PSY 380 Intro to Social Psychology

April 04, 2000

Today's Topic: Aggression

Announcements

Exam 3 Thursday April 13

Review Session held during lecture Tuesday April 11

Aggression: Hurting Others

aggression:

the role of intention

Types of Aggression

Hostile Aggression:

Instrumental Aggression:

Why Are We Aggressive?

Internal Causes of Aggression: Biological Influences

1. The limbic system

2. Genetics

aggressive tendencies can be handed down through generations

Studies on monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins

3. Biochemical influences

testosterone

alcohol

So, is aggressive behavior inevitable for some people? Probably not. Consider:

aggression in animals is modifiable

aggression in humans varies widely by time, situation, and culture

Environmental factors have an influence

Southern "Culture of Honor" (Cohen & Nisbett, 1996)

Homicide rates higher in Southern US, but only in homicides that are argument-related.

Due to historical events, Southerners developed "culture of honor"

Southerners are more likely to endorse violence as a means to protect one's honor or one's family & possessions.

Southern "Culture of Honor" Experiments

Recruited Southern & Northern White male U-M students

Half insulted by confederate

Saliva samples collected to assess levels of testosterone, cortisol

Students provide endings for "personal affront" story, or neutral story

Results

Number of "violent" endings to personal affront story

Testosterone levels

Results of "playing chicken"

Implications

Suggests that "culture of honor" may lead Southerners to aggress when they feel that their reputation is threatened.

Aggression is not increased for all situations, only those that are a threat to one's personal honor.

An environmental cue: Weapons effect

Subjects made angry by having received inordinate amount of shock by partner.

Then subject is allowed to give shock to his partner

Weapons Effect -- Results

Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1961)

Do adults model aggressive behavior?