Aggression

Aggression

1. Is a form of antisocial behaviour generally considered to be behaviour that harms or intends to harm someone of something

2. Biological Causes

   • The Brain
     • Aggression seems to be associated with the limbic system
     • The PFC controls eating, sexual behaviours and aggression
     • The PFC knows whether instinctive behaviour is appropriate or not
       • So when it is no longer working, we cannot control our aggressive impulse
   • Hormones
     • Men have higher levels of testosterone
       • why men are assumed to more aggressive than females
     • High levels of testosterone are thought to cause aggression
       • Supported by the finding that violent criminals have higher levels of testosterone than non violent criminials
   • Chromosomal Abnormality
     • has been found in violent offenders
       • they have an extra Y chromosome
     • when the 23rd chromosome fails to divide, men end up with XYY arrangements
       • Many physical effects which includes making men more aggressive than normal

3. Psychological Causes

   • Fustrastration Aggression Hypothesis
     • Dollard agreed with Freud that there is an unconscious drive and aggressive instinct. However he disagreed with Freud in the sense that the aggressive instinct will suddenly spill over for no reason. Dollard said there has to be a fustrating event to trigger the aggression
   • Social Learning Theory
     • aggressive behaviour, like all other types of behaviour is caused by observing others being aggressive and imitating this
     • We are more likely to imitate those who are successful (vicarious learning). Our behaviour may then be reinforced when we behave aggressively

4. Reducing Aggression

   • Biological
     • Drugs
       • stimulating the PFC
         • Ritalin - stimulates the PFC which allows control of aggressive instincts caused by the limbic system
     • Psychosurgery
       • destroying or removing part of the brain which may not be functioning properly and therefore causing aggression
       • A probe is inserted to a precise location and is then heated up at the end to kill the nerves
         • Usually directed to amygdala and limbic system
   • Psychodynamic
     • Sublimation and Catharsis
       • doing something physically exerting or watching someone else engage in aggression directly or indirectly relieve built up aggressive energies in a safe and acceptable way
     • Avoid initial cause of frustration and therefore the aggression
   • Social Learning Theory
     • Punishment
       • people observe aggressive models recieve punishment when they show violent behaviour or observing non aggressive models reduces aggression
     • Changing Models
       • Changing the models people are exposed to
         • Non aggressive models = Non aggressive behaviour