Cognitive approach - Aggression

Question 1

State two assumptions of the cognitive approach

Answer 1

1. Behaviour is a product of information processing. 2. The brain can be compared to a computer (computer analogy - input, process, output)

Question 2

Define cognitive priming

Answer 2

Exposure (viewing or hearing) to a stimulus affects your later response to the stimulus

Question 3

What is meant by a stimulus?

Answer 3

Anything in our environment detected by our senses (hear, see, smell, touch, taste)

Question 4

Provide an example of an aggressive prime/stimulus

Answer 4

Watching a violent film (weapons, fighting)/playing a violent game (weapons, fighting)/observing others behaving aggressively (friends, family, actors).

Question 5

True or False? ‘Priming is a one off experience’

Answer 5

False - priming occurs over time

Question 6

What type of process is priming?

Answer 6

Unconscious - occurs below our level of awareness

Question 7

Define hostile attribution bias

Answer 7

An error in thinking where you interpret neutral behaviour of others as aggressive (physical/verbal).

Question 8

What do people with hostile attribtion bias perceive other peoples behaviour to be?

Answer 8

A threat

Question 9

As a result of perceiving other peoples behaviour as a threat, how is a person with hostile attribution bias most likely to react?

Answer 9

With verbal/violent aggression

Question 10

Define what is meant by a schema

Answer 10

A mental framework of expectations and beliefs about people, events and objects based on our past personal experiences

Question 11

Define what is meant by cognitive script

Answer 11

A type of schema about how to behave/act in a social situation based on past personal experiences.

Question 12

How do cognitive scripts influence aggression?

Answer 12

They provide us with knowledge on what to expect, how to behave and what the consequences might be

Question 13

How might a person have a cognitive script for aggressive situations?

Answer 13

They may have witnessed a lot of aggression in the past that is then triggered and retrieved when we find ourselves in an aggressive situation.