KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 2: HUMAN AGGRESSION AND
VIOLENCE
Learning Objectives:
1. Explore the multiple ways of defining and identifying aggressive behavior.
2. Review the major theories on the development of aggression and violence.
3. Emphasize the importance of social-cognitive processes in aggressive
behavior.
4. Explore the interactions of biology and cognitive processes in aggressive
behavior and violence.
5. Outline the important key concepts in understanding aggression and
violence, such as hostile attribution bias, weapons effect, and contagion
effect.
6. Introduce the General Aggression Model and I Theory.
7. Review the effects of digital, electronic, and other media on aggression and
violence.
8. Examine the current research on copycat crime.
Although violence is more likely to occur in people’s homes or in high-crime
areas on the streets, there are ample illustrations of random and mass
shootings that make it clear that no locality is immune from violence.
Violence and aggression go hand in hand, but not all aggression is violent in
the physical sense of that word.
o Some writers argue that aggression has been instrumental in helping
people survive.
o Humans learned that aggressive behavior enabled them to obtain material
goods, land, and treasures; to protect property and family; and to gain
prestige, status, and power.
Is human aggression instinctive, biological, learned, or some combination of
these characteristics?
o If it results from an innate, biological mechanism, the methods designed to
control, reduce, or eliminate aggressive behavior will differ significantly
from methods used if aggression is learned.
Some writers and researchers believe that aggressive behavior is basically
biological and genetic in origin, a strong residue of our evolutionary past.
1
, KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
o Researchers who subscribe to the learning viewpoint believe that, while
some species of animals may be genetically programmed to behave
aggressively, human beings learn to be aggressive from the social
environment.
o The learning position also offers cogent evidence to support its theory.
Other researchers remain on a theoretical fence, accepting and rejecting
some aspects of each argument.
If aggression and violence represent a built-in, genetically programmed
aspect of human nature, we may be forced, as Baron (1983) suggests, toward
a pessimistic conclusion.
o We can only hope to hold our natural, aggressive urges and drives
temporarily in check.
o We should design the environment and society in such a way as to
discourage violence, including administering immediate and aversive
consequences (punishment) when it is displayed.
If, we believe that aggression is learned and is influenced by a wide range of
situational, social, and environmental variables, we can be more optimistic.
o Once we understand what factors play major roles in its acquisition and
maintenance, we will be able to reduce its occurrence by addressing these
factors.
DEFINING AGGRESSION
Varieties of Human Aggression:
Active Passive
Direct Indirect Direct Indirect
Physic Punching Mean Practical Obstructing Passage Refusing to complete a
al joke (Sit in) project
Hitting
Dragging out court
Booby traps
procedure
Verbal Insulting Malicious gossip Refusing to speak Refusing to lend
the victim someone money
2
,KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
Some social psychologists define aggression as the intent and attempt to
harm another individual, physically or socially, or, in some cases, to destroy
an object.
o Refusing to speak does not fit well, since it is not an active attempt to
harm someone, nor is blocking someone’s entry.
o Most psychologists place these two behaviors in a special category of
aggressive responses and call them passive-aggressive behaviors, since
they are generally interpreted as aggressive in intent, although the
behavior is passive and indirect.
Passive-aggressive Behaviours: Hostile behaviors that do not directly
inflict physical harm, such as refusing to speak to someone against whom one
holds a grudge.
o It is generally irrelevant when we discuss crime, since the aggression we
are concerned about is the type that manifests itself directly in violent or
antisocial behavior.
There are other situations in which passive-aggressive behavior could lead to
various types of crime.
o Refusing to file income tax because one is intensely dissatisfied with the
policies of the government is one example.
In an effort to conceptualize the many varieties of human aggression, Buss
(1971) tried to classify them based on the apparent motivation of the
aggressor, although his classification does not refer specifically to
motivations.
o You may easily find exceptions and overlapping categories in the Buss
scheme.
This emphasizes how difficult it is to compartmentalize human aggressive
behavior.
It also epitomizes the many definitional dilemmas that hamper social
psychologists studying aggression.
REACTIVE-IMPULSIVE AND CONTROLLED-INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION
There are 2 types of aggression to keep in mind:
3
, KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
1. Reactive-impulsive aggression: Spontaneous aggression, possibly in
response to provocation.
- Also referred to as reactive aggression or hostile aggression
2. Controlled-instrumental aggression: The type of aggression that is
planned and is used to accomplish a specific purpose.
Hostile aggression occurs in response to anger-inducing conditions, such as
real or perceived insults, physical attacks, or one’s own failures.
o This is an aggressive response to a frustration, perceived threat, or
provocation.
o The goal is for victim suffering.
Most criminal homicides, rapes, and other violent crimes directed at
harming the victim are precipitated by reactive-impulsive aggression.
o The offender’s behaviour is characterised by the intense and disorganizing
emotion of anger, with anger defined as an arousal state elicited by certain
stimuli, particularly those evoking attack or frustration.
The anger is not the culprit.
Anger is a normal human emotion, and it becomes a problem only if it is
not managed appropriately.
Instrumental aggression is more purposeful and goal oriented.
o Begins with competition or the desire for some object or status possessed
by another.
o The perpetrator tries to obtain the desired object regardless of the cost.
o Usually a factor in hacking, robbery or political crimes.
o Usually, there is no intent to harm anyone physically.
However, if someone or something interferes with the perpetrator’s
objective, the perpetrator may harm the victim so as not to lose the
desired goal.
o Instrumental aggression is also usually a feature of calculated murder
committed by a hired, impersonal killer.
Psychologists make the distinction between hostile and instrumental
aggression, the law does not, insofar as responsibility for the crime is
concerned, if a crime has been committed.
Bushman and Anderson point out that this two-category division fails to
consider that many aggressive acts have multiple motives.
4
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 2: HUMAN AGGRESSION AND
VIOLENCE
Learning Objectives:
1. Explore the multiple ways of defining and identifying aggressive behavior.
2. Review the major theories on the development of aggression and violence.
3. Emphasize the importance of social-cognitive processes in aggressive
behavior.
4. Explore the interactions of biology and cognitive processes in aggressive
behavior and violence.
5. Outline the important key concepts in understanding aggression and
violence, such as hostile attribution bias, weapons effect, and contagion
effect.
6. Introduce the General Aggression Model and I Theory.
7. Review the effects of digital, electronic, and other media on aggression and
violence.
8. Examine the current research on copycat crime.
Although violence is more likely to occur in people’s homes or in high-crime
areas on the streets, there are ample illustrations of random and mass
shootings that make it clear that no locality is immune from violence.
Violence and aggression go hand in hand, but not all aggression is violent in
the physical sense of that word.
o Some writers argue that aggression has been instrumental in helping
people survive.
o Humans learned that aggressive behavior enabled them to obtain material
goods, land, and treasures; to protect property and family; and to gain
prestige, status, and power.
Is human aggression instinctive, biological, learned, or some combination of
these characteristics?
o If it results from an innate, biological mechanism, the methods designed to
control, reduce, or eliminate aggressive behavior will differ significantly
from methods used if aggression is learned.
Some writers and researchers believe that aggressive behavior is basically
biological and genetic in origin, a strong residue of our evolutionary past.
1
, KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
o Researchers who subscribe to the learning viewpoint believe that, while
some species of animals may be genetically programmed to behave
aggressively, human beings learn to be aggressive from the social
environment.
o The learning position also offers cogent evidence to support its theory.
Other researchers remain on a theoretical fence, accepting and rejecting
some aspects of each argument.
If aggression and violence represent a built-in, genetically programmed
aspect of human nature, we may be forced, as Baron (1983) suggests, toward
a pessimistic conclusion.
o We can only hope to hold our natural, aggressive urges and drives
temporarily in check.
o We should design the environment and society in such a way as to
discourage violence, including administering immediate and aversive
consequences (punishment) when it is displayed.
If, we believe that aggression is learned and is influenced by a wide range of
situational, social, and environmental variables, we can be more optimistic.
o Once we understand what factors play major roles in its acquisition and
maintenance, we will be able to reduce its occurrence by addressing these
factors.
DEFINING AGGRESSION
Varieties of Human Aggression:
Active Passive
Direct Indirect Direct Indirect
Physic Punching Mean Practical Obstructing Passage Refusing to complete a
al joke (Sit in) project
Hitting
Dragging out court
Booby traps
procedure
Verbal Insulting Malicious gossip Refusing to speak Refusing to lend
the victim someone money
2
,KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
Some social psychologists define aggression as the intent and attempt to
harm another individual, physically or socially, or, in some cases, to destroy
an object.
o Refusing to speak does not fit well, since it is not an active attempt to
harm someone, nor is blocking someone’s entry.
o Most psychologists place these two behaviors in a special category of
aggressive responses and call them passive-aggressive behaviors, since
they are generally interpreted as aggressive in intent, although the
behavior is passive and indirect.
Passive-aggressive Behaviours: Hostile behaviors that do not directly
inflict physical harm, such as refusing to speak to someone against whom one
holds a grudge.
o It is generally irrelevant when we discuss crime, since the aggression we
are concerned about is the type that manifests itself directly in violent or
antisocial behavior.
There are other situations in which passive-aggressive behavior could lead to
various types of crime.
o Refusing to file income tax because one is intensely dissatisfied with the
policies of the government is one example.
In an effort to conceptualize the many varieties of human aggression, Buss
(1971) tried to classify them based on the apparent motivation of the
aggressor, although his classification does not refer specifically to
motivations.
o You may easily find exceptions and overlapping categories in the Buss
scheme.
This emphasizes how difficult it is to compartmentalize human aggressive
behavior.
It also epitomizes the many definitional dilemmas that hamper social
psychologists studying aggression.
REACTIVE-IMPULSIVE AND CONTROLLED-INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION
There are 2 types of aggression to keep in mind:
3
, KRM 310 Chapter 2
Erin Polyblank
1. Reactive-impulsive aggression: Spontaneous aggression, possibly in
response to provocation.
- Also referred to as reactive aggression or hostile aggression
2. Controlled-instrumental aggression: The type of aggression that is
planned and is used to accomplish a specific purpose.
Hostile aggression occurs in response to anger-inducing conditions, such as
real or perceived insults, physical attacks, or one’s own failures.
o This is an aggressive response to a frustration, perceived threat, or
provocation.
o The goal is for victim suffering.
Most criminal homicides, rapes, and other violent crimes directed at
harming the victim are precipitated by reactive-impulsive aggression.
o The offender’s behaviour is characterised by the intense and disorganizing
emotion of anger, with anger defined as an arousal state elicited by certain
stimuli, particularly those evoking attack or frustration.
The anger is not the culprit.
Anger is a normal human emotion, and it becomes a problem only if it is
not managed appropriately.
Instrumental aggression is more purposeful and goal oriented.
o Begins with competition or the desire for some object or status possessed
by another.
o The perpetrator tries to obtain the desired object regardless of the cost.
o Usually a factor in hacking, robbery or political crimes.
o Usually, there is no intent to harm anyone physically.
However, if someone or something interferes with the perpetrator’s
objective, the perpetrator may harm the victim so as not to lose the
desired goal.
o Instrumental aggression is also usually a feature of calculated murder
committed by a hired, impersonal killer.
Psychologists make the distinction between hostile and instrumental
aggression, the law does not, insofar as responsibility for the crime is
concerned, if a crime has been committed.
Bushman and Anderson point out that this two-category division fails to
consider that many aggressive acts have multiple motives.
4
