Aggression Chapter 11

Aggression Definition: behaviour that is intended to hurt another person

What is Aggression? A child punches a large plastic doll A murderer is executed in the electric chair after being sentenced to death A doctor gives a shot to a child A baseball pitcher intentionally throws a pitch near a batter’s head

What is Aggression? A teacher lowers a student’s grade on a paper because it was submitted late A woman who feels that her ex-boyfriend is still in love with her says hurtful things to him to get him to move on with his life A man hurls insults at a politician whose views he disagrees with

Types of Aggression? Instrumental aggression: inflicting harm in order to obtain something of value Emotional aggression: inflicting harm for its own sake

Types of Aggression? Instrumental aggression: inflicting harm in order to obtain something of value Emotional aggression: inflicting harm for its own sake

Murder Rates Around the World

Aggression Varies Around the World Type of aggression varies from country to country –E.g., United States has a high incidence of gun- related violence and it also has a high incidence of violence between individuals –E.g., Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe has a high incidence of violence between groups

Aggression Varies Around the World Some societies are nonviolent –E.g., Amish and Mennonites –E.g., Inuit These societies stress cooperation and are against competition

Culture of Honour Emphasis on honour and social status Men are seen as wimps if they back down from a fight Higher incidence of violence Culture of honour found in Southern United States, Central and Southern Italy and Latin America

Culture of Honour Men from the South are more likely to agree that a man has a right to kill in order to defend his family and home than men from the North.

Culture of Honour Study –Southerners and Northerners were either bumped and insulted by a confederate or not –Compared to Northerners, Southerners were more likely to think that their masculine reputations had been threatened and they exhibited greater physiological signs of being upset and of being primed for aggression

Culture of Honour Study –A second confederate walked toward the participant in a game of chicken

Culture of Honour

Gender Differences in Aggression Who is more aggressive? Men or women?

Gender Differences in Aggression Who is more aggressive? Men or women?

Origins of Aggression Is aggression innate? –i.e. Is there a genetic component to aggression? –Evidence is mixed

Origins of Aggression Does testosterone play a role in aggression? –High correlation between level of testosterone and level of aggression

Is Aggression Learned? Impact of rewards on aggression –Aggression that is rewarded is repeated

Is Aggression Learned? Punishment can lead to a decrease in aggression when: a) it immediately follows the aggressive behaviour b) it is strong enough to deter the aggressor c) it is consistently applied and perceived as fair and legitimate by the aggressor

Is Aggression Learned? Punishment can lead to an increase in aggression when it is perceived as unfair or arbitrary

Is Aggression Learned? Social learning theory: behaviour is learned through the observation of others as well as through the direct experience of rewards and punishments

Social Learning Theory Bobo doll study –Children who watched an adult beat up a rubber doll were more likely to act aggressively towards the doll than control children who did not watch an adult beat up the doll

Social Learning Theory By watching an aggressive model, we: –Learn specific aggressive behaviours –Develop more positive attitudes toward aggression

Situational Influences on Aggression Frustration

Situational Influences on Aggression Frustration –Frustration-aggression theory: frustration will always lead to aggression –Lab studies produced mixed results

Situational Influences on Aggression Frustration –Frustration-aggression theory: frustration will always lead to aggression –Lab studies produced mixed results –Frustration-aggression theory revised: frustration will often, but not always lead to aggression

Situational Influences on Aggression Negative affect –Noise, crowding, physical pain, threatened self- esteem and bad odors can create negative feelings and lead to an increase in aggression

Situational Cues to Aggression Study: male participants who were provoked by a confederate gave more shocks to the confederate when a rifle and a revolver were present in the room than when badminton racquets and birdies were present in the room Weapons effect: tendency for guns to increase aggression

Impact of the Media on Aggression Scenes of violence and aggression are very common on TV and in the movies

Impact of the Media on Aggression “Copy-cat” murders and acts of violence

Impact of the Media on Aggression “Copy-cat” murders and acts of violence

Impact of the Media on Aggression Long-term study: watching TV violence at age 8 leads to more aggressive behaviour at age 30

Impact of the Media on Aggression Why does watching violent images as a child lead to more aggression later in life? –Has an impact on people’s values and attitudes –Habituation: adaptation to something familiar

Impact of Pornography on Aggression Pornography: explicit sexual material

Impact of Pornography on Aggression Study: participants viewed either pornographic films or neutral films –Found: Participants who watched pornographic films became habituated to them Participants who watched pornographic films recommended a lighter sentence for a rapist and were less supportive of the women’s liberation movement Male participants who watched pornographic films had more negative attitudes toward women

Impact of Pornography on Aggression Some pornography depict women as sexual objects and trivializes rape Male participants who viewed pornography were more likely to say they would force a woman to do something sexual against their will and that they would commit rape if they were assured of not getting caught

Impact of Pornography on Aggression Violent pornography has the strongest impact on aggression –Increases male violence towards women (but not male violence toward other males)

Reducing Aggression Catharthis: vent anger and aggression in healthy ways –Does not decrease aggression, actually leads to an increases aggression

Reducing Aggression What can we do to reduce aggression?

Reducing Aggression What can we do to reduce aggression?