Social Psychological Explanations of Human Aggression

• What is the concept that suggests aggression is always caused by frustration?


  Frustration-aggression theory
• What is the main idea behind the frustration-aggression theory?

  Aggression is caused by frustration when a goal is blocked
• Who are the researchers that thought up the concept of frustration-aggression theory?

  Dollard and Millar
• What is catharsis in the context of frustration-aggression theory?


  A pleasant feeling of relaxation after releasing a strong built-up emotion
• What is displacement in the context of frustration-aggression theory?


  Moving aggression onto a weaker or more available target
• Who conducted a study on frustration-aggression theory using a jigsaw puzzle and a confederate?


  Geen
• What factors determine whether frustration turns into aggression?

  How close someone is to completing a goal and whether they have learned that aggression helps them achieve their goals
• What was the main finding of Geen's study on frustration-aggression theory?


  The frustrated group shocked the friendly but frustrating confederate more than the control group
• Who conducted a field experiment on frustration-aggression theory by having research students push into queues?

  Harris
• What was the main finding of Harris' study on frustration-aggression theory?


  Increasing frustration by blocking goal-directed behavior closer to the goal produces more aggression
• What is social learning theory in the context of aggression?

  The idea that we learn aggressive behavior by observing and imitating role models
• What is vicarious reinforcement in the context of social learning theory?


  The idea that we learn aggressive behavior by observing a role model being rewarded for their aggression
• Who conducted a study on social learning theory using a Bobo doll?

  Bandura
• What was the main finding of Bandura's study on social learning theory?


  Children who observed aggressive modeling were more likely to be aggressive themselves
• What is deindividuation in the context of aggression?


  The idea that when we are in a large crowd or our identity is hidden, we lose our sense of self and are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior
• What is the main idea behind deindividuation?

  When we are in a large crowd or our identity is hidden, we lose our sense of self and are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior
• Who conducted a study on deindividuation using groups of female participants and a learner?

  Zimbardo
• What was the main finding of Zimbardo's study on deindividuation?


  Deindividuated participants shocked the learner for twice as long as individuated participants
• What is the main criticism of the studies on social psychological explanations of aggression?

  They only show short-term effects under lab conditions and do not study long-term effects in the real world
• What are the three social psychological explanations of aggression?

  * Frustration-aggression theory

  * Social learning theory

  * Deindividuation
• What are the key factors that determine whether frustration turns into aggression?

  * How close someone is to completing a goal

  * Whether they have learned that aggression helps them achieve their goals
• What are the main ideas behind social learning theory and deindividuation?

  * Social learning theory: we learn aggressive behavior by observing and imitating role models

  * Deindividuation: when we are in a large crowd or our identity is hidden, we lose our sense of self and are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior