Lecture Outline1. Aggression: What is it?2. Types of aggression3. Causes of aggressionA hit man kills an unfaithful husband for 1,000 dollarsA jealous man kills his wife and her loverA depressed person commits suicideA hunter kills an animal for a trophyA Girl Scout tries to help an elderly women cross the street, but trips her by accidentA person punches a hole in the wall in angerOne person calls another a racial slurA person slams a door shut after an argumentA man mentally rehearses a murderA prison ward executes a criminalIs It Aggression?cpAggression: What is it?Any form of behavior directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment• Behavior• Directed toward a living organism • Intentional• Victim motivated to avoid harmcpTypes of Aggression1. Instrumental aggression:A means to an endIntentional harm for purpose otherthan desire to inflict harmcpA hit man kills an unfaithful husband for 1,000 dollarsA hunter kills an animal for a trophyA prison ward executes a criminalAn American soldier kills an Iraqi soldierExamples of Instrumental AggressioncpTypes of Aggression2. Hostile aggression:Aggression IS the end goalIntentional harm done for purpose of inflicting harmcpA jealous man kills his wife and her loverOne person calls another a racial slurExamples of Hostile AggressionSelf-Esteem: valuing yourselfNarcissism: inflated view of selfCauses of Aggression1. Narcissistic PersonalityCauses of Aggression1. Narcissistic PersonalityHigh inNarcissismLow inNarcissismMore aggressiveCauses of Aggression1. Narcissistic Personality2. Aversive (unpleasant) situations–provocationProvocation StudyO’Leary & Dengerink (1973)Computer programmed to give:–consistently high shocks–shocks of increasing intensity–shocks of decreasing intensity–consistently low shocksWhat level shock did the participant give in return?1.52.02.53.03.54.01234TrialShock Given By ParticipantIncreasing shockConsistently high shockDecreasing shockConsistently low shockcpCauses of Aggression1. Narcissistic Personality2. Aversive (unpleasant) situations– provocation– hot temperaturesTemperature and Violent CrimeAnderson (1987)Temperature associated with…¾murder¾rape¾aggravated assaultTemperature not associated with…¾robbery¾burglary¾motor vehicle theftTemperatureViolent crime higher when it’s hot outsideImplication:Hot cities should have many more violent crimes than cold citiesHotopolis vs. CooltonPop. 600,000Hot days: 70Pop. 600,000Hot days: 30HotopolisCoolton4 more murders in Hotopolis14 more rapes in Hotopolis122 more assaults in HotopolisAlternative ExplanationsCulture: More crimes in south than north because south more steeped in a “culture of violence”Demographics: Temperature doesn’t matter. Age, race, SES of South is what mattersIdle hands: More crimes summer than winter because children out of school and adults on vacationcpHot Temperature StudyAnderson et al., (1997)Looked at relationship between temperature and crime from 1950 - 1995Findings rule out each alternative explanations…………………2. Violent crimes higher in hotter summers than cooler summers in the same cities (rules out demographics)1. Violent crime higher in hotter summers than cooler summers in both South and North (rules out culture)3. Violent crime higher in hotter summers than cooler summers even though in both summers kids are not in school and adults take vacations (rules out idle hands)RESULTScpGlobal WarmingIncreases of 2 - 8 degreesIncrease in temperature should result in increase in violent
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