Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory...

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Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology Aggression as an innate, unlearned behaviour pattern exhibited by all members of a species Neural influences Genetic influences Biochemical influences Alcohol Testosterone Low serotonin Biology and behaviour interact 1 LO2

Transcript of Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory...

Page 1: Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology ▫Aggression as an innate,

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited

Aggression as a biological phenomenon

• Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology▫ Aggression as an innate, unlearned behaviour pattern

exhibited by all members of a species

• Neural influences

• Genetic influences

• Biochemical influences▫ Alcohol▫ Testosterone▫ Low serotonin▫ Biology and behaviour interact

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Page 2: Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology ▫Aggression as an innate,

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited

Aggression as a response to frustration

Frustration-aggression theoryThe theory that frustration (the blocking of a goal-directed

behaviour) triggers a readiness to aggress

DisplacementThe redirection of aggression to a target other than the

source of the frustrationGenerally a safer or more socially acceptable target

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Page 3: Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology ▫Aggression as an innate,

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited

Aggression as a response to frustration

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Source: Based on Dollard et al. (1939). Frustration and aggression. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press and Miller, N. E. (1941). The frustration-aggression hypothesis. Psychological Review, 48, 337–

342.

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Page 4: Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology ▫Aggression as an innate,

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited

Aggression as a response to frustration

Frustration-aggression theory revisedFrustration produces angerThe role of aggressive cues

Relative deprivationThe perception that one is less well off than others to

whom one compares oneself

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Page 5: Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Aggression as a biological phenomenon Instinct theory and evolutionary psychology ▫Aggression as an innate,

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited

Aggression as learned social behaviour

The rewards of aggression

Observational learningSocial learning theory: The theory that we learn social

behaviour by observing and imitating and by being rewarded and punishede.g., Bandura’s “Bobo” doll experiments

The familyThe culture

e.g., the “culture of honour” in the southern U.S.

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