Institutional Aggression

Institutional Aggression

1. Aggression between/within groups

   • ideas of "real man" leads to establishing a pecking order

2. Zimbardo 7 social processes

   • 1. mindlessly taking the 1st small step
     • MILGRAM - 15 Volts
   • 2. Dehumanisation of others
     • ZIMBARDO Prison Experiment - Prisoners stripped & cleaned
   • 3. Deindividuation of self
     • ZIMBARDO - P's wearing hoods & coats gave longer shocks
       • JOHNSON & DOWNING- KKK = aggression, nurses reduced
         • Social norms?!?!?
   • 4. Diffusion of personal responsibility
     • Abu Ghraib
   • 5. Blind obedience to authority
     • MILGRAM
   • 6. Uncritical conformity
   • 7. Passive tolerance of evil inaction or indifference
     • A result of the other steps

3. social sensitivity/responsibility

   • Institutions such as military need to be aware

4. It is not clear how many of the steps are needed before aggression occurs

5. E.g Hazing

   • NUWER: 60 deaths only 3 were women

6. Is not Humanistic

   • Does not take into account human beliefs and views about aggression, why it can explain why some people are not aggressive in institutions

7. Ignores biological factors such as testosterone

   • Naturally agg.