1. Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology ▫Aggression as an innate, unlearned behaviour pattern exhibited by all members of a species Neural influences Genetic influences Biochemical influences ▫Alcohol ▫Testosterone ▫Low serotonin ▫Biology and behaviour interact 1 LO2

2. Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a response to frustration  Frustration-aggression theory  The theory that frustration (the blocking of a goal-directed behaviour) triggers a readiness to aggress  Displacement  The redirection of aggression to a target other than the source of the frustration  Generally a safer or more socially acceptable target 2 LO2

3. Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a response to frustration 3 Source: Based on Dollard et al. (1939). Frustration and aggression. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press and Miller, N. E. (1941). The frustration-aggression hypothesis. Psychological Review, 48, 337–342. LO2

4. Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a response to frustration  Frustration-aggression theory revised  Frustration produces anger  The role of aggressive cues  Relative deprivation  The perception that one is less well off than others to whom one compares oneself 4 LO2

5. Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as learned social behaviour  The rewards of aggression  Observational learning  Social learning theory: The theory that we learn social behaviour by observing and imitating and by being rewarded and punished  e.g., Bandura’s “Bobo” doll experiments  The family  The culture  e.g., the “culture of honour” in the southern U.S. 5 LO2