1. Aggression

2. How do you define aggression?
1. Behavior intended to hurt another person (Freedman). 2. Any behavior whose intent is to inflict harm or injury on another living being (McGee & Wilson). 3. Behavior that is intended to injure another person (physically or verbally) or to destroy property (Atkinson, Atkinson, & Hilgard). 4. Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy (Myers). 5. A response that delivers noxious stimuli to another organism (Buss).

3. Where does aggression come from?
Biological influences
Genetic
Animals that have been bred for aggression
Identical twins –vs– Fraternal twins

4. Where does aggression come from?
Biological influences
Neural Influences
No single spot in the brain controls aggression
Surgically implanted electrodes in brains of animals and humans will either inhibit or facilitate aggressive behavior

5. Where does aggression come from?
Biological influences
Biochemical Influences
Testosterone circulates through the bloodstream and influences the neural systems that control aggression

6. Where does aggression come from?
It’s a guy thing.

7. Where does aggression come from?
Biological influences
Biochemical Influences
Testosterone circulates through the bloodstream and influences the neural systems that control aggression
As men age, testosterone levels diminish, as does aggression
Alcohol reduces impulse control and unleashes aggressive responses to frustration

8. Where does aggression come from?
Biological influences
Genetic
Neural
Biochemical
Psychological & Social-Cultural influences

9. Where does aggression come from?
Psychological & Social-Cultural influences
Aversive Events
Frustration-aggression principle:
frustration (blocking of a goal), creates anger which can generate aggression
Aversive stimuli such as hot temperatures, pain, insults, foul odors, crowding, etc. can also evoke hostility

10. Where does aggression come from?

11. Where does aggression come from?
Psychological & Social-Cultural influences
Reinforcement and Modeling
Children whose aggression successfully intimidates others become bullies.
Parents of delinquent youth who “give in” to tears or lies are rewarding them
Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment
Children of aggressive parents
tend to be more aggressive

12. Where does aggression come from?
Psychological & Social-Cultural influences
Media Models for Violence
Repeatedly watching on-screen violence teaches us social scripts. These are “mental files” that act as guides for how to act in various situations.
Music lyrics, films, and violent video games also teach social scripts.

13. Where does aggression come from?
Psychological & Social-Cultural influences
Media Models for Violence
Pornography viewing correlates with increased aggression
Repeated exposure to pornography effects:
Partner seems less attractive
Extramarital sex less troubling
Sexual aggression perceived as less serious
Those who watch pornography tend to believe the rape myth.

14. Where does aggression come from?
Psychological & Social-Cultural influences
Media Models for Violence
University men who spent the most hours playing violent video games tended to be more physically aggressive
People with extensive experience in violent video gaming display desensitization to violence

15. Where does aggression come from?
Norwegian Anders Breivik bombed buildings in Oslo, then went to a youth camp where he shot and killed 69 people.
“I see MW2 (Modern Warfare 2) more as a part of my simulation training than anything else.”

16. Where does aggression come from?
Biological influences:
Genetic influences
Biochemical influences such as testosterone and alcohol
Neural influences such as a head injury
Psychological influences:
Dominating behavior
Frustration
Aggressive role models
Reward for aggressive behavior
Aggressive Behavior
Social-cultural influences:
Deindividuation
Challenging environment
Minimal father involvement
Exposure to violent media
Rejected from a group