Aggression

Question 1

What is aggression?

Answer 1

Behaviour that is intended to injure a person or to destroy property

Question 2

Nature vs nurture ideas of aggression

Answer 2

• Nature = aggression is an innate drive
• Nurture = aggression is a learned response

Question 3

Freud (1920) psychoanalytic theory

Answer 3

• Many of our actions are determined by instincts (esp. sexual)
• When expression of instincts is frustrated, aggressive drive is induced
• Aggression is a basic drive (like hunger)
• Catharsis - reduce aggression by expressing it

Question 4

Id vs Ego vs Superego

Answer 4

• Id = primitive + instinctual (eg. “what an idiot, shout back!)
• Superego = moral conscience (eg. “it’s not right to shout at someone”)
• Ego = realistic, mediates between other 2 (eg. “if I shout back, people will stare. I’ll glare instead”)

Question 5

Frustration-aggression hypothesis (Dollard et al., 1939)

Answer 5

Inability to attain goal –> frustration –> aggressive drive –> (over aggressive catharsis) / (symbolic aggression catharsis)

• Aggression always consequence of frustration
• Frustration always leads to some form of aggression

Question 6

Revised frustration-aggression hypothesis (Berkowitz, 1989)

Answer 6

Inability to attain goal –> frustration –> negative effect –> aggressive drive –> overt aggressive behaviour <– aggressive cues

Question 7

Aggressive cue theory (Berkowitz, 1966)

Answer 7

• Frustration produces anger rather than aggression
• Frustration is psychologically painful –> can lead to aggression
• For anger/psychological pain to be converted into aggression, cues are needed:
  > Environmental stimuli associated either with aggressive behaviour or the frustrating object/person

Question 8

Ethological perspective on aggression (Lorenz, 1963)

Answer 8

• Aggression is the fighting instinct in beast/man which is directed against members of the same species
• Important in development as allows us to adapt to environment, survive in it + successfully reproduce

Question 9

Social learning theory (Bandura, 1963)

Answer 9

• All following lead to aggression:
  > Past learning
  > Current rewards & punishments
  > Social & environmental factors
• Aggressive behaviours are learned through reinforcement + imitation of aggressive ‘models’

Question 10

What does the general aggression model (Anderson & Bushman, 2002) take into account?

Answer 10

• Social factors
• Cognitive factors
• Personality
• Developmental factors
• Biological factors

Question 11

What is deindividuation?

Answer 11

• Group situations minimise the salience of people’s personal identities, reduce their sense of public accountability
• Produces aggressive/unusual behaviour

Question 12

Differences in aggression based on sex, and what causes it

Answer 12

• Boys = 37% verbal, 37% physical, 26% indirect
• Girls = 31% verbal, 14% physical, 55% indirect
• Testosterone

Question 13

Neurobiological factors in aggression

Answer 13

• Neuroanatomical differences
• Less serotonin
• More testosterone
• Less cortisol

Question 14

Ways in which brain function can lead to aggression

Answer 14

• Increased arousal interfering with ability to think
• Decreased ability to inhibit impulses
• Impairment of attention, concentration, memory + higher mental processes
• Misinterpretation of external stimuli/events

Question 15

Warning signs of aggressive behaviour

Answer 15

• Irritability
• Fast speech
• Restless pacing
• Loud voice
• Glaring eyes
• Verbal threats
• Intrusion into others’ personal space

Question 16

How to deal with angry patients

Answer 16

• Avoid being defensive
• Stay calm + speak firmly
• Body language
• Demonstrate you are taking concerns seriously
• Plan ahead