9: Aggression
- Page ID
- 257117
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Chapter Overview
Aggression is a complex social behavior shaped by biological, emotional, situational, personal, and cultural influences. This chapter explores how social psychologists define aggression and distinguish between emotional aggression, which is driven largely by anger and the desire to cause harm, and instrumental aggression, in which aggression is used as a means to achieve another goal.
The chapter begins by examining the biological and emotional foundations of aggression, including evolutionary explanations, the role of the brain, and the influence of hormones and neurotransmitters such as testosterone and serotonin. It then considers how the social environment can increase or decrease aggressive behavior, focusing on situational factors, rewards and punishment, social learning and modeling, and exposure to violent behavior.
Finally, the chapter examines personal and cultural influences on aggression, including individual differences, gender, and cultural norms. Throughout the chapter, you will consider how biological predispositions interact with social experiences and situations to shape aggressive behavior and how understanding these influences can help us think more critically about aggression and violence in everyday life.
Chapter Learning Objectives
1. Defining Aggression
- Define aggression and violence as social psychologists do.
- Differentiate emotional from instrumental aggression.
2. The Biological and Emotional Causes of Aggression
- Explain how aggression might be evolutionarily adaptive.
- Describe how different parts of the brain influence aggression.
- Summarize the effects of testosterone and serotonin on aggression.
3. The Violence around Us: How the Social Situation Influences Aggression
- Review the situational variables that increase and decrease aggression.
- Explain the different effects of reward, punishment, and modeling on aggression.
- Review the influences of viewing violent behavior on aggression and explain why these effects might occur.
4. Personal and Cultural Influences on Aggression
- Summarize the individual difference variables related to aggression.
- Explain how men and women differ, on average, in terms of aggression.
- Give examples of some cultural differences in aggression.
- 9.1: Prelude to Aggression
- This page examines the incident where Luis Suarez bit an opponent in a FIFA World Cup match, resulting in a major ban from soccer. It explores the concept of aggression in both sports and everyday life, pondering the tension between human care and violence. The discussion suggests aggression arises primarily from self-protection instincts, prompting a broader investigation into the origins and potential mitigations of aggression in society.
- 9.2: Defining Aggression
- This page explores the definitions and distinctions of aggression and violence within social psychology, defining aggression as harmful behavior and violence as extreme aggression. It identifies emotional and instrumental aggression, as well as nonphysical forms like gossip and cyberbullying.
- 9.3: The Biological and Emotional Causes of Aggression
- This page reviews the nature of aggression, emphasizing its evolutionary benefits and genetic influences, along with environmental factors like childhood experiences. It highlights the roles of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hormones (testosterone and serotonin), and external influences like alcohol in aggressive behavior. Negative emotions, particularly frustration and pain, are linked to increased aggression, while positive emotions can mitigate it.
- 9.4: The Violence around Us- How the Social Situation Influences Aggression
- This page examines the social and situational factors influencing aggression, highlighting the role of social reinforcement, modeling, and media exposure. It discusses how aggression can be learned from violent role models and the ineffectiveness of consistent punishment. The impact of violent video games on aggression is reviewed, noting increased aggressive thoughts and behaviors among players.
- 9.5: Personal and Cultural Influences on Aggression
- This page examines the complexities of aggression, including its roots in individual traits, social situations, and cultural contexts. It highlights the differences in aggressive behaviors between genders, influenced by biological and societal factors. The need for nonviolent conflict resolution strategies is emphasized, advocating for early intervention, emotional control, and education to reduce aggression.
- 9.6: Thinking Like a Social Psychologist about Aggression
- This page examines human aggression and violence through a social psychology lens, indicating that self-concern often drives aggressive behavior more than a desire to harm others. It links social tragedies, such as school shootings and terrorism, to threats against self-concept while discussing personality, situational factors, and the impact of social behaviors and media on aggression.
- 9.7: Chapter Summary
- This page explores aggression as behavior aimed at harming others, focusing on the significance of intent in distinguishing between emotional and instrumental types. It examines biological and emotional influences, including the amygdala, hormones, and negative feelings. The page critiques catharsis theory, discusses media violence effects, and considers cultural norms and social learning.
- 9.8: Additional Learning Opportunities
- This page presents a range of application activities designed for students and instructors to enhance their grasp of aggression concepts. It includes tasks such as defining aggression, analyzing influences, exploring media effects, and cultural comparisons. Learners are encouraged to evaluate real-world examples, propose reduction strategies, and reflect on the role of anger in social change.
Thumbnail: Instrumental Aggression and Competition. (CC0 1.0; via Wikimedia Commons).