Aggression

Chapter 12

Intentional behavior aimed at doing harm or causing pain to another person

Instrumental aggression Aggression as a means to some goal other

than causing pain

Hostile aggression Aggression stemming from feelings of

anger and aimed at inflicting pain

What is Aggression?

Gender differences = Males more aggressive

According to evolutionary theory: Males behave aggressively to secure status

Female choose male who offers greatest protection and resources

Males aggress "jealously" To ensure their paternity

Testosterone Greater testosterone linked to greater

aggression Correlational findings, not causal

Gender Differences in Aggression

Gender differences

Males More physical aggression

Females More relational aggression

Gossiping, backbiting, spreading false rumors

Gender similarities Response to provocation

Gender Differences in Aggression

Aggression is an optional strategy

Capacity for aggression exists Expression of aggression

Circumstances Culture

Changing social conditions can change behavior. Aggressiveness increases as competition

increases

Aggression is Influenced by the Situation

Among Southern, white males, argument-related homicide rates are higher, especially in rural areas

This group tends to endorse violence for protection and in response to insults

Aggression is Influenced by Culture

49% of violent family crimes were against spouses 84% of victims were women Eight in 10 murderers of family members

were male Physical abuse

Highest in cultures that regard male abuse as a “right” Honor killings

Aggression Occurs in Families

• Alcohol increases aggression. – This link is well-documented.

• Why? 1. Reduces inhibitions 2. Disrupts information processing 3. "Think drink" effect • Expectations about the effects of alcohol

influence behavior more than amount of alcohol drunk!

Alcohol Increases Aggression

Pain

Increases aggression Discomfort

Increases aggression Heat, humidity, air pollution, and

offensive odors

Factors Increasing Aggression

Frustration-Aggression Theory

The idea that frustration—the perception that you are being prevented from attaining a goal—increases the probability of an aggressive response.

Goal proximity Closer to goal = more frustration

E.g., someone cuts in line More frustration = more aggression

Unexpectedness of frustration More unexpected = more aggression

Frustration & Aggression

Frustration

Does not always lead to aggression Increases anger & readiness to aggress

Frustration–aggression link depends on: Size/strength of the person who frustrated you Person’s proximity & ability to retaliate

Likelihood of aggression is reduced when frustration is: Understandable, legitimate, and/or

unintentional

Frustration & Aggression

Relative (not absolute) deprivation is linked to frustration and aggression. People perceive a discrepancy between

what they have and what they think they should have.

Relative Deprivation

When provoked with aggression

People may reciprocate with aggression Will not reciprocate

Provocation was unintentional Mitigating circumstances

Must be known at the time of the provocation

Provocation & Aggression

Aggressive Stimulus

An object that is associated with aggressive responses and whose mere presence can increase the probability of aggression

Aggressive Stimulus

Social Learning Theory

The idea that we learn social behavior (e.g., aggression) by observing others and imitating them.

Research Question Will watching an aggressive model cause

children to behave aggressively?

Learning to be Aggressive

IV = Child’s exposure to aggressive model

Aggressive model: Adult knocks around, hits, hammers, a plastic, air-filled “Bobo” doll

Control condition: No exposure to aggressive model

DV = Child’s observed aggression Results

Children imitated the aggressive adults. Treated the doll in an abusive way Imitated exact actions of adult

Children in a control condition Almost never showed aggression

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiments

Watching violence

Most research indicates it increases aggression, angry and hostile thoughts

Playing violent video games Even stronger influence on aggression

Exposure to media violence Increases physiological arousal and excitement Triggers tendency to imitate violent characters Primes aggressive ideas and expectations Social scripts: Ways of behaving socially that we learn

implicitly from our culture

Media Violence

Repeated exposure to media violence is associated with: Decreased sensitivity to violence

Less physiological arousal Less reactivity to real-life aggression

Indifference to violence Reduced sensitivity to needs of others

Media Violence

Watching more TV violence in childhood

Associated with more violent behavior in adolescence and adulthood

Longitudinal Study of 700 families, 17 years TV watching in adolescence predicted

violence against others in adulthood

Media Violence

Elementary school children

Viewing more media violence at beginning of school year predicted more aggression, less pro-social behavior at end of year

Heavy television viewers Have exaggerated view of the degree of violence in

world Greater fear of being personally assaulted

Experiments and longitudinal research Viewing violence has strongest effects on those

already inclined to violence Gives permission to express negative inclinations

Media Violence

85% of all rapes or attempted rapes are acquaintance rape.

When women know their assailant, may not label it as rape

College women’s definitions of rape Forced intercourse with an acquaintance

or stranger Being molested as a child If drunk, drugged, or assaulted by

boyfriend, less likely to label as rape

Sexual Violence against Women

Sexual scripts

Traditional female role Resist the male’s sexual advances

Male’s role Be persistent

Almost 100% of high school students agree: A man should stop sexual advances as

soon as a woman says no. But half of those students believe that

when a woman says no, she doesn’t always mean no

Confusion/Miscommunication about appropriate Sexual Behavior

Conventional wisdom suggests that one way to reduce feelings of aggression is to do something aggressive.

“Get it out of your system” has been a common piece of advice.

This common belief is based on an oversimplification of the psychoanalytic notion of catharsis.

This does not work

How Do You Reduce Aggression?

Does watching aggressive games reduce aggressive

behavior? NO! Watching aggression increases aggression. Does direct aggression against the source of

your anger reduce further aggression? Again, the answer is NO!

Participants who inflicted psychological or physical harm on an innocent person: Derogated their victims Convinced themselves victim deserved what they got

Makes it easier to do further harm to the victim in the future

How Not to Control Aggression

Control anger by “actively enabling” it to

dissipate. Use simple devices.

Count to 10. Take deep breaths.

If close friend or spouse makes you angry, expressing anger may allow you to: Gain insight into yourself and dynamics of

the relationship If anger is:

Non-violent and Non-demeaning

Then, how do you control aggression?

To reduce aggression

Take responsibility Apologize Indicate it is unlikely to happen again

“Oops! My bad!” Modeling works with nonaggressive behavior. When children see adults express themselves in calm, respectful manner after provocation Children handle own frustrations with less

aggression

Then, how do you control aggression?

Those who lack skills often react aggressively

Formal training can reduce aggression Taking the perspective of the aggressor reduces aggression

Harder to aggress when one feels a personal connection with a person

Empathy is a skill that can be taught

Then, how do you control aggression?