1. Chapter 11: Aggression

2. 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 4 12 13

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

4. Theoretical Approaches to Understanding 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

5. Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Aggression
Psychological
Drive theories- externally elicited drives arouses motive to harm others
Frustration-aggression theory
Social learning theories
Instrumental learning
Observational learning

6. Frustration-Aggression Theory
Direct
Outward
aggression
Instigation
to aggress
Indirect
Frustration
(Goal)
Inward aggression
(e.g., suicide)
Other additional responses
(e.g., withdrawal)

7. Bandura, 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.

8. Explaining 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?

9. Modern Theory of Aggression
Frustration
Provocation
Exposure to aggressive models
Cues associated with aggression
Causes of discomfort/negative affect
High irritability
Beliefs about aggression
Proaggression values
Type A behavior pattern
Hostile attribution bias
Arousal
Affective
States
Aggressive
Cognitions
Aggression

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

11. Chermack, 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

12. Excitation Transfer Theory
Aggression
is increased
Arousal and
irritation
attributed to
delay at gate
Near miss
in traffic
Heightened
arousal
Residual
arousal
Frustration
(delay at gate)
Aggression is
not increased
Arousal and
irritation are
attributed
mainly to near
miss in traffic

13. Personal 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)
Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon
11.10

14. Situational Determinants
high temperatures
hotter years (and summers) increased rates of violent crimes, but not property or rape crimes

15. Situational 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

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

17. 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
Baron & Byrne- Social Psychology 9/e, Allyn and Bacon
11.15