...Introduction Is human aggression learned? Was the cruelty that led to the offenses committed by our grandparents in World War II in their genes? Or did Hitler and the Nazis use the moment of the huge economic crisis and great shame of Germany after the Treaty of Versailles to integrate power, shut down the conflict, and through mass propaganda persuade German people to follow them in their achievement of Europe and the greater Third Reich? In this research paper, I will give an imperative assessment of the extent to which human beings are learned towards aggression, or conditioned for aggression by their environment. My goal is to present evidence that will show that humans are not biologically or inherently aggressive, but the aggression is something that is learned from everyday life experience. The first part of the paper will present theories and evidence that punctuate biological factors as the main causes of aggression in humans. The second part will present theories and evidence that demand that “aggression and hostility are diseases of development,” as Buss (1961: 190) puts it, and are affected by the external environment. Aggression in Human Beings Aggression is defined as physical or verbal behavior intended to harm. Aggression can either be ordered inside by self-mutilation or self-murder, or ordered apparently at another person. There are many things that human aggression has been blamed on, including broken homes, discrimination, poverty, chemical inequalities...
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...Final Paper Aggression in the Human Society The topic I have chosen is aggression. I want to try to show that everyone can be affected by aggression. I want to show the different stimuli that will bring anger out in people thus causing them to have aggressive behavior. I want to discuss the different types of aggressive behavior as well as who else can be affected by aggressive behavior besides the victim. I have been a victim of aggressive behavior which is the reason I picked this topic. I want to try to understand the causes behind the behavior. Understanding from my own experiences the aggressor may know the victim in one of many different roles; such as, and intimate partner, a family member, a close friend, or they could be a stranger. Aggression is an attacking, hostile behavior by one person toward another person with the intention of causing pain or doing harm. Aggression is usually thought of as physical acts against another person. However, verbal assaults meant to cause psychological harm are also considered acts of aggression (FAQs, 2013). Direct aggression is the physical act of attacking someone; indirect aggression can be overt or covert. While indirect aggression may be less passive it can cause just as much pain and harm to an individual as direct aggression. Indirect aggression is a behind-the-back behavior that reduces the chances for retaliation by the victim (Archer, 2005). Aggression may be considered as a hostile act or as an instrumental...
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...group displays of aggression believes that humans display aggression in groups in order to gain access to resources; likely resources gained through group displays of aggression include land, women and money. The acquisition of these resources is important for the survival of a group and to ensure the continued existence of future generations in terms of reproduction. This explanation also argues that group displays of aggression towards potential threats are one of the best ways in which to secure the resources which are much desired by groups. Aggression as a group of humans on an individual in another territory is a low-risk strategy in order to gain more resources, more food, more females and more offspring, thereby passing more genes onto the next generation (in line with Darwinian evolution). Group displays of aggression may occur due to xenophobia - also known as the threat of the unknown. It is evolutionarily advantageous to be wary of something unknown and to display aggression when faced with something which could potentially be a threat to our survival and/or reproduction. Aggression displayed as a direct result of xenophobia would ensure that the group is protected and would send a signal to other potentially threatening out-groups that the in-group is prepared to defend itself. Again, this would have the direct benefit of increasing the chance of survival and future reproduction of all members of the group. Displays of group aggression can be seen in sporting...
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...This biological explanation proposes that aggression occurs due to physiological causes. It assumes that aggression is located within the biological make-up of the individual through hormonal and neural mechanisms rather than in the environment around them. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that enable impulses within the brain to be transmitted from one area of the brain to another. There is some evidence that at least two of these neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, are linked to aggressive behaviour. Serotonin and dopamine are of particular interest because low levels of serotonin and high levels of dopamine have been associated with aggression in animals and humans. Serotonin is thought to reduce aggression by inhibiting responses to emotional stimuli that would otherwise lead to an aggressive response (e.g. someone pushing past you rudely). It has been found that low levels of serotonin in the brain have been associated with an increase of impulsive behaviour, aggression, and even violent suicide. Some drugs are thought t alter serotonin levels and thus increase aggressive behaviour. Mann et al (1990) gave 35 health subjects dexfenfluramine, which is known to deplete serotonin. They used a questionnaire to assess hostility and aggression levels, they found that dexfenfluramine treatment in males (but not females) was associated with an increase in hostility and aggression scores. Although the link between high levels of dopamine and aggressive behaviour is not...
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...However, dog aggression is the most common pet dogs’ behavior problem and it causes a major public health problem in Australia (Voelker, 1997; Schalamon, 2006). According to the Annual Urban Animal Management Conference (2013), average 14,000 Australians are injured due to dog attack each year and about 1,400 of those injuries required medical treatment or hospitalization. Over sixty percent of dog attacks occurred at home, which means an owner or household-members have a higher possibility to be victimized in a dog attack. Over the last three decades, numerous of researches have been indicated that owner attachment levels and dog characteristics are the major factors leading to aggressive responses in pet dogs (Borchelt, 1983; Landsberg, 1991; Hunthausen, 1997; Hsu and Sun, 2010). Although these findings provide evidence for the link between owner-dog interaction and the aggressive behavior problem in pet dogs, surprisingly little research has examined the link between pet dogs-directed aggression in human and the controlling behavior in a relationship. To redress this imbalance, it is important to explore the connection between pet dogs aggressive behavior and domestic violence. Aims and Objectives The aims of this present study are to explore the connection between human directed aggression by pet dogs and controlling behavior in a relationship, to critically examine the circumstances and effects on the victims, and to analyze the comparison between abuse towards human by pet...
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...WHY ARE INDIVIDUALS AGGRESSIVE?Aggression is difficult to define, it is a complex phenomenon, and depending upon the context the term can be made to carry either positive or negative connotations, it can be attacking behaviour that may be either self-protective and self-assertive or to the infliction of injury toward oneself or toward others, to the total destruction of others. Is aggression biological determined or the product of learning and environmental influences.? This essay, will consider instinctive theory, the frustration - aggression hypothesis, and social learning theory. It should then be possible to draw a conclusion to see if any or all of the theories discussed are the cause of aggression. Brain disorders, hormonal and chemical imbalances, environmental factors, such as heat, noise, air pollution and overcrowding, although contribute to the causes of aggression will not be discussed during the course of this essay. No universally adopted definition of aggression exists, for the purpose of this discussion, the definition of Gross will be used.Gross defines aggression as :- "The intentional infliction of some form of harm on others" (Gross page 444)Freud proposed that aggression is an instinctive biological urge. According to Freud this instinct, is made up of the libido (pleasure) and "Thanatos" (the death wish) (pain). This basic instinct is present in the Id from birth, at first the aggression is relatively uncontrolled, but with the development of the Ego and...
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...Social motivation Psyc104 Aggression and violence * Why do humans hurt one another? aggression is a fundamental social motive * The role of learning and modelling people become violent by watching violence, if children see a lot of aggression they become aggressive which is called social learning accounts * Bandura argued (1980) children come into the world who are innocent and their learning from parents, siblings, television and they conducted the BoBo doll experiment sat them behind the window watching an adult bashing this doll and playing and some adults were very violent and others were gentle and the children were then allowed to do whatever they wanted with the doll the children who saw the adults aggressive with the doll mimicked such * Greitemeyer and mugged (2014) meta analysis of 98 studies of 37,000 people, found significant, positive relationship between violent video games and aggressive behaviour Social learning problems * Doesn’t explain the origins of human violence * Why have humans behaved aggressively throughout history and across cultures? * Why are humans attracted to violence, even though they fear it * Is human aggression learned (social learning) or instinctive or both? “instinctive” accounts * Aggression as instinct: * Darwin-aggression functions to assert power and dominance * Threat and appeasement displays Freud and Lorenz * Freud the ‘death’ instinct hurt people they...
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...Introduction Introduction Outline and evaluate the role of genetic factors in aggressive behaviour (5+16 marks) Moghaddom (1998) distinguishes between explanations of aggression which are normative, and those which are causal. Causal explanations, as in this case, suggest aggression is determined by particular factors e.g. genes and are usually biological explanations. The genetic explanation of aggression suggests that it is influenced through our genes, and that such behaviour is therefore inherited. Para 1 A01 Para 1 A01 It is thought that aggression is due to a defective gene that is inherited by following generations. One possible gene is the Monoamine Oxidase A gene, which produces Monoamine Oxidase A enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters associated with aggression. It is thought that a build-up of serotonin and dopamine can cause an individual to act aggressively to stress in the fight or flight response. There are two forms of the gene, MAOA-H (produces a high level of the enzyme) and MAOA-L (produces a low amount of the enzyme). The presence of the MAOA-L gene is related to an increase likelihood of aggression. One third of people in Western countries have the MAOA-L gene, compared to two thirds in countries with a history of warfare; leading the gene to be dubbed with the term “warrior gene”. Para 2 A02 Para 2 A02 Research to support the role of the MAOA gene comes from Cases et al who disabled the gene in the X chromosome of mice. As no enzyme was produced...
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...Kuo, Sullivan / AGGRESSION AND / July 2001 ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIOR VIOLENCE AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE IN THE INNER CITY Effects of Environment via Mental Fatigue FRANCES E. KUO is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign. Her research examines effects of the environment on healthy human functioning in individuals, families, and communities. WILLIAM C. SULLIVAN is an associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on the psychological and social benefits of urban nature and citizen participation in environmental decision making. ABSTRACT: S. Kaplan suggested that one outcome of mental fatigue may be an increased propensity for outbursts of anger and even violence. If so, contact with nature, which appears to mitigate mental fatigue, may reduce aggression and violence. This study investigated that possibility in a setting and population with relatively high rates of aggression: inner-city urban public housing residents. Levels of aggression were compared for 145 urban public housing residents randomly assigned to buildings with varying levels of nearby nature (trees and grass). Attentional functioning was assessed as an index of mental fatigue. Residents living in relatively barren buildings reported more aggression and violence than did their counterparts in greener buildings. Moreover, levels of mental fatigue were higher in barren buildings, and aggression accompanied mental fatigue. Tests for the...
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...The experiment “Imitation of Film-mediated Aggressive Behavior” was worked out by Albert Bandura, Dorothea Ross and Sheila A. Ross. The aim of the research is to find out the influence of aggressive behavior, observed in real-life, human file and cartoon film conditions on children aged 3 – 6. 96 children (48 girls and 48 girls), 2 adults (male and female), acting like models in the experiment, and a female experimenter participated in the study procedure. All the children were subdivided into 4 groups, 3 experimental and one control group, consisting of 24 members each. The acts, performed for the experimental groups were the same, they differed only in the performer (either male or female), way of representation (live or using technical means)...
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...Introduction to Social Psychology Course Code: PSYC 1004 Lecture Topic: Aggression Aggression Baron and Branscombe define aggression as “behaviour directed toward the goal of harming another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment” (Baron & Branscombe, 2012). * Violence: “an extreme form of aggression, such as assaults, rape or murder” (). Types of Aggression * Instrumental aggression – aggression aimed at accomplishing a goal * Hostile aggression – aim of the aggression is to inflict harm * Indirect aggression – aggressive is not face to face * Direct aggression – aggressive act is face to face Theories of Aggression Instinct Theory: Through evolution, humans have inherited a fighting instinct similar to that found in many species of animals. Social Learning Theory: Human aggression is largely learned by watching other people behave aggressively, either in person or in films. It is also learned when we are rewarded for aggression. Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: Our motivation for aggression increases when our ongoing behavior is interrupted or we are prevented from reaching a goal. Negative Affect Theory: Proposed by Leonard Berkowitz, it states that negative feelings and experiences are the main cause of anger and angry aggression. Sources of anger include: pain, frustration, loud noise, foul odours, crowding, sadness, and depression. Aggression as Biology Neural influences - electrical stimulation of the amygdala...
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...Tahreem Naz Outline one social psychological theory of aggression Aggression is an act that is carried out with the intention to harm another person and is viewed as one of the most disturbing forms of human social behaviour. Some psychologists believe that aggression is a legacy of our evolutionary ancestry, while others might believe it is best explained by the ‘social learning theory’. One of the most powerful sources of learning behaviour is imitative learning where we learn from observing others and imitating their actions. This is clearly shown in Bandura’s (1961) study, which involved children observing aggressive and non-aggressive adult models and then being tested for imitative learning in the absence of the model. Children in the aggressive condition reproduced a good deal of physically and verbally aggressive behaviour resembling that of the model, whilst the children in the non-aggressive condition exhibited virtually no aggression towards the bobo doll. In addition, the boys reproduced more imitative physical aggression than girls, but they did not differ in there imitations of verbal aggression. The boys showed more aggressive behaviour when the adult model was the same-sex which suggests that behaviour is likely to be imitative when the role model is not the same gender. Furthermore, according to social learning theory theorists, if behaviour is to be imitated it must be seen rewarding in some way. Bandura and Walters (1963) found that children who...
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...Are Humans Biologically Predisposed to be Violent? Name Institution Are Humans Biologically Predisposed to be Violent? Introduction Violence has become a serious concern in this century. Close to 1.6 million people die from violence-related crimes. Thus, prevention of cruelty has prompted serious attention (Krug et al., 2002). Psychologists aimed at finding the causes and methods of intervention have carried several researches. These studies have shown different results. While some have associated violence with genetic makeup, others have dissociated the role of genes. Studies were disputing the role of genes with violence hold that cruelty is prompted by social factors such as child abuse, poverty, and unemployment. This paper holds that humans are biologically predisposed to be violent. Two natural constants support that violence is a predisposition of biology. First, men have been found to be most likely to be violent than women. For instance, men commit 85% of all violent-related crimes in the US. Secondly, young people are more predisposed than aged people are. The effects of biological makeup in stimulating violence have been conducted in animals and human beings (Miczek et al., 1994). Consequently, four theories have revealed that humans are biologically predisposed to be violent. These include the evolution theory, biosocial theory, and the intensity of hormones. Moreover, brain functioning or dysfunction is a biological cause of aggression. All these...
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...Recognizing Seven Types of Dog Aggression For many people, their dogs are an important part of their families. They can provide love, comfort, and companionship. Unfortunately, dogs can also be the cause of pain and injury. Between 2005 and 2015, in the United States alone, 360 people were killed by dogs. Many other people are also bitten or otherwise injured by aggressive dogs each year. Understanding the following seven types of dog aggression can help you avoid becoming a victim of a dog attack. Territorial Aggression When a dog barks or runs at someone who comes into or near what the dog perceives as its territory, the dog is displaying territorial aggression. The dog is simply trying to defend its territory. The dog’s owner can often...
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...entertainment media has become easier than ever before. In addition, these developments have led to an increase in the amount of time individuals spend watching and interacting with screen media, namely films, television and video games. As individuals in society display more aggressive behaviours in everyday life, researchers have endeavoured to identify the extent of how much violence portrayed in the media affects an individual’s thought, feelings and behaviours. While there is still debate as to whether there is a casual link between media and aggression, or that engaging with it maybe be cathartic, it has become evident that exposure to violence portrayed in the media can have short-term and long-term effects. This literature report will concentrate on reports and research focused on the influence of different types of media on aggression and the levels that these can be interpreted psychologically. Influences of Different Media on Aggression Exposure to violent media and the effect that this can have on an individual has been a topic that has interested researchers and society alike for decades. The likelihood of aggressive behaviour, thoughts and emotions is increased with short-term exposure to violent video games and films. (MVC 2012:337; Anderson 2004:2). Reasons provided for this increase by the Media Violence Commission (2012:337-8) and Myers (2013:378) is neural processes known as priming and mimicry. Priming is a concept in which images can activate thoughts and behaviours...
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