Aggression

• What key concepts explain aggression?

  conformity and norms

  stereotypes

  Institutions

  media influences
• How does conformity and norms explain aggression?

  Conforming to cultural and gender norms

  Gender - men can use aggression to gain power, money and social status and women have to be kind and caring

  Cultural - Americas southern culture of honour - condone aggressive behaviour in response to a threat
• How do stereotypes explain aggression?

  Gender - men are more aggressive than women - accept their aggressive behaviour

  Ethnic - black men are seen as more aggressive - create racism and discrimination
• How do institutions explain aggression?

  Prisons

  Staff - inconsistent discipline - causes rebellions and aggressive behaviour

  Prisoners and gangs - leaders in gangs use aggression to control others in the prisons
• How does the media explain aggression?

  Role models - watching tv and observing aggressive behaviour

  desensatation = becoming more used to physiological arousal linked to aggression - become more aggressive

  Disinhabilitation - lack of restraints when trying to accept aggressive behaviour
• Strengths

  Reduce criminal aggression in prisons - constant discipline - creates communication - reduces aggression

  TV - Research support - people watch movies where aggression is accepted - later on in an experiment they give someone more shocks as they have seen aggression as socially acceptable
• Weaknesses

  Social approach is not a best explanation - biological maybe better due to testosterones link to aggression - only a partial explanation