Aggression Social influence of Social Psychology
Aggression Defined In psychology, aggression is defined as any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy, whether done reactively out of hostility or proactively as a calculated means to an end. This is a more precise meaning than our typical understanding
Biological Influence #1 Genetic Influences: People can have genes that give them a higher tendency to be more aggressive. Many times these people are labeled as “hot tempered”
Biological Influence #2 Neural Influences: the brain can be “wired” to make people more aggressive. Many people that experienced head trauma showed more aggressiveness and violence.
Biological Influence #3 Biochemical Influences: Hormones, alcohol and drug abuse can cause aggression. High levels of testosterone is a chemical influence.
Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 1 Averse Events: Unpleasant events can trigger aggression in people. Miserable people sometimes tend to make others miserable. Frustration-Aggression Principle: the principle that frustration (the blocking of an attempt to achieve a goal) creates anger and aggression.
Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 2 Learning Aggression is Rewarding: This is constant with bullies. Showing aggression intimidates others rewarding the bully with power. Many times learned aggression is difficult to change.
Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 3 Observing Models of Aggression: Parents are the most common models of aggression. TV violence can desensitize people. Increase in sexual aggression is attributed to the increase in R rated “slasher films” and X- rated films.
Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 4 Acquiring social scripts: There are many causes to aggression: victim of child abuse, alcoholism, dominance motives, Media.
Do Violent Video Games Teach Aggression? Yes… studies have shown that people (especially younger) are more aggressive and/or violent if they spend the majority of their time playing violent video games.
Summary of Aggression myers-ap-unit-14/