Study Notes on Aggression and Prejudice PDF

Study notes Aggression Definition: Intentional behavior aimed at causing physical or psychological pain. Types: o Hostile Aggression: Driven by anger; goal = inflict pain. o Instrumental Aggression: Pain caused as a means to another goal. Gender Differences:...

Study notes Aggression Definition: Intentional behavior aimed at causing physical or psychological pain. Types: o Hostile Aggression: Driven by anger; goal = inflict pain. o Instrumental Aggression: Pain caused as a means to another goal. Gender Differences: o Men → More physical aggression. o Women → Covert aggression (e.g., spreading rumors). o Romantic Relationships: Men and women equally aggressive, but women are more likely to be severely injured. Cultural Differences: o Cultures of Honor: Emphasize power, toughness, and protecting reputation. ▪ Southern U.S., Latin America, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern cultures. ▪ Higher violence (e.g., murder, domestic violence). Influences on Aggression: o Alcohol: Correlates with increased aggression, especially in those with high trait anger. o Environment: Pain, heat, humidity, pollution → lower aggression threshold. o Frustration-Aggression Theory: ▪ Frustration → Aggression likelihood increases when: Goal is blocked close to completion. Frustration is unexpected. ▪ Less aggression if frustration is: Understandable, legitimate, unintentional. o Relative Deprivation: Feeling less than you deserve → frustration → aggression. o Provocation and Retaliation: People retaliate when provoked unless an excuse is given beforehand. Weapons Effect: o Aggression increases in the presence of aggressive stimuli (e.g., guns). o Study: Berkowitz & LePage → Participants gave more shocks in a room with guns vs. no weapons.  Social Learning Theory: o Behavior learned through observation. o Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment: Kids imitated adult aggression and created new aggressive acts. o Media Effects: ▪ Violent media → Increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior. ▪ Reduces empathy and prosocial behavior. Reducing Aggression: o Punishment works if prompt and certain (rarely met in real life). Prejudice ABC Model: o Affective: Prejudice (negative feelings toward a group). o Cognitive: Stereotypes (generalizations about a group). o Behavioral: Discrimination (actions against a group). Types of Sexism: o Hostile: Negative views of women (e.g., less capable). o Benevolent: "Positive" views (e.g., women need protection). Modern Racism: o Outwardly unprejudiced but inwardly biased. o Measured with the Implicit Association Test (IAT). Social Categorization: o Grouping people based on traits (e.g., gender, ethnicity). o In-Group Bias: Favoring one’s group → boosts self-esteem. Stereotype Activation: o Two-Step Model: ▪ Automatic: Stereotype triggered without control. ▪ Controlled: Conscious suppression influenced by motivation, time, or mood. Meta-Stereotypes: o Beliefs about how out-group members view your group → affects prejudice. Ultimate Attribution Error: o Attributing out-group negatives to personality (disposition). o Attributing out-group positives to the situation.  Realistic Conflict Theory: o Limited resources → conflict → prejudice (e.g., Sherif’s Boy’s Camp study). Social Norms: o Prejudice often follows societal norms. o Injunctification: Seeing the status quo as desirable. Individual Differences: o Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA): Submission to authority, low openness. o Social Dominance Orientation (SDO): Belief in group inequality, low agreeableness. Effects of Prejudice: o Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Expectations → behavior matches stereotype. o Social Identity Threat: Fear of confirming stereotypes → poor performance. Reducing Prejudice Contact Hypothesis: Group interaction reduces prejudice under these conditions: o Common goal. o Mutual interdependence. o Equal status. o Social norms promote equality. o Example: Jigsaw Classroom → Kids teach each other to reduce bias. Key Studies to Remember 1. Weapons Effect (Berkowitz & LePage): Guns increase aggression. 2. Bobo Doll Experiment (Bandura): Observing aggression leads to imitation. 3. Sherif’s Boys’ Camp Study: Group competition causes conflict and prejudice. 4. Implicit Association Test (IAT): Measures hidden prejudices.