AggressionSocial influence of Social Psychology

Aggression Defined

• In psychology, aggression is defined as any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy, whether done reactively out of hostility or proactively as a calculated means to an end.

• This is a more precise meaning than our typical understanding

Biological Influence #1

• Genetic Influences: People can have genes that give them a higher tendency to be more aggressive.

• Many times these people are labeled as “hot tempered”

Biological Influence #2

• Neural Influences: the brain can be “wired” to make people more aggressive.

• Many people that experienced head trauma showed more aggressiveness and violence.

Biological Influence #3

• Biochemical Influences: Hormones, alcohol and drug abuse can cause aggression.

• High levels of testosterone is a chemical influence.

Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 1

• Averse Events: Unpleasant events can trigger aggression in people. Miserable people sometimes tend to make others miserable.

• Frustration-Aggression Principle: the principle that frustration (the blocking of an attempt to achieve a goal) creates anger and aggression.

Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 2

• Learning Aggression is Rewarding: This is constant with bullies. Showing aggression intimidates others rewarding the bully with power.

• Many times learned aggression is difficult to change.

Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 3

• Observing Models of Aggression: Parents are the most common models of aggression.

• TV violence can desensitize people.

• Increase in sexual aggression is attributed to the increase in R rated “slasher films” and X-rated films.

Psychological Trigger of Aggression # 4

• Acquiring social scripts: There are many causes to aggression: victim of child abuse, alcoholism, dominance motives, Media.

Do Violent Video Games Teach Aggression?

• Yes… studies have shown that people (especially younger) are more aggressive and/or violent if they spend the majority of their time playing violent video games.

Summary of Aggression

• http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/dyost-925617-myers-ap-unit-14/