Aggression, Altruism, and Attraction

A riveting, mesmerizing, and awe-inducing powerpoint meant to educate and entertain, created by the “Master of Disaster” Mr. Oksiuta

Social Relations

How do we relate to others?

AttractionAltruism

Aggression

Did You Know? Those who keep a gun in the home are nearly three times more likely to be murdered in the home. For every self-defense use of a gun in the home, there are 4 unintentional shootings, 7 criminal assaults or homicides, and 11 attempted or completed suicides.

Psychology of Aggression Aggression – any physical or verbal

behavior INTENDED to hurt or destroy Genetic Influences

– Aggression is hereditary– Y chromosome

associated with aggression (males are more aggressive)

Psychology of Aggression

Neural Influences Amygdala stimulation causes instant

aggressive action Brain injuries can lead

to neurological disordersthat cause aggression– Chris Benoit clip– High percentage of

death row inmates have had brain injuries

Psychology of Aggression Biochemical Influences

– Hormones, alcohol, and other substances– Correlation between testosterone and

aggression• Bull castration

testosterone drop becomes docile steer

– Alcohol does not cause aggression but rather unleashes aggressive responses to frustration

Did You Know? Testosterone increases in sports fans when their team is winning and decreases when their team is losing.

Psychology of Aggression

Psychological Influences Frustration-aggression principle:

frustration creates anger which generates aggression– Basketball Melee Clip

Hot Weather and Aggression

Psychological Influences (cont.)– People can learn that aggression is rewarding

(bullying example)– Ostracism can lead to aggression (Columbine

example)– People can learn to be aggressive by

observing aggression (Bobo doll study)• What does

this sayabout violent movies, TV, and video games?

In 2002, two Grand Rapids, Michigan, teens and a man in his early twenties spent part of a night drinking beer and playing Grand Theft Auto III, using cars to run down simulated pedestrians, before beating them with fists and leaving a bloody body behind. Then they went out on a real drive, spotted a 38-year-old man on a bicycle, ran him down with their, got out, stomped and punched him to death, and returned home to play the game some more.

Aggression and TV

Watches =

• By the time you are 18, you spend more time in front of TV than in school

•2/3 of all homes have 3 or more sets average 51 hours a week.

•By the time a child finishes elementary school they have witnessed 8000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on TV

•Over half of all deaths do NOT show the victim's pain

•As TV watching has grown exponentially, as does violent behavior- a strong positive correlation.

•How do you think TV has affected sexual aggression?

Psychology of Altruism Altruism – the unselfish regard for others’

welfare– What counts as “altruistic?”

• Donate, volunteer examples

Why do we help?– Social Exchange Theory: we help if it will benefit us

somehow (promotion, heroism attention, etc.)– Social Responsibility Norm: expectation that we

help those dependent on us (ex: children, gparents)– Reciprocity Norm: we help those who have helped

us (Big Bang Theory Clip)

Psychology of Altruism Bystander Effect – the tendency for any

given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present– Kitty Genovese and

smoke-filled room examples

THREE MAIN FACTORS OF ATTRACTION First Factor: Proximity

– Geographic nearness is most powerful predictor for friendships and relationships

– You are most likely to marry someone in your own neighborhood

Second Factor: Similarity– Similar attracts;

opposites retract– Opposites can attract

for short-term relationships, but usually don’t last (excitement gives way to disharmony)

Psychology of Attraction

Psychology of Attraction Third Factor: Physical Attractiveness

– Number 1 most desirable trait (women lie about it)– Attractiveness is

different across the globe

– Examples: weight,piercings, feet binding, neck lengthening

Mere exposure effect: repeated exposure to stimuli increases liking for them– Alphabet activity– Face in the mirror

Mere Exposure Effect

In 1993, a young Taiwanese man wrote more than 700 letters to his girlfriend, urging her to marry him. She did marry—the mail carrier.

Standards of Beauty - Men

Worldwide: affluent, mature, symmetrical faces

America: square jaws, v-shape torso (.9 waist to hip ratio)

Ovulating women???

Ovulating women???

“Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.” – Aristotle, 330 B.C.

Standards of Beauty - Women

Worldwide: young, symmetrical faces

America: small noses, big eyes, big lips, hourglass shape(.7 waist to hip ratio), large breasts

Body shape standards have changed over time (20s-50s-today)

Black men?

Blonde hair?

Physical AttractivenessPeople who are good looking date more frequently, are more popular, get more favorable initial impressions, are more likely to get hired after a job interview, make more money

We PERCEIVE them to be healthier, happier, more socially skilled, and have higher self-esteem, but they arent/don’t

Americans spend more on beauty supplies than on education, but women are unhappier with their appearance today than ever before

Dove Billboard clipDove Onslaught clip

Babies gaze longer at attractive faces