Agression

Aggression

Elham Aljammas MAY 2015
L10

Objectives

1.Definition
2.psychpathology of aggression 3.Theories of aggression

Definition

• aggression,
• a form of behavior characterized by physical or verbal attack. Aggression may be directed outward, against others, or inward, against the self, leading to self-destructive or suicidal actions. It may be driven by emotional arousal, often some form of frustration, or it may be instrumental, when it is used to secure a reward.

Sigmund Freud :

postulated that all humans possessed an aggressive drive from birth, which, together with the sexual drive, contributed to personality development, and found expression in behavior
suggested that aggression was innate, an inherited fighting instinct, as significant in humans as it was in other animals.. Many psychoanalysts have argued against these theories, which see aggression as a primary drive, offering the possibility that aggression may be a reaction to frustration of primary needs.

Albert Bandura

More recently, Albert Bandura has performed studies :indicated that aggression is a learned behavior. Using children in his studies, Bandura demonstrated that, by watching another person act aggressively and obtain desirable rewards or by learning through personal experience that such behavior yields rewards, aggression can be learned.

• More recently, Albert Bandura has performed studies that indicated that aggression is a learned behavior. Using children in his studies, Bandura demonstrated that, by watching another person act aggressively and obtain desirable rewards or by learning through personal experience that such behavior yields rewards, aggression can be learned.

Leonard Berkowitz :

. A number of psychologists: Anonymity may facilitate aggression: when an individual is part of a large group, he may be more likely to elicit aggressive behavior, in a process known as deindividuation.
children and adolescents are vulnerable to media portrayals of violence, particularly in film and television. Popular media tends to depict violence as relatively common, and generally effective.

biological basis

Recent research on the biological basis aggression has sought to show that genetic factors may be responsible for aggressive behavior.
In the 1970s it was suggested that men who were born with an extra Y chromosome were likely to display more episodes of aggressive behavior than men who were not born with this extra chromosome. Still, conclusive proof has yet to be found for a genetic theory of aggression.of

Other factors,

including learning difficulties, minimal brain damage,brain abnormalities—such as temporal lobe epilepsy—
and such social factors as crowding and poverty have been suggested to have contributed in certain cases to exaggeratedly aggressive behavior.
Psychological investigation into aggressive behavior continues, with significant corrolary studies being performed in endocrinology—to determine whether hormonal imbalances have an impact on behavior—and in primate research. Each theory may be accurate in part, since aggression is believed to have a number of determining factors.
• .

Theories of Aggression

Psychodynamic view:
Emphasises the innate/instinctual aspect of aggression
Triggers include anger, frustration, shame

Evolutionary view:

All animals display the capacity to harm or kill other members of their species
Aggression: strategy evoked when survival or reproductive success is threatened


Theories of Aggression
· Cognitive neoassociation theory: Exposure to aversive stimuli trigger aggressive thoughts and actions.
· Cognitive-social perspective: Aggression results from reward, punishment, cognitive processes and social learning
· General aggression model: Person and situation variables combine to determine the presence of aggression

The Biology of Aggression

Aggression is controlled by the brain
Can be evoked by electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus and the amygdala
Lesions of the amygdala produce a tame animal
Aggression is modulated by hormones testosterone and serotonin
Genetics: Animal studies reveal that an aggressive temperament can be inherited

Person Perception

Person perception is the process of forming impressions of others.
Perceptions of others can be influenced by a variety of factors, including physical appearance. People tend to attribute desirable characteristics such as sociable, friendly, poised, warm, competent, and well adjusted to those who are good looking. People use social schemas, organized clusters of ideas about categories of social events and people, to categorize people into types.