Aggression

Aggression

1. Social Learning Theory

   • The idea we learn aggression via operant and classical conditioning.
     • Vicarious learning- we learn by seeing the consequences of ones actions. This determines if we replicate.
   • Self efficacy- if we have high SE, we will try to imitate more. we believe that we can be successful, and if we are not - we believe we can handle the consequences
     • Bandaura- Bobo doll study- children observed adults playing with a bobo doll. they would then go on to imitate the behaviours shown
     • (ARRM)- Attention, Retention, Replication, Motivation
   • Strengths
     • IDA- Real world application
   • Weaknesses
     • Bobo doll study lacks mundane realism
       • Demand characteristics - one girl said 'look mommy, a doll we need to hit'
         • IDA- Cultural variations
       • IDA- Nature vs Nurture

2. Deindividuation

   • This is when people lose their sense of personal identity and they become anonymous. this happens when one has low self evaluation. they have less concern when others evaluate them. Zimbardo argues that being anonymous means people cannot be accountable for their actions. Practice-Dunn argues self-awareness is key. if they are not in touch with their inner morals, being in a crowd shifts their focus.
     • Zimbardo- 2 groups of females. One group was easily identifiable and the other was deindividuated. It was found the D group would give more shocks for longer.
   • Weaknesses
     • Lack of support- Postmas done a meta analysis of 60 studies and found little evidence for the idea diendividuation is linked with reduced self-awareness and that this leads to anti-social behaviour
       • IDA- Deterministic (Anonymous)
         • IDA- Nature vs Nurture
   • Strengths
     • Historical Evidence
       • Online diendividuation
         • IDA- Real world Application

3. Institutional Aggression

   • Importation- Cheesman stated that aggressive people are anti-social and they would act the same way inside the prison as they would outside of prison. This explains that most/all inmates in aggressive prisons came in as aggressive people
     • Strengths
       • Delisi found gang members acted the same inside a prison as they would outside. Poole also agreed with this theory
     • Weaknesses
       • No solution proposed
         • IDA- Reductionist
   • Deprivation- Sykes identified 5 things that make inmates aggressive (LAG Really Sucks) 1)Liberty 2)Autonomy 3)Goods 4)Relationships 5)Safety
     • Strengths
       • Megagree said when prisons are busy, this leads to aggression (Diendividuation)
         • IDA- Real world application
     • Weaknesses
       • Does not explain prison riots
         • Ignores Individual differences
           • IDA- Deterministic

4. Biological Aggression

   • Low levels of SEROTONIN High levels of DOPAMINE
     • Low levels of CORTISOL High levels of TESTOSTERONE
   • Serotonin- This acts as a buffer for other things. If there is less serotonin, less is stopped. Mann found drugs that reduce serotonin can cause hostility (Males, not females). Scerbo meta analysis found low serotonin leads to aggression
   • Dopamine- Lavine found that amphetamines (Increase dope) made people more aggressive. Buitlaar gave anti-psycotics (reduce dope) reduced aggression in aggressive individuals
   • Testosterone- Dabbs found different levels of hormone in aggressive and non-aggressive humans saliva. Lindman found aggression correlated in drunk males and the hormone
   • Cortisol- Virkunen found low levels of cortisol in violent offenders. There is also support from children with low levels of cortisol
   • Strengths
     • Raleigh found serotonin in vervant monkeys also made them aggressive.
       • Serotonin was confirmed when studying anti-depresents, however serotonin also leads to alcohol abuse, overeating, depression, etc.
         • IDA- Real world applications
           • IDA- other approaches- Link to SAM and Stress.
   • Weaknesses
     • Testosterone studies use correlation and self-reports
       • IDA- Reductionist
         • IDA- Gender bias

5. Genetic factors

   • This theory suggests that biological inheritance is more important than learnt characteristics and other things. An example to support this so that you can selectivly breed either aggressive animals or non-violent ones. Young found a genetic mutation that leads to fierce mice.
     • Twin studies- MZ twins share the same genetics and show similar aggression levels, more so than DZ twins.
       • Adoption studies- Could identify things when comparing adopted children to their new parents and biological ones. Hutchings found criminal kids had criminal parents (Fathers)
         • MAOA- This regulates serotonin. Low levels of S are associated with aggression. This seems to be a genetic gene of aggression. Brunner looked at a dutch family and found that the males had low MAOA, and they were very aggressive. Capsi stated low MAOA leads to aggression in children.
     • Strengths
       • IDA- Real world application
         • Can be possibly positive
     • Weaknesses
       • Genetic engineering causes ethical issues
         • Animal studies cannot be generalized to humans
           • IDA- Reductionist
             • IDA- Nature vs Nurture

6. Evolution- Jealousy/Infidelity

   • Jealousy= Emotional response to anticipated loss of affection
     • Infidelity= unfaithfulness of sexual partners (cheating)
   • Jealousy= men dont want to be cuckolded and waste their resources on another mans child which is not passing on his genetics. to makes sure this doesnt happen, the male may use aggression to keep his woman from cheating. Chackleford survayd 461 females and 500 males (Americans) and found mate retention strategies were correlated with aggression to the female partner.
   • Infidelity= if the female cheats, the male will attack her to keep her from cheating. Sexual assault is also to persuade the partner to stay, e.g. rape. If a woman becomes pregnant, the males may use aggression to kill the child. Uxorocide (Wife killing)- his is not always meant to lead to death, but it is usually to encourage the wife from leaving, wife guarding.
   • Strengths
     • Particle applications- couple therapy
   • Weaknesses
     • Ethical concerns- very sensitive area
       • Most data is correlational and often collected by surveys. This may mean social desirability bias. Plus correlations suck
         • IDA- Gender bias
           • IDA- Reductionist
             • IDA- Deterministic?
               • IDA- Cultural differences

7. Evolutionary explanations of group display

   • Warfare
     • Groups fight for more land and a higher status. The winners will get the pick at the best females. In the Yanamamo tribe, they often expand and fight. It was found that young men who had killed were married, but young men who had not killed were not married
     • Strengths
       • Research support- Palmer found young street gangs had more sexual partners than normal young males. It was also found that those soldiers who showed bravery in the field had higher sex appeal.
   • Sport
     • This is ritualized aggression - it has the benefits of success without the dangers of warfare. Victory brings status to players and fans, winners are more desirable to females and it can be territorial among fans (football hooliginism).
     • Maxwell questioned 143 rugby union players and found the most proffesional players would use cheating methods to ensure that they win. This supports the theory as they want to win, this will allow them the victory rewards. Cialdini studied students after a football game. It was found that when the UNI team won, the students would wear uni brand clothing and refer to themselves as 'WE'.
   • Weaknesses
     • IDA- Reductionist- does not explain modern warfare
       • IDA- Gender differences
         • IDA- Cultural differences - Kang San tribe
           • IDA- Nature vs Nurture