Frustration aggression hypothesis

• Frustration aggression hypothesis 


  Dollards Frustration aggression hypothesis states that frustration always leads to aggression, and aggression is always the result of frustration.
• Aggressive drive


  Aggression is a psychological drive akin to biological drives such as hunger, we experience frustration when our attempts to reach a goal are blocked by some external factor. Aggression is a psychological drive akin to biological drives such as hunger, we experience frustration when our attempts to reach a goal are blocked by some external factor. This creates an aggressive drive which leads to aggressive thoughts/behaviour such as a violent fantasy a verbal outburst or perhaps even physical violence.
• Catharsis and frustration aggression hypothesis 


  When the aggressive drive creates the aggressive thoughts/behaviour it removes the negative emotion which is called catharsis. The aggression created by the aggression is satisfied reducing the drive and making further aggression less likely. The aggressive behaviour is cathartic and we feel better.
• F-A hypothesis- aggression expression 


  Aggression is not always expressed against the source if frustration because the cause of aggression is abstract like the government, too powerful and we risk punishment by being aggressive, and unavailable.
• Berkowitz- The weapon effect 


  Berkowitz states that frustration merely creates a readiness for aggression but the presence of aggressive cues in the environment make acting upon this much more likely. Therefore cues are an additional element of the frustration aggression hypothesis.
• Berkowitz Study- the weapons effect


  Did a lab study where participants were given real electric shocks by confederate creating anger and frustration. The participants later had the opportunity to give fake shocks to the confederate. The number of shocks was greater when there were two guns on a table compared to other conditions where there were no guns. This supports his view that the presence of aggressive environmental cues stimulate aggression.
• Research on frustration-aggression- Geen


  Geen carried out a study to investigate how frustration affects aggression
• Geens Research on frustration-aggression- procedure 


  Male university students completed a jigsaw puzzle, there were 3 conditions. For some participants the puzzle was impossible to solve, for some they ran out of time because a confederate interfered and for the others the confederate insulted the participants as they failed to solve the puzzle. All participants later had the opportunity to give the confederate electric shocks.
• Geens Research on frustration-aggression- findings 


  The insulted participants gave the strongest shocks on average, followed by the interfered group, then the impossible task participant. All three groups selected more intense shocks than a non frustrated control group.
• Evaluation- research support 


  One strength for the frustration aggression hypothesis and displacement is research support. Newhall et al conducted a meta analysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression. Theses studies investigated situations where aggression had to be directed against a human target other than the one who caused the frustration. Frustrated participants who were provoked but unable to retaliate directly to the source of aggression were more likely to displace that aggression onto an innocent third party than people who were not provoke.
• Evaluation- role of catharsis

  One limitation is research showing that aggression may not be cathartic. Bushman found that participants who vented their anger by hitting a punchbag actually become more aggressive rather than less. Doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting. Bushman argues that using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire. The better people feel after venting the more they want to become aggressive. This shows that a central assumption of the aggression frustration hypothesis may not be valid.
• What is the relationship between aggression and frustration according to the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

  The relationship is complex
• Does frustration always lead to aggression?

  No, it can occur without aggression
• What behaviors might someone exhibit when feeling frustrated?

  Helplessness or determination
• Why is the frustration-aggression hypothesis considered inadequate?

  It doesn't explain all aggression situations
• What does the frustration-aggression hypothesis explain?

  How aggression arises in some situations
• What implication does the complexity of the frustration-aggression link have for understanding human behavior?

  It suggests multiple causes for aggression
• Who reformulated the initial hypothesis regarding frustration and aggression?

  Berkowitz
• What does Berkowitz's negative affect theory argue?

  Negative feelings trigger aggression, not just frustration
• What is one example of an aversive stimulus mentioned in the text?

  Frustration
• According to negative affect theory, what can frustration lead to?

  A range of outcomes including anxiety or determination
• What are the key components of Berkowitz's negative affect theory regarding aggression?

  • Frustration is one of many aversive stimuli
  • Negative feelings trigger aggression
  • Frustration can lead to various outcomes
  • Aggression is part of a wider explanation