Theories of Aggression 1 June 2004

Aggression Basics Emotional vs. instrumental aggression Direct vs. indirect aggression Many different perspectives: Historically: Aristotle (aggression = rational cognitive consequence of an insult) Freud/Yale group (aggression = inevitable result of frustration, irrational)

Evolutionary Perspective Aggression as a side-effect of our polygynous background? Sexual dimorphism Testosterone Mazur & Lamb Correlational!!!

Gender and Aggression Maccoby & Jacklin (1974) review: Males more aggressive than females physically and verbally Hyde (1984) meta-analysis: This difference is very small Observer bias? Condry & Ross experiment Eagly & Steffan (1986) meta-analysis: Gender expectations correlated with gender differences

Social Learning Theory 2 4 6 8 10 12 model rewarded punished boys girls Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment Modeling of aggressive behavior

More Social Learning Theory: Media Violence and Aggression Huesman longitudinal study TV and aggression TV at 8, criminal records at 30 Correlational!!! Leyens experiment IV: family vs. violent movies DV: # aggressive acts committed BL family movies violent movies Note: I faked these data for purposes of illustration.

Frustration-Aggression Theory (Miller and Dollard, Yale Group) All Frustration Leads to Aggression All Aggression Is Caused By Frustration frustration aggression Recall that Aristotle thought that aggression = rational cognitive consequence of an insult Freud/Yale group thought that aggression = inevitable, irrational result of frustration Aristotle (aggression = rational cognitive consequence of an insult) Freud/Yale group (aggression = inevitable result of frustration, irrational)

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis 1 BUT: Does frustration inevitably lead to aggression? Justified vs. unjustified frustration (Pastore, 1952) DV = self-rated anger Mitigating information Kremer & Stephens, 1983 So: Aristotle or Yale? 8 6 degree of anger 4 2 arbitrary justified Pastore, 1952

Frustration-Aggression 2 punishment helps hurts Aversive states and the expression of anger (Berkowitz et al, 1981) IV1: cold vs. tepid water IV2: punishment helps vs. punishment hurts DV: number of punishments Retaliation? 5 4 3 2 1 cold tepid

Heat and Aggression Number of players hit during major league baseball games 0.7 0.6 Players hit per game 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Below 70 70-79 80-89 90 and above temperature

Effects of Alcohol Diminished Restraints on Aggression? Taylor & Gammon Schmutte & Taylor Sober Sober Drunk Drunk # Shocks Given # Shocks Given Control Group Anger Group Pain No Reaction

Reformulated Frustration-Aggression Theory Frustration is one of many unpleasant conditions that could lead to negative feelings and subsequent emotional aggression Any other unpleasant experience frustration pain heat Negative feelings Emotional aggression

Associationist Theory (Berkowitz) Cues Associated with Aggression Stimulate Aggression Unpleasant experiences (pain, frustration, etc.) Negative feelings Objects or events w/ aggressive meaning Angry thoughts & associations Fearful thoughts & associations Flight Fight

The Weapons Effect Objects as cues for violence Berkowitz experiment Angry Objects as cues for violence Berkowitz experiment Guns vs. Tennis Rackets Angry vs. Not Angry Mere presence of “violent” objects increases violence, even if not angry Not Angry 6 5 4 # Shocks Given 3 2 Tennis Racket Gun

Transfer of Arousal (Zillman, 1971) Arousal Can Be Transferred From one Source to Another Whether It Is Transferred Depends On The Subject’s Attributions

Zillman, 1971 7 6 5 Erotic film 4 Mean Shock Intensity Aggressive film 3 Neutral film 2 1 Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4 Blocks

Zillman, Johnson, & Day, 1974 2.5 2 1.5 Fit Subjects Degree of Retaliation Unfit Subjects 1 0.5 Sooner Later Time Since Exercise