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GCSE Psychology Aggression

Student:________________

Tutor:__________________________

Unit 2: Understanding other people

Social learning theory

Psychodynamic theory

Biological approach

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AGGRESSION - What is aggression?

Imagine you are writing a dictionary for GCSE psychology students. How could you explain

aggression?

When we have discussed your responses make sure you have written a good definition in the

glossary.

Now read the following examples and state whether you think they are aggressive acts or not:

◊ A woman shouts at her boyfriend in the street for looking at another woman;

◊ A soldier shoots an enemy dead;

◊ A driver gesticulates at another on the motorway for pulling out in front of her;

◊ A young boy spits on another as he walks past;

◊ A man pushes his wife because she gets in his way.

Aggression can be physical

It can also be verbal

Can you think of some examples of both?

In this topic we will focus on the kind of aggression that is intentional and destructive. What

causes this behaviour? What role do parents play? How can aggression be reduced?

Biological explanations Do you think that people are born with an aggressive manner, or do they learn

it as a result of their environment?

ACTIVITY:

Before you go on, write down what you think makes a person aggressive. Try to think of four or five

different explanations.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

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From a biological perspective, researchers have looked at the role of the .....................................,

................................ and .............................................. in aggression.

They believe that these are important factors in our biology that can affect our behaviour.

The Brain

- Part of the brain called the ................................................

influence things such as .............................., ...........................

.......................................... and ...........................

- The part of the brain that controls the behaviours

and stops us being aggressive is the ........................................

.............................................

- ............... ............ affecting both these parts of the brain may lead to abnormally high levels of

aggression.

Case study of aggression Charles Whitman climbed up the clock tower at the

University of Texas on August 1, 1966 and shot 12 people with

a high-powered rifle. He had also killed others including his

mother, and left a letter asking for his brain to be examined

after his death, to find out what was making him kill. A post

mortem revealed he had a tumour pressing on the part of his

brain that causes aggression, the amygdala in the limbic

system.

Clip of shooting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTU5lPzKvjI

Letter from Charles Whitman http://www.popsubculture.com/pop/bio_project/charles_whitman.html

ACTIVITY

How does the example of Charles Whitman support the idea that aggression could be due to a

person’s biology? Can Charles Whitman be held responsible for his behaviour? How do you think the

law should treat people who are violent if it is not their fault? Write down your answers.

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The biological approach also indicates that the higher levels of certain chemicals or hormones are

linked to aggression. For example:

Hormones

Males are ____________________________________________

Males have more_______________________ than females.

As a result, this hormone is thought to be the cause of ____________________________

This has been supported by findings that _______________________have higher levels of

testosterone than ____________________________.

Chromosomes

Humans have __________________________ in each cell, half of which we inherit form our

mothers and half from our fathers.

The 23rd pair, for instance, determines whether we are ________ (XY) or ________ (XX).

If one of these pairs I damaged in anyway, or if we have more chromosomes than normal, we

may show certain ___________________________ or may suffer with certain

____________________________.

Some ___________________________ occur spontaneously; others may occur if the

mother ______________________while ______________, for instance.

It used to be believed that males with an extra chromosome in the __________ (XYY) may

result in the person being _____________. These people tended to be extremely tall and

male. This is not now found to be true. What other reason do you think may have caused

the abnormal behaviour in this group of people?

ACTIVITY

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PSYCHODYNAMIC EXPLANATION

The main focus of this approach is that aggression is innate

(inborn). One of the explanations put forward from this

Approach is the frustration-aggression hypothesis.

Freud suggested that we have an unconscious drive that causes

aggressive behaviour. Our aggressive behaviour is caused by an

internal force, or instinct, which he called Thanatos. It is this that drives us towards self-

destruction. All the time this instinct is building up inside us, it creates pressure, until sooner

or later we cannot control it and it makes us do something aggressive.

Dollard et al (1939) argued that, although we might have an aggressive instinct building up

inside us, Freud was wrong to suggest that it would suddenly spill over into aggressive

behaviour for no reason. They said it needed something to trigger it off.

They proposed the frustration-aggression hypothesis.

People are motivated to reach goals but, if they are blocked, then frustration occurs.

EXAMPLE: if a task is too difficult or someone stops us from doing something we will

become frustrated and then, because we are frustrated, we behave aggressively.

ACTIVITY

Can you think of an occasion when you were frustrated? Did it result in you behaving

aggressively?

This explanation argues that aggression may be delayed or directed onto a target other than

the cause of the frustration. An example of this is scapegoating, when aggression is turned

onto an individual or group that is not the cause of frustration but is a ‘safe target’, because it

is less powerful and not likely to retaliate.

Read the following scenario and identify the scapegoat;

Nicholas has had a bad day at work. He was supposed to meet his target

of selling a certain number of ice creams But it has been raining all day and

people haven’t been to the beach where he parks his van. On his way home

the car in front of him is driving very slowly; Nicholas beeps his horn and

shouts at the driver as he overtakes.

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ACTIVITY

In groups see if you can come up with an example of someone experiencing frustration through a

blocked goal which, then leads to an act of aggression on a scapegoat.

ACTIVITY

Not everyone who experiences frustration goes on to behave aggressively, can you think of

reasons why? Make a note of these on some rough paper first.

1.

2.

3.

4.

So, what can we conclude about the relationship between frustration and aggression?

Frustration ...............................................................................................................................................................

What other feelings, other than aggression do you think that frustration might lead to?

KEY STUDY – Berkowitz (1968)

Aim: Can people learn to associate stimulus such as guns with

anger or releasing anger?

Method:__________________________________________

________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

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Results:________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

RESEARCH METHODS

What research method does Berkowitz use?

What is an advantage of using this method of investigation?

What is the independent variable in this research?

What is the dependent variable?

Write a hypothesis for this investigation

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Social learning explanation of aggression

Social learning theory suggests that aggressive behaviour, like

all other types of behaviour is caused by people seeing how

other people behave, and copying it.

As people experience new situations, they look to other people

for guidance as to how they should act.

This is called ______________.

For children, there are lots of new situations, so they are more likely than adults to copy what they

see. This is know as ________________.

Social learning theory stresses the importance of indirectly learning through the experiences of

others. This is called _____________________ _____________.

We can learn new ways to behave just by watching what other people are doing.

ACTIVITY

Can you identify some behaviours which are learned by children this way?

Who’s behaviour do you think they will imitate particularly?

ACTIVITY

These people are called role models

Who have been the role models in your life?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

The most important factor in whether we imitate behaviour or not is if we see the behaviour

reinforced.

Reinforced means.........................................................................................................................................................

If a child sees the behaviour reinforced, it creates an expectation that they will be reinforced for

the behaviour if they imitate it. It is this expectation that motivates the behaviour.

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ACTIVITY

Identify how aggression can be learnt using the example of a child watching a film where the hero

defeats the baddy by hitting him. Use the following words in your response: Monitoring, vicarious

learning, role model, imitates, reinforcement.

KEY STUDY – Bandura (1961)

Aim:_________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Method:___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Results:_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

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ACTIVITY

How does reinforcement explain why aggressive behaviour might take place in one situation not in

another?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

WAYS OF REDUCING AGGRESSION

RESEARCH METHODS

ACTIVITY

Read the investigation conducted by Patterson (1967) on page 168 of

the text book.

Identify what method of investigation is used.

______________________________________________________________

Now identify one advantage of using this method of investigation.

Now identify one disadvantage of using this method of investigation.

______________________________________________________________

_

ACTIVITY

In Read the information provided on real life cases.

Do you think that social learning theory suggests that the media have an effect on

aggression? You will have heard of cases where people have injured others and said that

they were imitating a character in particular film. Do you think this could be true?

In groups Suggest arguments for and against.

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One of reasons for studying aggression is to identify ways in which it may be reduced.

Biological approach suggests that aggression could be reduced through the use of surgery or

chemicals.

ACTIVITY

In groups discuss as many abnormal behaviours as you can think of that are treated in physical way.

EVALUATION

1.

2._________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

The psychodynamic approach – see page 171 of the course book.

Sport provides an opportunity for ______________ :

_________________________________________________________________________

But Freud also argued that simply watching competitive sport was also ____________________:

Freud also argued that the ________________ of aggression ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

This involves transferring aggression ______________ and _____________________________

This is called a defence mechanism. To avoid aggression against others, this aggression should be

directed at objects: ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

According to Berkowitz, _______________ is more likely to lead to _________________ if

there is an ________________ ______ __________.

KEY STUDY

Baron (1977)

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Aim: To test whether there were certain factors that could reduce aggression.

Method:

Results: Showed that in the first three conditions drivers showed _________________________

than when the woman was dressed _________________________________________________

Conclusions:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

EVALUATION – see page 173 of course book.

Identify one negative criticism the psychodynamic approach suggest as a way of reducing aggression.

RESEARCH METHODS

Barons study is an example of a field experiment.

Give one advantage and one disadvantage using a field experiment.

See page 71-72 for notes.

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Identify one positive criticism the psychodynamic approach suggest as a way of reducing aggression.

ACTIVITY

In groups, think of the activities you do for pleasure. Do you think they help you to release you

aggressive urges?

Make a list of all the things the members of your group do. Then put them in order of which you

think will help you to cope with your aggressive instincts the best. If your list is similar to other

groups’ lists, put a list of the top five activities on the wall, together with an explanation of how they

reduce aggression in people.

The social learning approach to reducing aggression. See notes on page 173.

According to social learning theory, and Bandura’s research, if we see models _______________

for aggressive behaviour we should be ____________________________________________

But seeing ______________________ models can also _________ aggression.

EVALUATION – See notes on page 174 course book.

Identify one problem of using punishment as a way of reducing aggression.

Identify one way in which social learning theory has been useful in reducing aggression.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY

SLT advises that, to reduce aggression, children should not be exposed to aggressive role models on

television. Freud would advise that, through ‘catharsis’, watching aggressive role models will reduce

aggression.

Which of these two views seems right to you? Divide yourselves into two groups and have a debate

about this issue.

Glossary - write a definition for these key terms

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Aggression

Hormones

Psychosurgery

Serotonin

Chromosomes

Limbic system

Prefrontal cortex

Brain disease

Thanatos

Ego defence

mechanisms

Vicarious learning

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Useful websites

Clip of Charles Whitman shooting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTU5lPzKvjI

Letter from Charles Whitman

http://www.popsubculture.com/pop/bio_project/charles_whitman.html

Children see, children do information commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO-IjmZae2I&feature=fvst

Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZXOp5PopIA&feature=related

Acknowledging: Understanding Psychology, 3rd Edition by Barbara Woods, Nigel Holt, Rob Lewis

and Victoria Carrington, published by Hodder Education.

GCSE Psychology, Mike Stanley, Karen Boswell, Sarah Harris, Dominic Helliwell and Joanne

McKenzie (23 Jul 2009), published by Nelson Thorne.

KEY POINTS TO STRUCTURE REVISION

- Aggression

Monitoring

Punishment

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Do you know the main features of these explanations of aggression?

◊ Biological, including the role of hormones, brain disease

and chromosomal abnormality

◊ Psychodynamic, including the frustration-aggression hypothesis

◊ Social learning, including modelling, punishment and monitoring

Can you describe and evaluate studies of the development of aggression? This includes studies based

on the following approaches:

◊ Biological

◊ Psychodynamic

◊ Social learning

Can you describe ways of reducing aggression, based on these explanations?

◊ Biological

◊ Psychodynamic

◊ Social learning

Can you evaluate the ways of reducing aggression based on these explanations?

◊ Biological

◊ Psychodynamic

◊ Social learning

Examiners tip: This requires an understanding of theories, not studies. The next section requires an understanding of studies not theories. It is important to understand the difference between these two terms.

Examiners tip: Remember, when evaluating studies, you can make positive as well as negative comments.

Examiners tip: Remember, the methods you describe must relate to the explanation named in the question.

Examiners tip: You can suggest why these ways are successful or unsuccessful.