Aggression

Aggression

1. Explanations of Aggression

   • Social Learning Theory
     • -Observation -Imitation -Vicarious Rienforcement -Role Model -Monitoring
     • Bandura et al
       • Bobo dolls.
       • Children will copy how they see others behave.
   • Psychodynamic
     • Freud
       • Thanatos
         • Megargee + Mendelsohn
           • Anger builds up
         • An unconscious drive which cause us to self-destruction.
           • The drive builds up creating pressure until it can no longer be controlled.
             • Results in aggressive behaviour.
     • Dollard et al
       • Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis
         • Trigger is needed.
         • Barker
           • Children waiting to play with toys.
   • Biological
     • Testosterone
       • Young et al
         • Injected monkeys with testosterone.
         • Testosterone plays a vital part in aggressive behaviour.
     • Chromosomes XYY
     • Brain damage/disease e.g. limbic system
       • Raine et al
         • Brains of murderers.
         • When the pre-frontal ortex is not working normaly, it can lead to people commiting violent crimes.

2. Ways of Reducing Agression

   • Psychodynamic
     • Ego-defence mechanisms
       • Sublimation
         • Safe activity e.g. sport
           • Reduce the build up of aggressive instincts.
           • Some sports increase aggressive instincts.
           • Losing at the sport could cause frustration.
             • Leads to aggression.
       • Displacement
         • Aggressive and harmful to others.
     • Catharsis
       • Greek plays full of murders.
         • Less likely to murder.
       • Tends to make us more violent.
   • Biological
     • Drugs
       • Stimulates activity in the brain.
     • Psycho-surgery
       • Removes or destroys parts of the brain not functioning properly.
       • Last resort.
         • Once destroyed, brain tissue will not grow back.
   • Social Learning Theory
     • Observe more non-aggressive role models.
     • Observe a role model being punished for aggressive behaviour.
       • Bandura
         • Punished/reinforced for aggression.
         • If children see aggression brings punishment they will not copy it.
     • Get people to think differently about how to behave.
       • Huesmann et al
         • Children taught TV is not real.
         • Aggression can be reduced by making children think about how they behave so that role models on television are not as influential.