Week VI Human Needs Approach 2.pptx

3. Frustration-Aggression John Dollard Theory 1. Frustration as a source of aggression It refers to any blocking of action toward a goal. It is a psychological state of despair, disempowerment, hopelessness, humiliation, rage, a desire for revenge and so on Human beings, as goa...

3. Frustration-Aggression John Dollard Theory 1. Frustration as a source of aggression It refers to any blocking of action toward a goal. It is a psychological state of despair, disempowerment, hopelessness, humiliation, rage, a desire for revenge and so on Human beings, as goal-oriented organisms, naturally become aggravated when they are prevented from achieving what they desire. This results: – an accumulation of excessive level of frustration – a natural build-up of blocked energy seeks release, and – aggressive action is directed to the source of one’s frustration. Hindering a goal seeking behavior, elicits an attack on the blocking sources or its surrogates Thus, frustration is seen as the basic source for all aggressive behavior Hence, the frustration-aggression connection set forth as a key to understanding a wide variety of human behavior.  Frustration-Aggression Theory 2. The nature of frustration The nature of frustration reflects the types of goals and means that are available to the group Goals: realistic versus unrealistic – The more unrealistic the goals to achieve  the deeper the frustration might be felt Means: lack of alternative means to obtain the blocked goals the stronger the urge to act Hence, the level of intensity and frequency of blocking is positively correlated to the depth of frustration However, direct aggression is not always the result of frustration.  Frustration-Aggression Theory 3. Expression of aggression: Expression of aggression is depends on the power of the original source of frustration Primary Target Versus Secondary Target There may be inhibitions against expressing aggression, especially toward persons most directly associated with our frustrations For example, one may not find it prudent to explode against the boss associated with frustrations on the job; One may instead – Inhibit such aggression; and – seek a secondary target,  Frustration-Aggression Theory 1. Suppression of frustration: to avoid self-defeat Frustration may be suppressed in tandem with withdrawal; avoidance; submission and even acceptance 2. Displacement of aggression If aggressiveness cannot be expressed against the real source of frustration, displaced hostilities can be targeted to substitutive objects or secondary target Aggression is aimed at self-enhancement by scapegoating members of social out-groups viewed as devalued A group of persons may find joy and excitement in attacking out-group members Politicians manipulate social, political and economic frustration  Frustration-Aggression Theory 4. Alternative means of aggression: the idea of 'catharsis of aggression' Release of aggression is seen as reducing the pent up frustration Controlling the conversion of frustration into aggression, destructive impulses need to be channeled into sports and other non-lethal forms of engagement Feelings of frustration under authoritarian political regimes are: – satisfied by such means as wit, humor and drama in ordinary life However, the extent to which frustration generates aggression is uncertain Human behaviour is affected by a social environment, and frustrated feelings can be controlled through various adaptation mechanisms: People differently respond to discontent People use different methods of discharging frustration Experiences shape the amount and direction of aggression Aggression is a learned behavior: anger management or violence glorification  4. Relative Deprivation Theory Ted Robert Gurr ‘Relative Deprivation’, is a perceived discrepancy between ‘value expectations’ (resources to which one feels entitled) and ‘value capabilities’ (resources which one feels capable of acquiring and keeping). According to this theory, 1. the greater ‘the average degree’ of perceived discrepancy between value expectations and value capabilities, 2. the greater the relative deprivation; 3. the greater the intensity and scope of relative deprivation among members of some collectivity, 4. the greater the potential for collective violence. Consequently, the source of conflict is understood as the intolerable gap between anticipated reality and the manifest reality of life conditions which serves as the precondition for widespread unrest.  4. Human Needs Approach Basic Assumption Individuals have fundamental human needs Needs are necessities for – Biological survival – Physical and mental development of persons as human beings – Social functioning Deprivation of these needs, especially in their early years of development, will causes physically and psychologically suffering Thus individuals will inevitably strive to satisfy their needs, event at the cost of social disruption and personal disorientation The sources of conflicts are the unmet needs of humans that are basic to survival Basic needs cannot be curbed nor negotiated Thus, this approach focuses on the importance of the concept of human needs as a fundamental source of human motivation and behavior  The Power of Human Needs 1. Basic needs do exist they are more universal and less specifically cultural 2. The existence of needs makes society necessary. Human beings: – must interact in order to fulfill such needs and – they need to control those aspects of the environment which are essential for needs satisfaction – Thus, individuals enter into social relationships with others – the need for such control also give rise to the possibility of being controlled by others Therefore, the resulting need to promote and sustain valued relationships makes society possible and affects the evolution of society.  The Power of Human Needs 3. The satisfaction and deprivation of individual human needs is the key source of societal order and change The influence of individual needs is many times stronger than the influence of social forces which play upon man. In other words, when individual needs are not fulfilled within the dominant values and institutions of society, deviant behavior becomes a necessary. 4. Society, then, never completely conquers the individual. It conquers him only: – to the degree that his needs are met or – to the extent that he sees the possibilities of meeting his needs within its context. Therefore, the degree to which human needs are fulfilled is the underlying force determining social order and social change.  The Power of Human Needs 5. An integrated society and social order which is based on: – shared values obtained through the processes of socialization and – the use of coercion (law and order) but unresponsive to or ignorant of individual needs eventually leads to societal instability and conflict As a result of differentiation of power and socialization over time, these social structures and institutions do not necessarily reflect, either in short or long term, individual needs and desires and frequently frustrate them Individuals whose needs are not being met within a given social order will express deviant behavior through: – withdrawal, – activities on the fringes of legality, or – reformist and revolutionary activities within and outside the law Therefore, attempt to impose integration in a given territory, either by coercion or by socialization processes that are designed to promote shared values, is likely to be counterproductive.  The Power of Human Needs 6. Societies and social institutions must generally be responsive to the needs of their members, – Unless there is development and fulfillment of needs of individuals and groups, – unless problems are solved and the need for coercion avoided, a social and political order may not be stable and harmonious, no matter what the levels of coercion. Protest movements, violence at all social levels, terrorism, communal conflicts, dissident behavior, strikes, revolts, revolutions and wars are observable symptoms of unobservable motivations and needs. The deprivation of human needs has been a major source of social and political change around the globe