1. Module 78: Social Relations
Aggression
Module 78: Social Relations

2. Aggression
Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

3. Genetic and Neural Influences
Some have a genetic predisposition toward aggression.
Some animals are bred for aggression
Similarities between identical twins
Brain Activity:
Amygdala in the brain, can stimulate or inhibit aggression
Diminished Frontal Lobe activity decreases impulsivity

4. Biochemistry
Correlation of higher testosterone levels with aggressive behaviors
Alcohol and other drugs can increase aggressive behavior.

5. Frustration-Aggression Principle
When frustrated, we become angry which triggers aggression

6. Learned Aggression
Aggression learned through observation of others being aggressive
TV and the media encourages aggression
Social Scripts – culturally created (from TV, movies, music…) mental files on how to act. When in a new situation & uncertain how to behave, we rely on social scripts.

7. Attraction
Module 79: Attraction

8. Attraction Three key ingredients to attraction: Proximity
Physical attractiveness
Similarity

10. Physical Attractiveness
Positive first impressions are correlated with the attractiveness of the person
Attractive people are judged to be happier, healthier, more successful, etc.
Physical attractiveness is highly determined by culture
Average is attractive
Symmetrical faces are attractive as well!

11. Physical Attractiveness
Implicit cultural message is “beautiful is good”
Halo Effect - Attractive people are perceived as more intelligent, happier, and better adjusted
Also seen as more vain and less modest.
Really NO difference between attractive and less attractive people on these characteristics
Overall, attractive people tend to be less lonely, more popular, and less anxious in social situations
Attractive people are more likely to attribute other people’s approval of their accomplishments to looks rather than effort or talent.

12. Effects of Personal Appearance
The Attractiveness Bias
Physically attractive people are rated higher on intelligence, competence, sociability, morality
teachers rate attractive children as smarter, and higher achieving
adults attribute cause of unattractive child’s misbehavior to personality, attractive child’s to situation
judges give longer prison sentences to unattractive people

13. Effects of Personal Appearance
The baby-face bias
people with rounder heads, large eyes, small jawbones, etc.,
rated as more naïve, honest, helpless, kind, and warm than mature-faced
generalize to animals, women, babies
evolution of Mickey Mouse scanned in from page 495 of Gray's text, figure 13.5
Instructors may also wish to discuss popular figures with baby faces vs. mature faces and perceptions of them

14. Brain reward when making eye contact with attractive people
Results of an fMRI study show:
Direct eye contact with a physically attractive person, a brain area called the ventral striatum is activated
When an attractive person’s eye gaze is shifted away from the viewer, activity in the ventral striatum decreases
Why does this matter?
Ventral striatum is a brain area that predicts reward:
neuronal activity increases when an unexpected reward suddenly appears
decreases when an expected reward fails to appear
In other words, it makes you feel like this.

15. Similarity
People are reluctant to include dissimilar people in their group of friends.
Close friends usually share interests, attitudes, age, intelligence level, and economic status.
Reward Theory of attraction – we like people whose behaviors are rewarding to us
He makes me laugh
She’s a good listener

16. Module 79: Social Relations
Romantic Love
Module 79: Social Relations

17. Passionate Love
An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a love relationship
Assumes that…
Emotions have two ingredients – physical arousal & cognitive appraisal (label)
Arousal from any source can enhance an emotions (see bridge crossing example pg. 803)

18. Companionate Love
The deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
Two important factors:
Equity
Self-disclosure

19. Equity
A condition in which people contribute and receive at about the same rate in a relationship
Couples share in decision making and possessions
Freely give and receive emotional support

20. Self-Disclosure Revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others
Include likes, dislikes, fears, accomplishments, failures, shameful moments, goals, etc.