A01

• This hypothesis assumes that frustration always leads to aggression, based on the psychodynamic concept of catharsis. If our attempt to achieve a goal is blocked by anything, we experience frustration which creates an aggressive drive leading aggressive behaviour. 
• Aggression is not always able to be expressed directly to the source of the frustration for a number of reasons, for instance the cause may be abstract, too powerful and thus we may risk punishment or the cause may just be unavailable at the time.
• Geen (1968) manipulated levels of frustration for participants by tasking them with either completing an impossible jigsaw puzzle, or being interrupted from completing it or the final group was insulted by a confederate as they failed to solve the puzzle. When given the chance to shock the confederate, all frustration groups gave more intense shocks than the control group.
• The presence of environmental cues is also important with this explanation as frustration alone only creates a readiness for aggression but it is aggressive cues in the environment that make acting upon the frustration more likely.