1. Theories of Aggression
1 June 2004

2. 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)

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

4. 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

5. Social Learning Theory2 4 6 8 10 12
model
rewarded
punished
boys
girls
Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment
Modeling of aggressive behavior

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Zillman, 1971 7 6 5 Erotic film 4 Mean Shock Intensity Aggressive film3
Neutral film 2 1
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Block 4
Blocks

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