PSY220H1 Chapter 10: Textbook Notes for Chapter 10 (aggression)
Document Summary
Aggressionphysical or verbal behaviour intended to cause harm. Excludes unintentional harm and actions which may involve pain as an unavoidable side effect (eg. dental treatments) Hostile aggressiondriven by anger and performed as an end in itself. Instrumental aggression a means to some other conflict. Eg. terrorist acts (strategic tool used during conflict) Sigmund freud and konrad lorenz saw aggressive energy as instinctual (innate, unlearned and universal) Freudhuman aggression comes from a self-destructive impulse (a primitive death urgethe death instinct ) Agression as a strategy (gaining resources, defending against attack, intimidating male rivals for females) Explains the high levels of male-male aggression in human history. Not controlled by one spot of the brain. Although specific brain areas increase hostile behaviour when activated. Eg. when a female patient received painless electrical stimulation in her amygdala, she became enraged and lashed out with hostility. Pfc (acts like an emergency brake on deeper brain areas involved in aggressive behaviour)
