PSYC 308 Lecture Notes - Stepfamily, Reactive Devaluation, Bride Burning
Document Summary
Why aggression occurs depends on whether it is hostile or instrumental aggression: hostile aggression: refers to behavior motivated by feelings of anger, and hostility. Aim is to harm another- physically or psychologically. Instrumental aggression: refers to behavior that is intended to harm another in the service of motive. Ex: gain status, attract attention, and acquire wealth: many acts of aggression involve a mix of hostile and instrumental motives. Football player hurting another (hostile aggression) to secure a place on the team (instrumental aggression) Situational determinants of aggression: the right mix of situational factors can give rise to violence, whether it takes place between different ethnic or religious groups. It is true that aggressive behavior arises because of aggressive people (bullies, sociopaths ), but it is also true that situational factors help us understand why aggression happens. Ex: certain genes lead to aggressive behavior only when certain circumstances occur in the individual"s life.
