social explanations: frustration aggression hypothesis

• the frustration aggression hypothesis states aggression is a psychological drive similar to biological drives. We experience frustration if our attempt to achieve a goal is blocked by an external factor. Frustration creates an aggressive drive leading to aggressive thoughts/behaviours
• aggressive behaviour is cathartic because it reduces the drive and makes further aggression less likely
• the cause of frustration may be:

  • abstract like the government
  • too powerful and we risk punishment like a teacher who gave you a low grade
  • unavailable so aggression is displaced onto an alternative such as a not abstract, weaker and available option such as a sibling or object
• the weapon effect shows that cues make aggression more likely. Researchers found once students became frustrated in a lab task, they were more likely to give (fake) electric shocks when they could see a weapon next to them. Weapon effect shows that frustration only creates a readiness for aggression. cues increase likelihood of actual aggression
• the 4 things that frustration-aggression hypothesis suggests are:

  • frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of frustration
  • aggressive behaviour is cathartic
  • aggression may be displaced
  • the weapon effect shows that cues makes aggression more likely
• Geen’s study of frustration and aggression procedure: male university students completed a jigsaw puzzle, frustration was manipulated in one of 3 ways. for some participants the puzzle was impossible, others ran out of time because another student (confederate) kept interfering and others were insulted by a confederate. Later participants were able to give fake electric shocks
• Geen’s study on frustration and aggression findings and conclusions: insulted participants gave the strongest shocks on average, then the interfered group, then the impossible task group. All 3 groups selected more intense shocks than a non-frustrated control group
• One strength is support for the key concept of displaced aggression. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of studies where aggression was directed at a human target other than the one that caused frustration. Provoked participants who could not retaliate against the original source were more likely to aggress against an innocent target than participants who weren’t provoked. This showed that frustration can lead to aggression against a weaker target
• One limitation is that aggression may not be cathartic. Bushman found that people who vented anger by repeatedly hitting a punchbag became more aggressive rather than less. Using venting to reduce anger is like using petrol to put out a fire. This shows that a central assumption of the frustration-aggression hypothesis may not be valid
• One limitation is that the linked between frustration and aggression is complex. Frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression and aggression can occur with frustration as the link is not automatic. Someone who feels frustration may behave in a range of different ways. Someone behaving aggressively may have many reasons for doing so. This suggests that the frustration-aggression hypothesis is inadequate as it only explains how aggression arises in some situations but not in others