Instrumental - occurs in premeditated and goal-directed manner
Hostile - impulsive
Displaced - directed against an innocent target that is easily accessible or non threatening
Issue:
We may not be able to study aggression effectively as ethical concerns mean we cannot use serious aggression in a lab. Scientists use substitutions e.g. punching dolls, electric shocks. Is this generalisable?
Biological theories:
Natural human instinct that is universal and adaptive.
Evolutionary theory: aggression promotes survival by enhancing our access to resources.
Biosocial theories:
Frustration-aggression theory: a sense of frustration over an event/ situation that thwarted one’s goals invariably leads to aggression (criticism: loose definition of frustration and other factors than frustration can cause aggression).
Social theories:
SLT: aggression is learnt either by direct experience or vicariously.
Bobo doll study
Cultural factors:
Variation exists with what constitutes aggression and how acceptable it is
‘Honour cultures’ often accept aggression to deal with physical/ social threats.
Personality factors:
Developmental stability: aggression at 8 years of age extends into adulthood
Narcissism and type A personality (overactive and excessively competitive) are more prone to aggression.
Situational:
Heat
Crowding
Pain
Alcohol
Ostracism
Attributions e.g. hostile intentions to others
Deindiviuation - being in a large group creates more anonymity
Dehumanised targets
The weapons effect study: Participants gave more shocks to a confederate when they had seen a gun on the table from ‘another experiment’ instead of badminton rackets or nothing.
Sex: aggression in women is less physical and more premeditated.
Myth: you can redirect aggression e.g. punch a pillow
Society:
Implement policies that minimise societal inequalities.
Promote non-violent core values and conflict resolution strategies.
Pass laws against the physical punishment of children.
Situational:
Reward cooperative and non violent behaviour.
De-anonymise victims of aggression.
Reduce alcohol abuse.
Individual:
Reduce exposure to violent models e.g. through media.