PSYC 215 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Social Rejection, Construals, Prosocial Behavior

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 215
• Professor: John Lydon

Document Summary

Explanations for why aggression occurs vary according to whether it is hostile or instrumental aggression. Hostile aggression: behavior intended to harm another, either physically or psychologically, and motivated by feelings of anger and hostility. Instrumental aggression: behavior intended to harm another in the service of motives other than pure hostility (for example, to attract attention, to acquire wealth, or to advance political and ideological causes). Many acts of aggression involve a mix of hostile and instrumental behavior. Situational factors can surprisingly influence aggression, not just aggression from aggressive people. Certain genes may predispose people to aggression, but this only leads to aggression under certain circumstances in someone"s life. Points to an unsettling consequence of climate change: as the temperature rises, people might become more violent throughout the world. For example, during el nino years in tropical countries (hot and dry), the likelihood of civil conflict rises dramatically.