Human Aggression

1
Human Aggression
2
Key points from chapter 6?
3
Aggression defined

• Intentional action aimed at doing harm or causing
  pain
• May be either verbal or physical
• An act is aggressive even if it does not succeed
  in its goal

4
Hostile vs. instrumental aggression

• Hostile aggression aggression stemming from a
  feeling of anger and intended to cause pain
• Instrumental aggression aggression that intends
  to hurt someone, but as a means to a goal other
  than causing pain

5
Is aggression a necessary part of our basic
human nature?

• Howard Zinn would say no http//www.youtube.com/w
  atch?vsubwDAZtEN0
• What are the factors that make this argument?
• Hormonal
• Evolutionary
• Role of culture pg. 259 and the Southern
  Carolina Congressman - http//en.wikipedia.org/wik
  i/Preston_Brooks

6
Aggression is optional

• Latest thinking is that aggression has survival
  value
• However, nearly all organisms have inhibitory
  mechanisms
• Most organisms use aggression only when its in
  their best interest

7
Catharsis

• Definition the release of energy
• Does this release lead to a reduction in
  aggression?
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v-b9Z3MYo2M0

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Catharsis (continued)

• Catharsis seems correct
• However, aggressive impulses are governed by
  feelings and by thinking
• Cognitive dissonance theory
• I behave aggressively
• I experience dissonance because
• My behavior doesnt fit my self-concept
• My behavior is disproportionate to the other
  persons bx
• I become more aggressive (bx or attitude) to
  justify my initial aggression, thus reducing
  dissonance.

9
Causes of Aggression always mitigated by the
social situation

• Testosterone The physical expression of
  aggression is linked to testosterone levels
• Injecting animals with testosterone increases
  aggression
• Behaving aggressively increases levels of
  testosterone in the blood

10
Relational aggression

• Activities aimed at hurting others by sabotaging
  their relationships
• While boys are more physically aggressive,
  relational aggression is more prevalent in girls

11
Alcohol

• Lowers inhibitions, including those against
  aggression
• Alcohol disrupts information processing
• Misinterpretation of social interactions
• Missed social cues

12
Pain and discomfort

• If an organism experiences pain and cannot flee,
  attack is next option (mitigated by the social
  situation)
• Correlation between hot weather and riots and
  violent crime

13
Frustration-Aggression

• If a goal is thwarted aggression more likely.
  Mitigated by
• The closer to the goal, the more frustration is
  experienced if progress is interrupted
• Frustration increases even more if the
  interruption is unexpected or perceived to be
  unjustified
• So Goal is within reach, expectations are high,
  goal is blocked unjustifiably more frustration,
  more likely to lead to aggression

14
Deprivation

• Simple deprivation doesnt necessarily lead to
  frustration
• Frustration results from relative deprivation
  realizing you are deprived relative to others
• Hope that is unsatisfied is more frustrating than
  hopelessness

15
Rejection, Exclusion, Taunting

• Using previously discussed causes of aggression,
  why would these lead to aggression?

16
Social learning

• Learn how to behave
• Learn to consider the intentions of others
• Aggressive stimulus serves as a cue (eg primes
  for aggression)
• Sense of responsibility for our actions inhibits
  aggression

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Deindividuation

• Deindividuation is a state of lessened
  self-awareness
• Research has shown that anonymity increases
  aggressive responses

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Violence on television

• Lots of research in this area
• High correlation between amount of violence
  watched on TV and viewers aggressiveness
• Accumulates over time - strength of correlation
  increases with age

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Why?

• Priming feeling of anger more available and
  aggression more likely
• Numbing effect
• Weakens inhibitions

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Tough Guise

• Examples of the causes/concepts from chapter 6?

21
Bullying in schools

• Interesting points?
• Examples of causes of aggression?
• Preventing/reducing aggression
• Small groups youre assigned a strategy are
  there examples of it in the article? How could
  it be used to reduce/prevent aggression?

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Reducing violence

• Pure Reason
• Punishment
• Temporary, if increases frustration then
• External justification doesnt lead to change
• Punishing aggressive role models
• Rewarding alternative behavior
• Non-aggressive role models
• Building empathy
• Taking anothers perspective keeps us from
  dehumanizing them