Social Psychology

Andres Posada

Application Activity on Aggresion

Herald- A man named Steve Casalegno was rudely awakened to find out that a burglar had sliced through his window screen with a knife. The burglar tied him up with computer cables that he had slashed with the same knife, and forced him into the passenger seat of his own SUV. During the assault the burglar asked Casalegno if he needed a roommate, and pronounced that he was in need of cash. He was quoted as saying “I’m not going back to jail.” He withdrew one hundred and twenty dollars from the bank using Casalegno’s pin number and upon hearing Casalegno say that he was low in cash, gave him back twenty dollars out of his own pocket. He left Casalegno on his driveway and drove away with his SUV.

-The aggression was mostly instrumental aggression. The robber wanted to get money out of the assault. He also wanted a roommate, apparently. The violent acts perpetrated against Casalegno were mostly to secure some kind of financial security. It is also important to note that he drove off with an SUV.

-Hostile aggression may have been evident by the force with which the criminal tied his victim up with the computer cables. He was said to have red marks, and this aggressive behavior may have stemmed from frustration or anger. When the criminal exclaimed that he was not going back to jail it could be inferred that he was really nervous and scared. I think the best way to reduce this type of aggression would be to take a look at our justice system and the way it prepares people in jail for the real world. People just getting out need to have a network so they feel like they are on solid ground. If they feel rootless they will commit random acts of violence.

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