Human Aggression and ViolenceHuman Aggression and Violence

CHAPTER 5CHAPTER 5

AggressionAggression

The basic ingredient in violent crimeIs human aggression instinctive, biological,

learned, or some combination of these characteristics? The methods designed to control, reduce, or

eliminate aggressive behavior will differ depending on perspective

How is Aggression Defined?How is Aggression Defined? Difficult to define

Which concepts and behaviors to include and exclude

Passive-aggressive behaviorIntention is aggressive, behavior is passive and

indirectIrrelevant to study of crime, since doesn’t often

manifest directly in violent or antisocial behavior

Buss’s Varieties of AggressionBuss’s Varieties of Aggression

Active PassiveDirect Indire

ctDirect Indirec

t

Physical

Punching/

Hitting

Practical joke, booby trap

Obstructingpassa

ge

Refusing to

perform necessary task

VerbalInsulting

victim

Malicious

gossip

Refusing to speak

Refusing

consent

Two Types of AggressionTwo Types of AggressionHostile Aggression

ExpressiveInstrumental Aggression

Two Types of Aggression Hostile AggressionHostile Aggression

Intense and disorganizing emotion of anger in response to anger-inducing conditions

The aggressor’s goal is to make a victim sufferMost criminal homicides, rapes, and other violent

crimes directed at harming the victim

Two Types of Aggression Instrumental AggressionInstrumental Aggression

The desire for some object or status possessed by another person

Robbery, burglary, larceny, and various white-collar crimes

No intent to harm unless one interferes with objective

Definition of AggressionDefinition of AggressionBehavior perpetrated or attempted with the

intention of harming another individual physically or psychologically, or to destroy an object

Behavior may not necessarily qualify as criminal

Definition of ViolenceDefinition of ViolenceDestructive physical aggression intentionally

directed at harming other persons or objects May be methodical or random, sustained or

fleeting, intensive or uncontrolled

Theoretical Perspectives of Theoretical Perspectives of AggressionAggression

PsychodynamicEthologicalEvolutionary

psychologyFrustration-

aggression hypothesis

Social LearningExcitation theoryDisplaced aggression

theoryCognitive models

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression

PsychodynamicPsychodynamicHumans susceptible to aggressive energy from

birthHydraulic model » Aggressive energy must be

drained off or will build up to dangerous levels In order to control violence, individuals must

be provided with multiple but appropriate channels for catharsis

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression

EthologicalEthologicalInherited instinct of both humans and animals

to defend territory that ensures sufficient food, water, space and reproductionTerritorialityRitualized Aggression

Evolved into evolutionary psychology

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression

Evolutionary PsychologyEvolutionary PsychologyThe evolution of behavior using the principles

of natural selectionAggression normal, not pathologicalResearchers have found little evidence to

support perspective

Theoretical Perspectives of Aggression

Frustration-Aggression Frustration-Aggression HypothesisHypothesis

Individuals who are frustrated, thwarted, annoyed, or threatened will behave aggressively

Berkowitz » Frustration increases probability of aggressionWeapons effect

Frustration-Aggression HypothesisFrustration-Aggression Hypothesis

Goal

Aggression

No aggression

•Interpretation•Learning history•Aggression-eliciting stimuli

Frustration Anger

Other Theoretical Perspectives of Other Theoretical Perspectives of AggressionAggressionCognitive-neoassociation model

Berkowitz emphasis on cognitive factorsExcitation transfer theory

Physiological arousal dissipates over timeDisplaced aggression theory

The individual can not aggress against source of provocation but able to be aggressive toward innocent target

Road RageRoad RageAn incident in which an angry, impatient, or

aroused motorist intentionally injures or kills, or tries to injure or kill, another motorist, passenger, or pedestrian, in response to a traffic dispute, altercation, or grievance

Provocation may be real or imagined

Aggressive DrivingAggressive DrivingThe result of a motorist becoming impatient or

frustratedOften not the direct result of the behavior of

another motoristUsually considered less serious than road rage

Who are the Road Ragers?Who are the Road Ragers?Young males, ages 18–35 Criminal and violent historiesPsychiatric problems Drug or alcohol problems

Social Learning TheorySocial Learning TheoryA child has many opportunities to observe

aggression, is reinforced for his or her own aggression, or is the object of aggression

Biological structures can set limits on the types of aggressive responses that can be learned, this influences the rate at which learning progresses

Social Learning Factors

ModelingModelingBobo doll experimentThree major types of models (Bandura):

Family membersMembers of one’s subcultureSymbolic models provided by the mass media

Observation modeling

Cognitive Models of Aggression

Cognitive ScriptsCognitive ScriptsLearned and memorized through daily

experiences, direct or observedUnique to each person, but once established it

becomes resistant to change and may persist into adulthood

Must be rehearsedEasily retrieved and utilized when the individual

faces a problem

Cognitive Models of Aggression Hostile Attribution BiasHostile Attribution Bias

The tendency to interpret ambiguous actions as hostile and threateningDevelops in pre-school and remains stable

throughout adulthoodChildhood exposure to abuse and maltreatmentAn attempt to control and dominate environmentExists along a continuum

Two Types of AggressionTwo Types of Aggression

Overt AggressionDirect confrontationDecreases with ageAnger, high arousalLack of social

cognitions Begins early

Covert AggressionSly, underhandedIncreases with ageLess emotionReliance on

cognitive capabilitiesMay evolves as well-

learned strategy to escape punishment

Two Forms of AggressionTwo Forms of Aggression

Reactive AggressionA hostile act

displayed in response to a perceived threat or provocation

Lack of control Anger expressions,

temper tantrums, and vengeful hostility

Proactive AggressionLess emotionalDriven by

expectations of rewards

Bullying, domination, teasing, name-calling

Gender Differences in AggressionGender Differences in AggressionMales and females equally physically

aggressive as toddlersBoys more overtly aggressive in elementary

schoolGirls more covert

Relational aggressionCultural and socialization processes promote

different kinds of aggression

Media and ViolenceMedia and ViolenceThe research community is sharply divided on

the long-term effects of violent media on aggressive behavior

Media and Violence

Television and MoviesTelevision and MoviesResearch suggests that portrayals of violence

on television and movies may have a significant effect on the frequency and type of aggressive and violent behavior expressed by America’s youth

Media and Violence Contagion EffectContagion EffectCopycat effectTendency in some people to model or copy an

activity portrayed in the entertainment or news media Teen suicideSchool shootings

Media and Violence

Video GamesVideo GamesViolent video games may be one risk factor,

and when coupled with other risk factors, may contribute to antisocial or even violent behavior

It is unlikely that video games directly contribute to adulthood homicide and excessive aggression

Chapter 5

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Aggressive drivingCognitive-

neoassociation model

Cognitive scripts model

Contagion effect (copycat effect)

Cybercrime Difference-in-

degree

Displaced aggression theory

Evolutionary psychology

Excitation transfer theory

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

Hostile aggressionHostile attribution

bias

Chapter 5

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Hostile attribution model

Instrumental aggression

Passive-aggressive behaviors

Proactive aggression

Psychodynamic model (hydraulic model)

Reactive aggressionRitualized

aggressionRoad rageRuminationTerritorialityTheoryWeapons effect