PSYC 241 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Rape Myth, Homicide, Peoples Energy
6 Dec 2016
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Aggression: physical or verbal behaviour intended to hurt someone. Animals exhibit social aggression displays of rage. Silent aggression i. e. when a predator stalks its prey. Hostile aggression: aggression driven by anger and performed as an end in itself. Instrumental aggression: aggression that is a means to end some other end. E. g. terrorism rarely committed by someone who just wants to kill strategic tool used during conflict (compel country to withdraw military forces from terrorists homeland) Aggression is instinctive behaviour: an innate, unlearned behaviour pattern exhibited by all members of a species. If not discharged, builds up until it explodes or until appropriate stimulus releases it. Instinct theory fails to account for variation in aggressiveness. Prefrontal cortex (acts as emergency brake on deeper brain areas involved in aggressive behaviour): 14% less active than normal in murderers & 15% smaller in antisocial men.
