furstration-aggression hypothesis

• Who was the frustration-aggression hypothesis put forward by?

  Dollard and Miller (1939)
• What did Dollard and Miller (1939) state?

  Frustration always results in aggression and aggression is always caused by frustration
• According to Dollard and Miller (1939), what creates frustration?


  The individual being prevented from achieving a goal by some external factor
• This hypothesis is based on the concept of what?

  The psychodynamic concept of catharsis
• What did Freud believe?

  The drive for aggression was innate, like the drive for food
• What did Freud believe was the only way to reduce aggression was?


  To engage in an activity which released it
• The aggression cannot always be directed at the source of aggression because of what three reasons?

  The cause may be too abstract, too powerful or simply be unavailable
• Psychodynamic theory proposes we have ego defence mechanisms to protect ourselves. What are two defence mechanisms that are used in the catharsis of aggression?

  Sublimation and displacement
• What is sublimation?


  Using aggression in acceptable activities such as sport
• What is displacement?


  Directing our aggression outwards onto something or someone else
• Who proposed a revised frustration-aggression hypothesis?

  Berkowitz (1969)
• What does the revised frustration-aggression hypothesis propose?


  Frustration doesn't always lead to aggression
• According to the revised frustration-aggression hypothesis, aggression would only occur when?

  Aggression would only occur in the presence of certain cues
• Provide an example of the revised frustration-aggression hypothesis.

  For example, cues such as the presence of weapons will be more likely to trigger aggression
• Who conducted supporting evidence for the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

  Green (1968)
• What did Green (1968) conduct?

  An experiment where he asked male students to undertake a jigsaw puzzle
• What was Green's (1968) first condition?

  An unattainable time limit to complete the jigsaw
• What was Green's (1968) second condition?


  The jigsaw was impossible
• What was Green's (1968) third condition?

  A confederate issued derogatory remarks to the students as they failed to complete it
• What happened in the second part of Green's (1968) study?

  Participants had the opportunity to give shocks to the confederate if he answered incorrectly on another task
• What did Green (1968) find?

  Those who had experienced insults gave the highest levels of shocks. All three groups gave more shocks than a control group who had not experienced any frustration
• Who conducted contradictory evidence for the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

  Bushman (2002)
• What did Bushman (2002) find?


  Participants who vented their anger by hitting punchbags become more angry and aggressive, rather than less
• What does Bushman (2002) argue?

  That using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire.
• Who created an alternative explanation to the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

  Berkowitz
• What was the frustration-aggression hypothesis reformulated into?

  Negative affect theory
• What does negative affect theory state about aggression?

  Aggression results from other negative feelings as well, such as jealousy, pain and loneliness
• What does negative affect theory state about frsutration?

  Frustration can lead to a range of responses instead of simply aggression such as anxiety, helplessness and despair