Human Aggression and Violence CHAPTER 5 Human Aggression and Violence

Aggression The basic ingredient in violent crime Is human aggression instinctive, biological, learned, or some combination of these characteristics? The methods designed to control, reduce, or eliminate aggressive behavior will differ depending on perspective

How is Aggression Defined? Difficult to define Which concepts and behaviors to include and exclude Passive-aggressive behavior Intention is aggressive, behavior is passive and indirect Irrelevant to study of crime, since doesn’t often manifest directly in violent or antisocial behavior

Buss’s Varieties of Aggression Active Passive Direct Indirect Physical Punching/ Hitting Practical joke, booby trap Obstructingpassage Refusing to perform necessary task Verbal Insulting victim Malicious gossip Refusing to speak Refusing consent

Two Types of Aggression Hostile Aggression Expressive Instrumental Aggression

Two Types of Aggression Hostile Aggression Intense and disorganizing emotion of anger in response to anger- inducing conditions The aggressor’s goal is to make a victim suffer Most criminal homicides, rapes, and other violent crimes directed at harming the victim

Two Types of Aggression Instrumental Aggression The desire for some object or status possessed by another person Robbery, burglary, larceny, and various white-collar crimes No intent to harm unless one interferes with objective

Definition of Aggression Behavior perpetrated or attempted with the intention of harming another individual physically or psychologically, or to destroy an object Behavior may not necessarily qualify as criminal

Definition of Violence Destructive physical aggression intentionally directed at harming other persons or objects May be methodical or random, sustained or fleeting, intensive or uncontrolled

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression Psychodynamic Ethological Evolutionary psychology Frustration-aggression hypothesis Social Learning Excitation theory Displaced aggression theory Cognitive models

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression Psychodynamic Humans susceptible to aggressive energy from birth Hydraulic model » Aggressive energy must be drained off or will build up to dangerous levels In order to control violence, individuals must be provided with multiple but appropriate channels for catharsis

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression Ethological Inherited instinct of both humans and animals to defend territory that ensures sufficient food, water, space and reproduction Territoriality Ritualized Aggression Evolved into evolutionary psychology

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression Evolutionary Psychology The evolution of behavior using the principles of natural selection Aggression normal, not pathological Researchers have found little evidence to support perspective

Berkowitz » Frustration increases probability of aggression Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis Individuals who are frustrated, thwarted, annoyed, or threatened will behave aggressively Berkowitz » Frustration increases probability of aggression Weapons effect

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis Interpretation Learning history Aggression- eliciting stimuli Frustration Anger Goal No aggression

Other Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression Cognitive-neoassociation model Berkowitz emphasis on cognitive factors Excitation transfer theory Physiological arousal dissipates over time Displaced aggression theory The individual can not aggress against source of provocation but able to be aggressive toward innocent target

Road Rage An incident in which an angry, impatient, or aroused motorist intentionally injures or kills, or tries to injure or kill, another motorist, passenger, or pedestrian, in response to a traffic dispute, altercation, or grievance Provocation may be real or imagined

Aggressive Driving The result of a motorist becoming impatient or frustrated Often not the direct result of the behavior of another motorist Usually considered less serious than road rage

Who are the Road Ragers? Young males, ages 18–35 Criminal and violent histories Psychiatric problems Drug or alcohol problems

Social Learning Theory A child has many opportunities to observe aggression, is reinforced for his or her own aggression, or is the object of aggression Biological structures can set limits on the types of aggressive responses that can be learned, this influences the rate at which learning progresses

Social Learning Factors Modeling Bobo doll experiment Three major types of models (Bandura): Family members Members of one’s subculture Symbolic models provided by the mass media Observation modeling

Cognitive Models of Aggression Cognitive Scripts Learned and memorized through daily experiences, direct or observed Unique to each person, but once established it becomes resistant to change and may persist into adulthood Must be rehearsed Easily retrieved and utilized when the individual faces a problem

Cognitive Models of Aggression Hostile Attribution Bias The tendency to interpret ambiguous actions as hostile and threatening Develops in pre-school and remains stable throughout adulthood Childhood exposure to abuse and maltreatment An attempt to control and dominate environment Exists along a continuum

Two Types of Aggression Overt Aggression Covert Aggression Direct confrontation Decreases with age Anger, high arousal Lack of social cognitions Begins early Sly, underhanded Increases with age Less emotion Reliance on cognitive capabilities May evolves as well-learned strategy to escape punishment

Two Forms of Aggression Reactive Aggression Proactive Aggression A hostile act displayed in response to a perceived threat or provocation Lack of control Anger expressions, temper tantrums, and vengeful hostility Less emotional Driven by expectations of rewards Bullying, domination, teasing, name-calling

Gender Differences in Aggression Males and females equally physically aggressive as toddlers Boys more overtly aggressive in elementary school Girls more covert Relational aggression Cultural and socialization processes promote different kinds of aggression

Media and Violence The research community is sharply divided on the long-term effects of violent media on aggressive behavior

Media and Violence Television and Movies Research suggests that portrayals of violence on television and movies may have a significant effect on the frequency and type of aggressive and violent behavior expressed by America’s youth

Media and Violence Contagion Effect Copycat effect Tendency in some people to model or copy an activity portrayed in the entertainment or news media Teen suicide School shootings

Media and Violence Video Games Violent video games may be one risk factor, and when coupled with other risk factors, may contribute to antisocial or even violent behavior It is unlikely that video games directly contribute to adulthood homicide and excessive aggression

Displaced aggression theory Evolutionary psychology Chapter 5 Key Concepts Displaced aggression theory Evolutionary psychology Excitation transfer theory Frustration-aggression hypothesis Hostile aggression Hostile attribution bias Aggressive driving Cognitive-neoassociation model Cognitive scripts model Contagion effect (copycat effect) Cybercrime Difference-in-degree

Ritualized aggression Road rage Rumination Territoriality Theory Chapter 5 Key Concepts Reactive aggression Ritualized aggression Road rage Rumination Territoriality Theory Weapons effect Hostile attribution model Instrumental aggression Passive-aggressive behaviors Proactive aggression Psychodynamic model (hydraulic model)