Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

• Who first formulated the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

  Dollard
• What does the frustration-aggression hypothesis state?

  Frustration always leads to aggression
• What is catharsis in the context of aggression?

  Release of anger through aggression
• How does aggression affect negative emotions according to the hypothesis?

  Aggression removes negative emotion and satisfies frustration
• Is aggression always expressed directly against the source of frustration?

  No, it can be displaced onto alternatives
• What are some examples of displacement in aggression?

  • Abstract targets
  • Powerful entities
  • Unavailable targets
• What did Berkowitz suggest about frustration and aggression?

  Frustration creates readiness for aggression
• What are aggressive cues according to Berkowitz?

  Environmental factors that increase aggression likelihood
• What experiment did Berkowitz & LePage conduct in 1967?

  Participants gave fake shocks to a confederate
• What was the effect of guns on the number of shocks given?

  More shocks were given with guns present
• What was the average number of shocks given when guns were present?

  6.07 shocks
• What was the average number of shocks given when sports equipment was present?

  4.67 shocks
• What was the aim of Geen's 1968 study?

  To investigate how frustration affects aggression
• What were the three groups in Geen's study and their frustrations?

  1. Puzzle impossible to solve
  2. Ran out of time due to interference
  3. Insulted by a confederate
• Which group gave the strongest shocks on average?

  Group 3
• How did the shocks given by the frustrated groups compare to the control group?

  All three groups gave more intense shocks
• What did Marcus-Newhall et al (2000) find in their meta-analysis?

  • Frustrated participants aggressed against innocent parties
  • More likely to aggress when unable to retaliate
  • Supports displaced aggression theory
• What is Berkowitz's negative affect theory?

  Frustration is one of many negative stimuli
• What does research show about the link between frustration and aggression?

  Frustration does not always lead to aggression
• Why is the frustration-aggression hypothesis considered inadequate?

  It doesn't explain all aggression situations
• What did Bushman (2002) find about venting anger?

  Venting increased aggression instead of reducing it
• What was more effective at reducing aggression than venting?

  Doing nothing
• What does Bushman argue about venting anger?

  Venting does not work even for believers
• What does the frustration-aggression hypothesis assume?

  • Frustration leads to aggression
  • Aggression is a response to frustration
  • Aggression can be displaced
• What is a strength for the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?

  Research Support

  • Marcus-Newhall et al (2000) conducted a meta-analysis of 49 studies of displaced aggression, where aggressive behaviour 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 against the source of their frustration were significantly more likely to aggress against an innocent party than people who were not provoked
  • This shows that frustration can lead to aggression against a weaker or more available target
• What is a strength for the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?

  Negative Affect Theory

  • Berkowitz (1989) reformulated the initial hypothesis to take into account the complex link of the frustration-aggression hypothesis
  • His negative affect theory argued that frustration is just one of many stimuli that create negative emotions, which is what leads to aggression rather than frustration alone
  • Therefore, frustration can form part of a wider explanation of what causes aggression
• What is a limitation for the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?

  Frustration-Aggression Link

  • Research showed very early on that frustration does not always lead to aggression and that aggression can occur without frustration
  • There is no automatic link between the two, as people who may be frustrated may act in various ways, as well as displaying aggressive behaviour may not be due to frustration
  • This suggests that the frustration-aggression hypothesis is inadequate because it only explains how aggression arises in some situations but not in others
• What is a limitation for the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?

  Role of Catharsis

  • Bushman (2002) found that participants who vented their anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag became more aggressive instead of less
  • Doing nothing was more effective at reducing aggression than venting, in which Bushman argued that venting does not work even for people who believe in its value
  • This shows that the central assumption of the frustration-aggression hypothesis may not be valid