Chapter 11: AggressionChapter 11: Aggression

What is Aggression?What is Aggression?Aggression- physical or verbal behavior intended to harm

someone Living vs. nonliving accident vs. intention actual damage vs. no damage self-defense duty or job responsibility instinctual behavior survival acts involving nonhumans covert acts inaction self-injury killing for sport

Handout 11.1

Measuring Human AggressionMeasuring Human Aggression

Buss Technique (similar to Milgram’s) Participants (“teacher”) told to shock a “learner” each

time they made an error on a simple learning task

Note: teachers chose how strong the shocks were Competitive Reaction Time task (Taylor et al.)

Participants compete with “opponent” on reaction-time trials. After losing a trial, they receive shock levels ranging in intensity from very mild to painful. After winning a trial, they pick shock level to administer to opponent

11.8Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon

Theoretical Approaches to Theoretical Approaches to Understanding AggressionUnderstanding Aggression

Biological Instinct theory - innate (unlearned) behavior pattern

Freud- redirecting the “death instinct” (thanatos) to others Lorenz- inherited “fighting instinct” developed through the course of

evolution (strongest survive)

Neural Influences Genetic Influences Blood Chemistry

high testosterone linked to higher aggression and less helping low levels of serotonin inhibit ability to restrain aggressive urges

Theoretical Approaches to Theoretical Approaches to Understanding AggressionUnderstanding Aggression

Psychological Drive theories- externally elicited drives arouses

motive to harm others Frustration-aggression theory

Social learning theories Instrumental learning Observational learning

Frustration-Aggression TheoryFrustration-Aggression Theory

Frustration(Goal)

Other additional responses(e.g., withdrawal)

Instigationto aggress

Outwardaggression

Inward aggression(e.g., suicide)

Indirect

Direct

Bandura, Ross, & RossBandura, Ross, & Ross

Subjects were exposed to either aggressive or nonaggressive models

Nonaggressive model assembled tinker toys

Aggressive model hit Bobo doll Subject then spent 20 mins

alone in room with various toys including Bobo. 0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

Physical Aggression

Female Male

Explaining School ShootingsExplaining School Shootings

Social Causes violent media easy access to weapons poor parenting social outcasts substance abuse male inability to

express emotion narcissistic

Biological Causes high testosterone low serotonin damaged prefrontal cortex damage to cingulate gyrus

How do these factors interact to create a disposition toward violent behavior?

FrustrationProvocationExposure to aggressive modelsCues associated with aggressionCauses of discomfort/negative affect

High irritabilityBeliefs about aggressionProaggression valuesType A behavior patternHostile attribution bias

ArousalAffective

StatesAggressiveCognitions

Aggression

Modern Theory of AggressionModern Theory of Aggression

Social DeterminantsSocial Determinants

frustration elicits aggression esp. when cause is unjustified

direct provocation (physical or verbal) exposure to media violence

primes aggressive thoughts; desensitizes viewers heightened arousal (provocation, exercise)

arousal in one situation can persist and intensify reactions in another, unrelated situation

11.9Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon

Chermack, Berman, & TaylorChermack, Berman, & Taylor

Subjects competed against “opponent” in reaction time game

After each trial, loser received a shock

2 conditions Low provocation - shocks stayed

at setting #2 High provocation - shocks

gradually increased from 2 to 9

3.83.4

3.94.6

4

7.2

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Shoc

k Se

ttin

g

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3

Low Provocation High Provocation

Excitation Transfer TheoryExcitation Transfer Theory

Aggressionis increased

Aggression is not increased

Arousal andirritation

attributed todelay at gate

Arousal andirritation are

attributedmainly to nearmiss in traffic

Frustration(delay at gate)

Near missin traffic

Heightenedarousal

Residualarousal

Personal DeterminantsPersonal Determinants Type A behavior pattern

Hostile attributional style

Narcissism (inflated self-esteem)

Gender (higher in males when not provoked) males tend to use direct forms (push, shove, insult) females tend to use indirect (gossip, spread rumors)

11.10Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon

Situational DeterminantsSituational Determinants

high temperatures hotter years (and

summers) increased rates of violent crimes, but not property or rape crimes

01234

56789

-5 15 35 55 75 95

Temperature

Inde

x of

Ass

ault

s

Situational DeterminantsSituational Determinants

alcohol intoxicated participants

behave more aggressively and respond to provocations more strongly

low aggressors became more aggressive when intoxicated, whereas high aggressors did not

3.2

4.2

4.94.4

0

1

2

3

4

5

Low Aggressors HighAggressors

Sober Intoxicated

Controlling AggressionControlling Aggression

Catharsis (“blowing off a little steam”) does not reduce aggression

Punishment must be prompt, strong, and justified

Exposure to nonaggressive models place prosocial models in violent situations

11.14Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon

Controlling Aggression (con’t)Controlling Aggression (con’t)

Cognitive interventions apologizing can be effective engage in activities that distract attention away

from causes of anger Teach social skills

better communication (e.g., saying no to requests) Induce incompatible responses

humor

11.15Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon