Psychology 301Social Psychology Lecture 9,

Sept 30, 2008

AggressionAggressionInstructor: Cherisse SeatonInstructor: Cherisse Seaton

OverviewReview:

Punishment and aggressionSocial Learning of Aggression

The big debate: T.V. violenceWhy does television violence

affect viewer's aggression?Group discussion question

Why does physical punishment increase aggression?

a.) Develops negative associations with the parent.b.) Punishing arousal and upset decreased learningc.) The act of ‘punishment’ itself, usually takes the form

of an aggressive act, thereby providing an aggressive model

But…Doing nothing is not a good option because aggression is

also associated with… Lack of monitoring Excessive sibling fighting

Review: Bobo doll studies Ss = childrenWatch a film in which an adult

attacks a large inflated Bobo doll.Experimental manipulation (IV):

the end of the film differed1. model punished 2. no consequences3. model rewarded

DV: child’s behaviour toward bobo doll

Review: Bobo doll studiesFirst evidence for the social learning of

aggression:Implications for television viewing?

School ShootingsColumbine High School

massacre Proliferated after displayed

in the news“Copycat” threats Taber

Among industrialized countries, the U.S. is one of the most violent . . .

The U.S. is certainly not the most violent place to live . . .

(1994)

The U.S. is certainly not the most violent place to live . . .

(2006)

The Big Debate: T.V. violenceSocial learning theory: we learn social beh.

by observing and imitatingCatharsis theories: built-up aggressive

energies can be reduced by watching others engage in aggressive beh.

different predictions re: violent TV consump

Canada & U.S.: b/w 1957 & 1974 Increase in violent TV Homicide rates doubled

CatharsisDefinition

“the notion that ‘blowing off steam’ – by performing an aggressive act, watching others engage in aggressive behaviour, or engaging in a fantasy of aggression – relieves built-up aggressive energies and hence reduces the likelihood of further aggressive behaviour”

CatharsisIndividuals allowed to ‘vent’ their frustrated

emotions by punching a punching bag aggressed more

Aggressive sports – hostility in high school football players increased as the season progressed

Spectators – levels of hostility increase while watching games, and often do not return to baseline until several hrs after game is over

Children and TelevisionOn average, kids spend nearly 4 hours a day

watching television, DVDs and videos

68% of 8- to 18-year-olds have a TV in their bedroom & spend an average of 1.5 hours more per day watching TV than kids without a TV in the bedroom

In 53% of households of 7th- to 12th-graders, there are no rules about TV watching

Two-thirds of all programming contains violence

Effects of Violent TelevisionEron & Huesman and colleaguesLongitudinal study of 875 3rd graders

Variables:Shows they preferred; how much they watchedAggression

Violent television viewing related to short term & long term aggression

Effects of Violent TelevisionSs = 396 2nd & 3rd grade boys, Manitoba,

CanadaExciting motocross racing video or violent

police action dramaFloor hockey: DV = aggression

Aggressive acts (throwing elbows, hitting with sticks, yelling) increased in both non-aggressive and aggressive boys who watched violent drama, but especially in aggressive boys.

Effects of Violent TelevisionLiebert & Baron, 1972

Media violence produces its effect on aggression in multiple ways . . .

Why does television violence affect viewer's aggression?1. Classical conditioning

“If they can do it, so can I”

2. Behavioural scripts/modeling“Oh, so that’s how you do it!”

3. Interpreting emotional state“I think it must be aggressive feelings that I’m experiencing”

4. Emotional desensitization“Ho-hum, another brutal beating – what’s on the other

channel?”

Classical conditioning1. “If they can do it, so can I”

Weakening of previously formed ‘associations’ between violent behaviour and negative outcomes

Weakens inhibitions towards aggression

Behavioural scripts/modeling2. “Oh, so that’s how you do it!”

Watching aggressive models may trigger imitation

Provides ideas

Interpreting emotional state3. “I think it must be aggressive feelings that

I’m experiencing”Environmental Factors

Physical discomfort causes: Negative emotional state Physiological arousal

Mistaken emotional labelling

Evidence for Misattribution of arousal

Schachter and Singer (1962) - two factor theory of emotion

Provoked physiological arousal with a shot of adrenaline. Some were told that there would be a physical reaction

and others told nothing. While they were waiting they had to fill out a

questionnaire that asks increasingly insulting questions. Also in the room is a stooge, who gets progressively

angrier until he tears up the paper and storms out (or one who acts euphorically)  

Schachter and Singer’s Experimental Design

EuphoriaPlaceboEpinephrine InformedEpinephrine

Uninformed

AngerPlaceboEpinephrine InformedEpinephrine

Uninformed

ResultsParticipants who

did not know what to expect tended to behave like the confederate.

Mistakenly assigned arousal to being angry or euphoric and they too became angry or euphoric.

Emotional desensitization effects4. “Ho-hum, another brutal beating – what’s on the other

channel?” Toward aggressive behaviour:

Less emotionally repulsed by the use of violence as a way of getting what they want.

Lower GSR response to violence (Thomas et al., 1977) Toward victims:

Experience less empathy for pain and suffering of victims.Priming:

Repeated exposure to aggressive model “primes” hostile thoughts.

More readily available in memory. Hostile Attribution Bias

Anderson & Dill (2000)

Violent Video games?Violent video

games provide another common exposure to aggressive models and weapons.

How important is media violence as a source of aggression?

Wood et al. (1991) reviewed the evidence and found thatthe effect of media violence was reliable, but of smaller magnitude than many other causes (e.g., direct provocation, alcohol, temperature).

What parents can do Some studies have shown that kids who

received media education had less violent behavior after watching violent programs.  Watch with kids: awarenessTalk about it

Offer alternative solutions or behaviours“Heros/heroines” offer use aggression to solve

problemsReinforce realistic worldview

Notion that it is not ‘real’ or not representativeDescriptive norms

Effects of Television

University of Michigan Health System summary and set of resources on TV's effects on children:

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/tv.htm#violence

How to Reduce AggressionHow to Reduce Aggression

What Are We Supposed to Do with Our Anger?Some strategies that can be used to deal with

anger are:Venting vs. self awareness.Diffusing anger through apology.Training in communication and problem-

solving skills.Building empathy.

Group discussion question: It is the middle of the school term and you

have been appointed to take over a fifth grade class for the remainder of the term. The former teacher left as a result of a nervous breakdown induced by a classroom full of aggressive children. With a couple of “colleagues” (fellow students), prepare a plan to bring this classroom under control. Detail several strategies and be prepared to present them to the class as a whole.

Next class…Theoretical perspectives

Evolutionary theoryThe determinants of aggression

PersonalitySituational

Frustration-aggression hypothesis