Psychology 301Social Psychology Lecture 9,
Sept 30, 2008
AggressionAggressionInstructor: Cherisse SeatonInstructor: Cherisse Seaton
OverviewReview:
Punishment and aggressionSocial Learning of Aggression
The big debate: T.V. violenceWhy does television violence
affect viewer's aggression?Group discussion question
Why does physical punishment increase aggression?
a.) Develops negative associations with the parent.b.) Punishing arousal and upset decreased learningc.) The act of ‘punishment’ itself, usually takes the form
of an aggressive act, thereby providing an aggressive model
But…Doing nothing is not a good option because aggression is
also associated with… Lack of monitoring Excessive sibling fighting
Review: Bobo doll studies Ss = childrenWatch a film in which an adult
attacks a large inflated Bobo doll.Experimental manipulation (IV):
the end of the film differed1. model punished 2. no consequences3. model rewarded
DV: child’s behaviour toward bobo doll
Review: Bobo doll studiesFirst evidence for the social learning of
aggression:Implications for television viewing?
School ShootingsColumbine High School
massacre Proliferated after displayed
in the news“Copycat” threats Taber
Among industrialized countries, the U.S. is one of the most violent . . .
The U.S. is certainly not the most violent place to live . . .
(1994)
The U.S. is certainly not the most violent place to live . . .
(2006)
The Big Debate: T.V. violenceSocial learning theory: we learn social beh.
by observing and imitatingCatharsis theories: built-up aggressive
energies can be reduced by watching others engage in aggressive beh.
different predictions re: violent TV consump
Canada & U.S.: b/w 1957 & 1974 Increase in violent TV Homicide rates doubled
CatharsisDefinition
“the notion that ‘blowing off steam’ – by performing an aggressive act, watching others engage in aggressive behaviour, or engaging in a fantasy of aggression – relieves built-up aggressive energies and hence reduces the likelihood of further aggressive behaviour”
CatharsisIndividuals allowed to ‘vent’ their frustrated
emotions by punching a punching bag aggressed more
Aggressive sports – hostility in high school football players increased as the season progressed
Spectators – levels of hostility increase while watching games, and often do not return to baseline until several hrs after game is over
Children and TelevisionOn average, kids spend nearly 4 hours a day
watching television, DVDs and videos
68% of 8- to 18-year-olds have a TV in their bedroom & spend an average of 1.5 hours more per day watching TV than kids without a TV in the bedroom
In 53% of households of 7th- to 12th-graders, there are no rules about TV watching
Two-thirds of all programming contains violence
Effects of Violent TelevisionEron & Huesman and colleaguesLongitudinal study of 875 3rd graders
Variables:Shows they preferred; how much they watchedAggression
Violent television viewing related to short term & long term aggression
Effects of Violent TelevisionSs = 396 2nd & 3rd grade boys, Manitoba,
CanadaExciting motocross racing video or violent
police action dramaFloor hockey: DV = aggression
Aggressive acts (throwing elbows, hitting with sticks, yelling) increased in both non-aggressive and aggressive boys who watched violent drama, but especially in aggressive boys.
Effects of Violent TelevisionLiebert & Baron, 1972
Media violence produces its effect on aggression in multiple ways . . .
Why does television violence affect viewer's aggression?1. Classical conditioning
“If they can do it, so can I”
2. Behavioural scripts/modeling“Oh, so that’s how you do it!”
3. Interpreting emotional state“I think it must be aggressive feelings that I’m experiencing”
4. Emotional desensitization“Ho-hum, another brutal beating – what’s on the other
channel?”
Classical conditioning1. “If they can do it, so can I”
Weakening of previously formed ‘associations’ between violent behaviour and negative outcomes
Weakens inhibitions towards aggression
Behavioural scripts/modeling2. “Oh, so that’s how you do it!”
Watching aggressive models may trigger imitation
Provides ideas
Interpreting emotional state3. “I think it must be aggressive feelings that
I’m experiencing”Environmental Factors
Physical discomfort causes: Negative emotional state Physiological arousal
Mistaken emotional labelling
Evidence for Misattribution of arousal
Schachter and Singer (1962) - two factor theory of emotion
Provoked physiological arousal with a shot of adrenaline. Some were told that there would be a physical reaction
and others told nothing. While they were waiting they had to fill out a
questionnaire that asks increasingly insulting questions. Also in the room is a stooge, who gets progressively
angrier until he tears up the paper and storms out (or one who acts euphorically)
Schachter and Singer’s Experimental Design
EuphoriaPlaceboEpinephrine InformedEpinephrine
Uninformed
AngerPlaceboEpinephrine InformedEpinephrine
Uninformed
ResultsParticipants who
did not know what to expect tended to behave like the confederate.
Mistakenly assigned arousal to being angry or euphoric and they too became angry or euphoric.
Emotional desensitization effects4. “Ho-hum, another brutal beating – what’s on the other
channel?” Toward aggressive behaviour:
Less emotionally repulsed by the use of violence as a way of getting what they want.
Lower GSR response to violence (Thomas et al., 1977) Toward victims:
Experience less empathy for pain and suffering of victims.Priming:
Repeated exposure to aggressive model “primes” hostile thoughts.
More readily available in memory. Hostile Attribution Bias
Anderson & Dill (2000)
Violent Video games?Violent video
games provide another common exposure to aggressive models and weapons.
How important is media violence as a source of aggression?
Wood et al. (1991) reviewed the evidence and found thatthe effect of media violence was reliable, but of smaller magnitude than many other causes (e.g., direct provocation, alcohol, temperature).
What parents can do Some studies have shown that kids who
received media education had less violent behavior after watching violent programs. Watch with kids: awarenessTalk about it
Offer alternative solutions or behaviours“Heros/heroines” offer use aggression to solve
problemsReinforce realistic worldview
Notion that it is not ‘real’ or not representativeDescriptive norms
Effects of Television
University of Michigan Health System summary and set of resources on TV's effects on children:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/tv.htm#violence
How to Reduce AggressionHow to Reduce Aggression
What Are We Supposed to Do with Our Anger?Some strategies that can be used to deal with
anger are:Venting vs. self awareness.Diffusing anger through apology.Training in communication and problem-
solving skills.Building empathy.
Group discussion question: It is the middle of the school term and you
have been appointed to take over a fifth grade class for the remainder of the term. The former teacher left as a result of a nervous breakdown induced by a classroom full of aggressive children. With a couple of “colleagues” (fellow students), prepare a plan to bring this classroom under control. Detail several strategies and be prepared to present them to the class as a whole.
Next class…Theoretical perspectives
Evolutionary theoryThe determinants of aggression
PersonalitySituational
Frustration-aggression hypothesis