7125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Prefrontal Cortex, Begging The Question, Psychodynamics
21 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Lecture 9
Aggression
- Is it aggression?
o
- Aggression
oA verbal or physical act intended to cause harm to someone or something
oInstrumental aggression – intentional use of harmful behaviour so that one can
achieve some other goal
Ie kill/harm to get money or status
oHostile or affective aggression – intentional use of harmful behaviour in which the
goal is to cause injury to the victim
- Biological theories of aggression
oPsychodynamic theory: freud
Eros (life instinct) and Thanatos (death instinct)
Death instinct is innate – leads to aggressive behaviour
Build-up of psychic energy that must be released – can result in aggression
oEthology (Lorenz)
Genetically determined
Controlled by natural selection
Instinct to act aggressively are innate
Aggressive behaviour is elicited by specific stimuli in environment –
releasers
Aggression is unlearned and universal
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
oEvolutionary theory
Role of evolution and natural selection
Aggression is adaptive and ensures transmission of genes
oCriticisms of instinct and evolutionary theory
What are instincts?
Circular argument
Evolutionary theory – cant explain cross-cultural differences, domestic
violence
Doesn’t make sense to kill own offspring
Negative view – how do we prevent aggression
Ignores social factors
oNeural influences
Abnormal brain can contribute to abnormally aggressive behaviour
Electrical stimulation to amygdala can provoke aggressive behaviour
Some evidence that prefrontal cortex is less active and smaller in aggressive
people (eg murderers)
oGenetic influences
Heredity can influence neural systems sensitivity to aggressive cues
Evidence from twin studies of genetic influence
Genes predispose individuals to aggressive behavior but also interacts with
environment
oBiochemical influences
Alcohol
Positive relationship between alcohol and aggression
Alcohol consumption increases physiological arousal and impairs
neurophysiological function
Disinhibition and learned disinhibition
Alcohol expectancy theory
oSocial expectancy as to how to behave
Can be a placebo effect
oThink drinking alcohol – can be aggressive
Testosterone
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Aggression correlates
Serotonin
Low levels = higher levels of aggression
- Frustration-aggression theory
oFrustration always leads to aggression
oAggression often directed at less powerful target – displacement
o
- Revised frustration-aggression theory
oFrustration does not always lead to aggression
oUnjustified frustration produces anger, an emotional readiness to aggress
oAnger coupled with aggressive cues results in aggression
o
- Relative deprivation theory
oRelative deprivation – perception that one is less well off than others with whom
one compares oneself
oFeel disadvantaged relative to other reference groups, little hope of improving
conditions legitimately – aggression
- Learning theories of aggression
oOperant conditioning
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Aggression: a verbal or physical act intended to cause harm to someone or something, instrumental aggression intentional use of harmful behaviour so that one can achieve some other goal. Ie kill/harm to get money or status: hostile or affective aggression intentional use of harmful behaviour in which the goal is to cause injury to the victim. Biological theories of aggression: psychodynamic theory: freud. Death instinct is innate leads to aggressive behaviour. Build-up of psychic energy that must be released can result in aggression: ethology (lorenz) Aggressive behaviour is elicited by specific stimuli in environment releasers. Aggression is unlearned and universal: evolutionary theory. Aggression is adaptive and ensures transmission of genes: criticisms of instinct and evolutionary theory. Evolutionary theory cant explain cross-cultural differences, domestic violence. Doesn"t make sense to kill own offspring. Negative view how do we prevent aggression. Abnormal brain can contribute to abnormally aggressive behaviour. Electrical stimulation to amygdala can provoke aggressive behaviour.
