The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

1. The Hypothesis

   • Aggression is the result of frustration
   • Aggressive urges are relieved through aggressive behaviour- a cathartic effect
   • Frustration increases when motivation to achieve a goal is very strong
   • It is mainly unjustified than justified frustration that produces aggression
   • Aggression is displaced from the source of the frustration onto something else
   • Berkowitz: the nature of a frustrating event (e.g. unanticipated rather than anticipated) is less important than how negative is the resulting effect

2. Evalution

   • Aggression is not an automatic consequence of frustration
   • Lack of research support for the central claims may lead to more aggression
   • Not all aggression arises from frustration (e.g. Reifman et al's baseball study)
   • Real world application
     • Supporters become more aggressive when expectations of good performance are frustrated (Priks)