Social

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO EXPLAINING AGGRESSION

To read up on social psychological approaches to explaining aggression, refer to pages 148–170 of Eysenck’s A2 Level Psychology.

Ask yourself

* Is the playing of video games causing children to become more aggressive?

* Why do people behave more aggressively when they are dressed in a uniform?

* Do some institutions encourage aggression or simply attract aggressive individuals?

What you need to know

WHAT IS AGGRESSION? | | | |

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY (SLT) | DEINDIVIDUATION | SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM | INSTITUTIONAL AGGRESSION | | | |

* Studies of video games and aggression * Cross-cultural research | * How can deindividuation explain aggressive behaviour? | * Social constructionist view of aggression | * Explanations of institutional aggression | | | |

WHAT IS AGGRESSION?

Aggression is behaviour with the intent to harm. Note that it is not the behaviour itself but the intent to cause harm.

It can be subdivided into:

* Person-orientated aggression: the intent is to cause harm to another person.

* Instrumental aggression: the intent is to gain personal reward.

Or alternatively into:

* Proactive aggression: behaviour intended to achieve a desired outcome.

* Reactive aggression: a response to another person’s behaviour (usually, but not always, aggressive behaviour).

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY (SLT)

This theory, advanced by Bandura, states that we learn by imitating role models. Behaviour is more likely to be imitated if:

* The model is similar to the individual.

* The model is admired.

* The model receives reinforcement for the action.

* The individual has low self-esteem.

* The individual is dependent on others.

Behaviour such as aggression can also be affected by vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment. This refers to reinforcement and punishment that has an effect on the individual but is received...