PSY 223 1nd Edition Lecture 17 Outline of Last Lecture I Group Characteristics II Group Decision Making a Group Polarization III Groupthink IV Group Performance V Aggression Outline of Current Lecture VI Gender differences in aggression VII Individual differences in aggression VIII Origins of aggression a Evolutionary psychology b Behavior genetics IX Learning theory a Role of reinforcement b Social learning theory c Evidence of learning X Cultures of honor XI Social situations and aggression a Frustration aggression theory b The weapons effect c Alcohol and aggression d Provocation and aggression e Hostile attributions XII Effects of violence in media and video games a Pornographic materials XIII Reducing Aggression Current Lecture Direct vs indirect aggression also sometimes call relational aggression These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Gender differences in aggression Men are more violent than women Men engage in more physical aggression However girls engage in slightly more indirect of relational aggression Other individual differences associated with aggression Low in agreeableness Being aggressive in childhood Having a Type A personality especially high in hostility Self esteem NOT ASSOCIATED although people high in narcissism aggress Origins of aggression biology of aggression Evolutionary psychology argues that there is inhibition of aggression against those genetically related Male aggression against other males can be triggered when status is challenged and against female partners in response to sexual jealousy Female aggression can be triggered in defending offspring Behavior genetics look at twin and adoptee studies Some studies suggest that aggression can be inherited at least for physical aggression less for indirect or relational aggression Hormones Males have much more testosterone so that may lead to aggression Is Aggression Learned Learning Theory Role of reinforcement rewards Positive reinforcement aggression produces desired outcome Negative reinforcement when aggression stops an undesired outcome example a little kid bullied at school and they hit the person who bullies them and it makes the bully stop bullying them Punishment may work if immediately follows aggression fits the aggression and is consistently and fairly applied can increase aggressiveness Social Learning Theory learn from others about aggressiveness learn from examples of others as well as rewards and punishments Evidence of learning Bandura s famous experiment Males and females are socialized differently that s not lady like learning from punishments and rewards Cultural and subcultural differences attitudes toward violence and the form it takes can vary across cultures ex in japan more common to grope girls on public transportation but unlikely here Cultures of Honor Certain types of aggression like protection of property loved ones and honor are more prevalent in American South white males from south show more hostility after an insult than northern males higher rates of homicide due to arguments and protecting their honor in the south argument related murders than the north no difference in felony related murders Social Situations and Aggression Frustration aggression theory when you are prevented from attaining a goal it increases the likelihood of aggression ex want to get to Ohare to catch plane but if friend is late to come get you then you are more likely to act aggressively toward your friend because you are frustrated yell at them hit them Original Frustration Aggression Hypothesis 1 Frustration will always lead to aggression proven not true 2 Every act of aggression is preceded by frustration also proven not true there can be no emotion with the aggressive act 3 Redirecting aggression though displacement causes catharsis which is the reduction in the aggressive drive following an aggressive act when you displace your aggression like kick your dog because you re mad at your boss it doesn t mean aggression goes away no support because all refuted led to revision of hypothesis Revised approach Frustration is just one of many unpleasant experiences that can lead to aggression by creating negative feelings but there s other aversion events that could lead to aggression pain be in a hot area goals blocked these negative affects can lead to aggression The Weapons Effect the mere presence of an aggressive stimulus gun can increase probability of aggression guns bad because lead people to hurt people but also can increase aggressiveness Atholow et al 2005 found that hunters were less likely than non hunters to associate hunting guns with aggression But hunters were more likely to associate assault guns with aggression than non hunters Role of Alcohol and Aggressiveness Alcohol is related to acts of aggression leads to disinhibition weakening of restraints Why Inability to process complex and subtle situational cues Reduction of self awareness People expect that inappropriate behaviors are more excusable while drunk Path of Provocation to Aggression Often people can engage in self control and not aggress despite frustration or negative affect However rumination ignoring that you re pissed Shannon dropped your drink and high arousal loud music in bars and darkness can lead to aggression High arousal can also lead to excitation transfer Self control is reduced by rumination alcohol and high arousal Hostile Attributions Some people or situations are conductive to perceiving hostile intent in others increase aggression you assume that someone is hostile and they drop your drink because they are hostile so you want to be aggressive back there can be an opposite effect too Effects if Violence in Media and Video Games The more violent the child s TV viewing the more aggressive the child is as rated by self parents and teachers When television is introduced to a particular area violence rates go up Longitudinal studies have found that viewing violence during childhood predicts violence or aggressive behavior at a later age especially for boys the link between violent media and aggressive behavior is strongly established Why does media violence increase real violence Identification with aggressive characters Triggers imitation learning aggressive scripts copycat Cultivation constructs a social reality that the world is hostile so you need to be hostile Desensitizes a form of