🎠Social Psychology Unit 12 – Aggression and Antisocial Behavior

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Aggression involves behavior intended to harm another individual who is motivated to avoid that harm
• Hostile aggression stems from feelings of anger with the goal to inflict pain or injury
• Instrumental aggression involves intentional acts of harm to achieve a goal other than causing pain (robbery)
• Antisocial behavior includes actions that violate societal norms and the rights of others
  • Can range from minor infractions (lying) to serious crimes (assault, murder)
• Prosocial behavior encompasses actions intended to benefit others or society as a whole (volunteering, helping)
• Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person
• Emotional regulation involves managing and responding to emotional experiences in a socially appropriate manner

Theories of Aggression

• Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis proposes that aggression is a result of blocking or frustrating a person's efforts to attain a goal
• Social Learning Theory suggests aggression is learned through observation and imitation of others' behavior
  • Emphasizes the role of modeling and reinforcement in shaping aggressive behavior
• Cognitive Neoassociation Theory asserts that aversive events (frustrations, provocations) produce negative affect, stimulating aggressive thoughts and emotions
• Script Theory proposes that individuals develop mental scripts for behavior based on past experiences and observations
  • Aggressive scripts can be activated by exposure to aggressive cues or situations
• Excitation Transfer Theory states that physiological arousal from one stimulus can be misattributed to another, leading to increased aggression
• Evolutionary Theories propose that aggression may have adaptive value in terms of survival and reproduction
  • Aggression can serve to protect resources, defend territory, and secure mates

Biological Factors in Aggression

• Genetic influences play a role in aggressive behavior, with studies suggesting moderate heritability
• Hormones such as testosterone have been linked to increased aggression, particularly in males
  • Higher levels of testosterone correlate with dominant and competitive behavior
• Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine are involved in regulating aggressive impulses
  • Low serotonin levels are associated with impulsivity and aggression
• Brain structures such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are implicated in processing and regulating aggressive responses
• Substance abuse can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior by impairing judgment and self-control
• Certain mental disorders (conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder) are characterized by persistent aggressive and antisocial behavior
• Physical factors like pain, discomfort, or illness can lower the threshold for aggression

Social and Environmental Influences

• Family environment and parenting styles can shape the development of aggressive behavior
  • Exposure to domestic violence or harsh discipline increases the risk of aggression
• Peer influences and social norms can reinforce or discourage aggressive behavior
  • Association with aggressive peers can lead to increased aggression through modeling and reinforcement
• Media violence (television, video games) has been linked to increased aggression, particularly in children and adolescents
  • Exposure to violent content can desensitize individuals to aggression and promote aggressive scripts
• Cultural values and beliefs can influence the acceptability and expression of aggression
  • Some cultures may have norms that are more accepting of aggressive behavior
• Situational factors such as crowding, heat, and noise can increase the likelihood of aggression by creating discomfort and stress
• Social exclusion and rejection can trigger aggressive responses as a means of coping with the negative experience
• Provocation and interpersonal conflict are common precipitants of aggressive behavior

Forms of Antisocial Behavior

• Bullying involves repeated aggressive behavior intended to intimidate or harm others, often with a power imbalance
  • Can take physical, verbal, relational, or cyber forms
• Vandalism is the deliberate destruction or damage of public or private property
• Substance abuse includes the harmful use of drugs or alcohol, often leading to impaired judgment and increased aggression
• Gang involvement is associated with higher levels of violent and criminal behavior
  • Gangs provide a sense of identity and belonging but also reinforce aggressive norms
• Domestic violence refers to aggressive or abusive behavior within intimate relationships
  • Can include physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse
• White-collar crime encompasses nonviolent, financially motivated crimes committed by individuals in positions of power or trust (fraud, embezzlement)
• Hate crimes are motivated by bias against a particular group based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristics

Aggression in Different Contexts

• Workplace aggression can manifest as bullying, harassment, or violence among coworkers
  • Factors like job stress, organizational injustice, and poor leadership can contribute to workplace aggression
• School violence includes aggressive acts that occur within educational settings (bullying, fighting, school shootings)
  • School climate, peer dynamics, and individual factors play a role in school violence
• Domestic violence occurs within intimate relationships and can have severe physical and psychological consequences for victims
  • Power imbalances, learned aggression, and substance abuse are risk factors for domestic violence
• Sports aggression refers to aggressive behavior that occurs within the context of athletic competition
  • Factors like high arousal, frustration, and the pressure to win can increase sports aggression
• Road rage involves aggressive behavior directed towards other drivers, often triggered by frustration or perceived slights
• Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to harass, threaten, or intimidate others
  • The anonymity and distance of online interactions can disinhibit aggressive behavior
• Terrorism involves the use of violence or threat of violence to achieve political, religious, or ideological goals
  • Aggression in terrorism is often motivated by extremist beliefs and the desire to create fear and chaos

Prevention and Intervention Strategies

• Promoting prosocial behavior and empathy can reduce the likelihood of aggression
  • Programs that teach social-emotional skills and perspective-taking can foster prosocial behavior
• Cognitive-behavioral interventions aim to modify aggressive thoughts and teach anger management skills
  • Techniques like cognitive restructuring and relaxation training can help individuals regulate aggressive impulses
• Family-based interventions focus on improving parenting practices and reducing family conflict
  • Parent training programs can teach effective discipline strategies and promote positive parent-child relationships
• School-based prevention programs target bullying, violence, and aggression within educational settings
  • Implementing clear anti-bullying policies and promoting a positive school climate can reduce aggression
• Community-based approaches involve collaboration among schools, families, and community organizations to address aggression
  • Initiatives like after-school programs and mentoring can provide positive alternatives to aggressive behavior
• Media literacy education helps individuals critically evaluate and respond to violent media content
  • Teaching media literacy skills can reduce the impact of media violence on aggressive behavior
• Addressing societal and cultural norms that condone or glorify aggression is important for long-term prevention
  • Challenging harmful gender stereotypes and promoting nonviolent conflict resolution can shift societal attitudes

Real-World Applications and Case Studies

• The Columbine High School shooting (1999) highlighted the need for improved school safety and violence prevention measures
  • The incident led to increased focus on bullying, mental health, and threat assessment in schools
• The Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) demonstrated the powerful influence of social roles and situations on aggressive behavior
  • The study showed how quickly individuals can conform to aggressive roles when placed in a conducive environment
• The case of Kitty Genovese (1964) sparked research on the bystander effect and its impact on helping behavior in emergency situations
  • The case highlighted the diffusion of responsibility that can occur when multiple witnesses are present
• The Bobo doll experiment (Bandura, 1961) demonstrated the role of observational learning in the acquisition of aggressive behavior
  • Children who observed an adult model acting aggressively towards a Bobo doll were more likely to imitate that behavior
• The Zimbardo Prison Experiment (1971) illustrated the power of social roles and situations to elicit aggressive and antisocial behavior
  • Participants assigned to the role of guards quickly adopted aggressive and dehumanizing behavior towards prisoners
• The case of Jamie Bulger (1993) involved the abduction and murder of a toddler by two ten-year-old boys in England
  • The case raised questions about the influence of violent media and the development of aggressive behavior in children
• The Milgram obedience experiments (1963) showed how individuals can engage in aggressive behavior when instructed by an authority figure
  • The study highlighted the role of obedience and conformity in the perpetration of harmful acts