Aggression

Aggression

1. Social psychological approaches to explaining aggression

   • Social Learning Theory
     • Bandura and Walters 1963 suggested that we learn by observing others. Vicarious reinforcement - (observe people and if they are punished they do not copy, if rewarded they do copy) or direct experience.
     • Evaluation
       • Adults? The Bandura study only explains aggression with children, not adults. Phillips 1986 found US homicide rates higher after watching a major boxing match. Intimidated the behavior - adults affected too.
       • The role of punishment -Bandura 1965 gave the children rewards for performing badly and found that similar beahviour among all three groups. Shows that learning takes place regardless of reinforcements, but the production is related to selective behaviours.
       • explains aggressive behavior in absence of direct reinforcement
       • Individual Differences - explains it between and within individuals. People respond different to different situations. Wolfgang and Ferracuti (1967) Culture of Violence Theory - some cultures develop norms that sanction vilence to a greater degree than a dominant culture.
     • Bandura et al BoBo doll study 1961
   • Deindividuation
     • Theory of Gustave Le Bon (1895) Classic crowd theory. People behave differently to how they would usually when just on their own. Anonymity and contagion make people have a 'collective mind' They go against social norms as they become carried away
     • Lowered self evaluation and decreased concern of others judging. DE individuation is aroused when in crowds as there is usually anonymity (wearing a uniform)and altered consciousness (alcohol) Zimbardo 1969. DE individuation is anti social behavior.
     • Zimbardo 1969 four female undergrads required to deliver electric shocks to another student to 'aid' learning. Half of ppts were in bulky lab coats and hoods that hid their faces and sat in separate cubicles and never shown their nam. The others wore normal clothes, large name tags and introduced by name and could see each other seated at the shock machines. Lab coat group shocked the people for twice as long.
     • Mullen 1986 analysed cuttings of 60 lynchings in US between 1899 and 1946 and found the more in the mob, more anger and deindividuation
     • Evaluation
       • Johnson and Downing 1979 explored idea that rather than deindividuation increasing aggression, any behavior produced could be a product of local group norms. They replicated Zimbardos study but used mask and overall or by nurses uniforms. In Klu Klux Klan uniforms they shocked more. They felt more aggressive because of what they were wearing.
       • Postmes and Spears 1998 meta analysis 60 studies says there is insufficient support for claims of deindividuation theory. Found disinhibition and antisocial behavior are not more common in groups and also wasn't that uch support to say that deindividuation causes decreased self awareness or that this increases aggressive behavior.
       • Cannavale et al 1970 found male and female groups responded differently under deindividuation. Aggression increased was only found in male groups Diener et al 1973 also found greater disinhibition of aggression showing males only affected by deindividuation.
   • Institutional aggression
     • Prison Violence
       • Importation Model prisoners import their violent behavior into prison. Gang membership - pre prison gang membership important determinant of prison misconduct Deprivation model is a reaction to stressful conditions of prison. Sykes (1958) specific deprivations within prisons linked to increase in violence.
         • Evaluation