UNIT 2: SELF AND OTHERS

UNIT 2: SELF AND OTHERS AREA OF STUDY 1: INTERPERSONAL & GROUP BEHAVIOUR

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Any behaviour that is disruptive or harmful to the wellbeing or property of another person or to the functioning of a group or society Typically involves actions that break laws, rules or social norms concerning personal and property rights of others ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

AGGRESSION Not to be confused with what we would normally call aggression The psychological definition of aggression is: Any behaviour intended to cause physical or psychological harm to a person (including self), animal or object ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

AGGRESSION Like pro-social behaviour, aggression is all about INTENTION ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL

EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION What is the cause of aggression? No-one really knows but different theories can be organised into 4 perspectives: Psychodynamic perspective Ethological perspective Biological perspective (genetic, neural & biochemical influences Social Learning perspective (observational learning, modelling) ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

1. PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE Emphasises the complex Interaction of mostly Unconscious mental Processes Sigmund Freud (1920) EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

1. PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE Aggression is one of a number of human instincts which are present in all of us at birth EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

1. PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE • Freud proposed that the ‘primitive’ urge to be aggressive within us gradually builds up over time, and must at some time be released in order to prevent a sudden, uncontrollable explosion of violence • We have a ‘survival urge’ that competes with the aggressive urge allowing us to maintain control over our aggressive instinct or redirect it in socially acceptable ways (eg. competitive sport, debating, playing violent video games) EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

1. PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE • His theory is based on assumptions alone and is very hard to empirically prove • Some research studies have obtained results that show the opposite of what Freud proposes • The psychodynamic explanation of aggression is mostly overlooked by contemporary psychologists EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

2. ETHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Ethology = the scientific study of animal behaviour KONRAD LORENZ Studied aggression in different species of animals Viewed aggression as an instinctive behaviour INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOUR Nesting behaviour of birds Migratory behaviour of birds Courtship behaviours Territorial behaviours EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

2. ETHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE • Lorenz proposed that aggression promotes the survival of the species: • Defence of the young (aggressive parents required for protection) • Balancing the distribution of species (so they don’t compete for resources) • Providing a structure for their society (‘pecking order’) • Lorenz discovered a link between animal and human behaviour in relation to a ‘fighting instinct…directed against members of the same species’ • eg. Only humans purposely kill each other EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.22 (pg.441) HOMEWORK

3. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE GENETIC INFLUENCES Animal Studies: Kristi Lagerspetz (1979) – aggressive mice were interbred with each other. After 26 generations they demonstrated extreme aggression EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

3. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE • GENETIC INFLUENCES • Human Twin Studies: • Some studies have found a strong connection between genetics and aggression • Other studies have found that environmental effects have a stronger influence on aggression EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

3. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE NEURAL INFLUENCES AMYGDALA + HYPOTHALAMUS These areas can be stimulated by electrodes. When stimulated in a human they can become inexplicably aggressive EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

3. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE NEURAL INFLUENCES CEREBRAL CORTEX Plays an important role when we interpret someone else’s behaviour Plays a role in then initiating responses to this behaviour EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

3. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE BIOCHEMICAL INFLUENCES Chemical substances in the body can include: Naturally occurring = hormones Introduced = drugs and alcohol EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

3. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE BIOCHEMICAL INFLUENCES MALES MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN FEMALES TESTOSTERONE When male animals are castrated (reduce levels of testosterone), the animal becomes placid When injected with testosterone, the animals become aggressive again EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

4. SOCIAL LEARNING PERSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING ALBERT BANDURA (1977, 1973) You must pay attention to the model’s behaviour You must remember the model’s behaviour You must have the ability to reproduce the behaviour You must be motivated to perform the behaviour EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

4. SOCIAL LEARNING PERSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING ALBERT BANDURA (1965) BOBO DOLL EXPERIMENT Children watching the adult model in the film being aggressive to the blow up doll EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

4. SOCIAL LEARNING PERSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA Still a large debate as to whether violence in the media results in violence in the real world Freud would say that observing violence in the media provides an outlet for aggression EXPLANATIONS OF AGGRESSION

UNIT 2: SELF AND OTHERS