AO1

• Frustration - aggression hypothesis sees aggression being the consequence of frustration, defined as any event or stimulus that prevents an individual from attaining some goal and its accompanying reinforcing quality
• Dollard and Miller (1939) state that Frustration is any event or stimulus that prevents an individual from attaining a goal and it’s accompanying reinforcement quality
• Level of aggression will depend on:

  How much you really want to achieve the goal

  • How close you were to achieving said goal
  • Whether or not aggression is likely to remove the barrier
  • Whether you understand that there is a good reason for the problem
  • How expected / unexpected the frustration was
• Displacement – Directing our aggression outwards onto something or someone else.
• Berkowitz (1969) proposed a revised frustration-aggression hypothesis, where he argued that frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression. He stated that aggression would only occur in the presence of certain cues. For example, cues such as the presence of weapons will be more likely to trigger aggression.
• Psychodynamic theory proposes we have ego defence mechanisms to protect ourselves. Two defence mechanisms that are used in the catharsis of aggression are:

  • Sublimation– Using aggression in acceptable activities such as sport.
  • Displacement– Directing our aggression outwards onto something or someone else.
• The aggression is a cathartic release of the build-up of frustration.