AGGRESSION

AGGRESSION

1. Social Psychological Approaches

   • Social Learning Theory
     • children observe 'role models' and imitate their behaviour
       • also whether others are rewarded or punished (vicarious reinforcement)
         • characteristics and status of 'role models' likely to affect probability of imitating behaviour
     • EVIDENCE
       • Bandura et al. (1961)
         • Bobo doll study (need to know in detail)
           • ETHICS
           • LACKS MUDANE REALISM
           • DIFFICULT TO GENERALISE
           • DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS
       • Bandura and Walters (1963)
         • follow-up study
           • REAL-WORLD APPLICATION
         • evidence for vicarious learning
     • CAN EXPLAIN INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
     • EXPLAINS CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
     • NURTURE
       • IGNORES BIOLOGICL THEORY
     • PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
   • Deindividuation
     • large group
       • increased social arousal
         • decreased self-evaluation
       • anonymity
     • Dinner et al.
       • trick or treating

2. Biological Explanations

   • Pick 2 studies each for Neural and Hormonal (preferably ones that contradict each other as this create a good argument
   • Neural Mechanisms
     • serotonin
       • low
     • dopamine
       • high
     • evidence
       • suicide
         • operationalisation of aggression
       • Dutch Family
       • scerbo and raine (1993)
       • Mann et al.
     • gender bias
   • Hormonal Mechanisms
     • testosterone
       • high
     • cortisol
       • low
     • evidence
       • Dabs et al (1995)
       • Pope et al (2000)
       • Mcburnett et al. (2000)
   • Genetic Factors
     • MAOA
       • low levels of serotonin
     • evidence
       • Caspi Cocarro Hutchins and Mednick Young et al
       • Young et al.
         • ANIMAL ETHICS
         • selective breeding of mice
       • Cocarro et al
         • Twins
       • Hutchins and Mednick
         • Adoptions
       • Caspi et al.
     • REDUCTIONIST
     • PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

3. Institutional Aggression

   • Prisons
     • Deprivation Model
       • situation
       • practical applications
         • HMP Woodhill
       • Mc Corkle et al.
     • Importation Model
       • individuals
         • Keller and Wang (2005)
         • Allener and Marcell (2003)
       • No practical applications
   • Between Groups
     • obeying authority
     • dehumanisation

4. Evolution and Human Aggression

   • Evolutionary Explanations of Human Agression
     • make explicit links to evolution ALWAYS include explanation of jealousy and/or infidelity
     • sexual jealousy
       • mate retention strategy
       • direct guarding
       • evidence
         • Miller (1980)
           • meta-analysis of battered women
           • SUBJECTIVE
         • Daly and Wilson (1985)
           • murder
         • Buss et al. (1992)
           • hypothetical situation
           • cross-cultural
           • lacks mundane realism
     • cockoldry
       • men don't want to invest resources in children that aren't theirs
     • taking resources (natural selection)
     • sexual selection
       • high status
         • attracts women
           • more mates=more chance of genes being passed on
     • HARD TO TEST EMPIRICALLY
     • REDUCTIONIST
     • NATURE
     • NOT ETHNOCENTRIC
   • Group Display as an Adaptive Response
     • warfare
       • high status
         • more mates
           • better chance of passing on genes
       • evidence
         • Chagnon
           • tribes
       • gain and defend resources
       • kin selection
       • FACE-VALIDITY
       • WHY BE CRUEL?
         • deindividuation explains this better
       • REACTION TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS
     • sport
       • high status
       • reflection of evolutionary territoriaality
       • expression of xenophobia
         • irrational fear of strangers and foreigners
       • evidence
         • Podaliri and Balestri (1998)
           • itallan football crowds
       • HOME ADVANTAGE
     • PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS