The Nature & Nurture of Aggression

    Ψ  Aggression: Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone.

    Ψ  Psychologists classify aggression as instrumental & hostile. Instrumental aggression is aggressive behavior 
intended to achieve a goal. It is not necessarily intended to hurt another person. Most terrorism is instrumental 
aggression.

    Ψ  Theories of Aggression

    •  Instinct theory: This theory has largely been discredited. The instinctive theory of aggression claims that aggression 
builds up whether or not there is any outside provocation until it is likely that aggressive behavior will result. 

    •  The theory of aggression as drive claims that aggression a response to the frustration of some goal-directed behavior 
by an outside source. These goals include basic needs like food, water, sleep, sex, love, & recognition.

    •  Neural influences: Researchers have found neural systems (specific areas of the brain) when stimulated produce 
aggression.
    •  Genetic influences: Heredity influences the neural system's sensitivity to aggressive cues.

    •  Blood chemistry: influences the neural system's sensitivity to aggressive cues, e.g. Increased alcohol levels enhance 
aggressiveness & aggressiveness correlates with the male hormone, testosterone.

Ψ  Psychological Influences on Aggression    

•  Frustration & Aggression Theory: posits that feelings of aggression are brought on when we are prevented from obtaining 
a goal. Fear of punishment / disapproval for aggressing may cause displacement (aggression redirected against a target 
other than the one causing the frustration or even against one's self). Frustration aggression theory predicts that when 
individuals are frustrated & cannot aggress against the source of their frustration, they will attack less powerful groups.     

• Modified Frustration & Aggression Theory: (Berkowitz) Looks at aggression as an externally elicited drive. Frustration 
creates a emotional readiness to respond in an aggressive manner (ANGER). This theory suggests that certain cues in our 
environment have aggressive cue value. If, then, a person becomes frustrated in the presence of these cues, he will behave 
more aggressively.     

•  There are rewards of aggression.    

•  Social Learning theory (Albert Bandura) aggression is acquired through viewing aggressive models; people are aggressive 
because        

       •  they have learned aggressive responses through past experience 
         •  they are encouraged by social conditions to behave aggressively. 
           •  they receive or expect to receive rewards for behaving in an aggressive manner.    

•  Social Learning theory: Modeling is the process through which a person observes the behavior of another, forms an idea 
(encodes it), & uses the performance as a guide to her own behavior. Through modeling the learner acquires new forms of 
behavior (Observational learning effect). Modeling can also inhibit (weaken) or disinhibit (strengthen) behavior. Models serve 
as cues to behavior.     

•  Environmental influences: Aggression is triggered by:        

        •  Painful incidents 
         •  Heat 
          •  Attacks 
           •  Crowding - subjective feeling that there is not enough space per person.    

Ψ  Reducing Aggression    

Ψ  Catharsis: The Greek word for purgation, cleansing, & purification is a word that has become part of the learned 
vocabulary of scholars. Catharsis is a psychodynamic principle that, in its most basic sense, is simply an emotional release. 
Further, the catharsis hypothesis maintains that aggressive or sexual urges are relieved by "releasing" aggressive or sexual 
energy, usually through action or fantasy. This hypothesis is not well supported by research. This is a central component of 
the drive theory of aggression. Many people still feel that "blowing off steam" periodically is important to good mental health. 

                                                            ---------------------------------------
                                                                 Social Psychology
                                                                    Robert C. Gates