavior.

Excitation Transfer Theory

Aggression can be influenced by the intensity of arousal and the type of emotion it evokes.
Feelings of arousal due to different stimuli can get misattributed to a situation involving aggression cues.
Individuals may react more powerfully to provocation if already in a heightened state of arousal.

Behavior is learned through observing and modeling others' actions along with reinforcement and punishments.
Aggressive behavior is often learned from witnessing aggression either in person or through media.

Modeling

Children can learn aggressive behavior by mimicking others, including modeled behavior in both real-life and media portrayals
Children can learn to engage in aggressive behavior through watching such behavior in real life or through television and movies. A classic experiment by Bandura et al. (1963) showed that children who watched an adult aggress against a Bobo doll replicated much of that behavior.

General Aggression Model

Individual differences (genetics, personality, hostility) and contextual triggers (frustration, aggressive cues) contribute to aggressive thoughts, feelings, and physiological arousal.

Media Influence on Aggression

Exposure to media violence may lead to aggression via modeling, priming, physiological arousal, and reduced reactions.
Modeling: People exposed to violence in the media learn and act aggressively, with potential rewards for aggression.
Priming: Media violence primes aggressive thoughts and feelings, potentially escalating aggressive behavior.
Physiological arousal: Viewing violent content can increase physiological arousal (heart rate, blood pressure) making individuals more inclined to act on aggressive feelings.
Desensitization: Repeated exposure to violence diminishes emotional/physiological responses leading to lower inhibitions about aggressive behavior, as seen with those repeatedly exposed to violence. - One way exposure to violence on television can lead to aggression is via modelling. People exposed to media violence learn aggressive ways to act as well as the rewards for this behavior. Television shows and movies portray the world as full of people who are evil and violent.

Reducing Aggression

Punishment (unpleasant consequences) may reduce aggression in the short term, but could model aggression.
Modeling non-aggressive behavior
Communication and problem-solving skills can help individuals deal constructively with frustrating situations.
Empathy: Feelings of empathy toward others can reduce feelings of guilt when causing harm, thereby reducing aggression.
- Ways of reducing aggression: Punish aggressive behavior, Model nonaggressive responses, Train in communication and problem-solving skills, Increase empathy.

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Description

Explore key insights into aggression as defined by psychological theories and societal factors. This quiz examines various aspects, including biological influences, social learning, and childhood aggression statistics, to enhance understanding of aggressive behavior in humans.