Agression

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Social Psychological Explanations

The Frustration Aggression Hypothesis

Dollard et al - Suggested that aggression is caused by feeling of frustration, the higher the level of frustration the greater the aggressive response. Frustration happens when goal-directed behaviour is blocked in some way (real/ imaginary barriers).

Feeling of frustration is unpleasant and needs to be relieved, could be verbal outburst, physical aggression or even a violent fantasy. This according to the psychodymic approach is the process of catharsis, releasing strong emotions and then feeling relief.

Dollard argues that factors influence the likelihood of frustration turning into aggression. Such as; proximity to the goal: if the individual is close to achieveing the goal, more likely, and if aggression is likely to remove the barrier: this results in a higher likelihood of aggression.

Aggression is not always focused on the cause of frustration

  • The cause could be abstract (economic system, government, music industry)
  • Cause may be to powerful and we risk punishment by being aggressive (boss)
  • Cause may be unavailable (a driver drove off quickly after nearly crashing into you)
  • = In these cases aggression is displaced onto a usually weaker alrernative (pet)

Evaluation

  • Green (1968) - Supporting research, Male university students were given the task of completeing a jigsaw puzzle. Their levels of frustration was eperimentally manipulated in one of three ways
    • The jigsaw was impossible to complete
    • Thy ran out of time because another participant (confederate) kept interfering
    • The other P (confederate) insulted the P as they failed to solve the puzzle
    • Next part of the study involved the P giving electric shocks to the confederate when they made a mistake on another task. Shocks were greatest for the insulted groups, then interfered and then impossible. All shocking more than the non frustrated control group. Showing that people who are made to be frustrated are more aggressive, and that when a cause of frustration is identified and easily attacked.
  • Harris - Investigating if proximity to the goal has an effect on the level of aggressive behaviour shown. Using naturally occuring queues at shops and had confederates push in. People were more likely to react in an aggressive way if they were close to the front of the que. = supports the idea that proximity to achieving goals us a factor on whether aggression occurs
  • High ecological validity - natural environment
  • Unscientific freudian concepts - subjective notions on levels of frustration, other explanations could be seen as more valid (biological), due to limbic system, and abnormalities, which are all backed up by scientific evidence
  • Not all people who become frustrated become aggressive - reductionist
  • Aggression is fight or flight, or premeditated aggression situations don't require frustration
  • Experiments difficult in this area - ethical concerns

Social Learning Theory - Human Aggression

Originating from behaviourism, suggesting that environmental (nurture), rather than genetic (nature) influences are responsible for behaviours. SLT suggests that aggressive behaviour is learnt from observing a role model and then imitating it.

Behaviour is positively reinforced (rewarded) is more likely to be repeated, but…

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