Frustration-aggression hypothesis

• Frustration-aggression hypothesis, Dollard et al

  • Frustration always leads to aggression - Is a result of frustration
  • Based on the psychodynamic concept of catharsis - Aggression as a psychological drive
  • Try to achieve a goal is block we are frustrated - Creates an aggressive drive
  • Cathartic - Aggression is created by the frustration is satisfied
• Frustration-aggression hypothesis, Dollard et al

  Aggression is not always expressed directly against the source of frustration:

  1. Cause of frustration maybe abstract
  2. Cause may be too powerful and we may risk punishment
  3. Cause may be unavailable at the time

  Aggression is displaces onto an alternative - Weaker, available and not abstract
• Research into frustration-aggression, Geen

  Method: Male university student complete a jigsaw with level of aggression manipulated

  1. Impossible puzzle
  2. Ran out of time due to interfering confederates
  3. Insulted by confederates for not being able to do the puzzle

  Ppts then gave electrical shocks when a mistake was made

  Findings:

  • Insulted ppts - Strongest shocks on average then interfered then impossible
  • More intense shocks than control group (Non-frustrated)
• Role of environmental cues, Berkowitz

  • Frustration creates a readiness for aggression
  • Aggressive cues - Increase chances of acting upon them
  • Cues!
• Role of environmental cues, Berkowitz + LePage

  Method: Students given electrical shocks in a lab setting - Create anger and frustration

  • Then able to give shocks to confederate

  Findings:

  • Number of shocks - Prescence or absence of weapons
  • Two guns next to shock machine - Average number of shocks were 6
  • No guns - Average number of shocks were 5

  Conclusion:

  • Supports presence of aggressive environmental cues stimulate aggression
• Evaluation of the frustration-aggression hypothesis - Research support

  Marcus-Newhall et al - Conducted a meta-analysis of 50 studies of displaced aggression

  • Investigated situations - Aggressive behaviour directed against a target

  Conclusions:

  • Displaced aggression reliable
  • Ppts provoked but unable to retaliate - More frustrated were significantly likely to aggress against an innocent party

  Strength: High validity as it is supported by multiple studies
• Evaluation of the frustration-aggression hypothesis - If aggression is really cathartic

  Bushman: Ppts who vented anger by hitting punchbag - Mare angry and aggressive rather than less

  • Doing nothing - More effective in reducing anger

  Differs from the frustration-aggression hypothesis

  Limitation: Validity brought into question
• Evaluation of the frustration-aggression hypothesis - Real-life application

  • Berkowitz 'Trigger can pull the finger' - Gun control debate in USA
  • Some states allowing open carry - Concern whether it is a cue to aggression

  Strength: Applicable research that cam be use in governmental policies