KRM 310(B) - UNIT 2
UNIT 2: HUMAN AGGRESSION & VIOLENCE
1) THE VALUE OF AGGRESSION FOR HUMANS
Not all aggression is violent in the physical sense = is instrumental in helping people to survive
Enable to obtain material goods/land/treasures; protect property/family; & gain status, power/prestige
2) DEFINING AGGRESSION
The intent & attempt to physically/socially harm another individual or to destroy an object
CORPUS DELECTI : body of the crime
Varieties of human aggression:
ACTIVE AGGRESSION PASSIVE AGGRESSION
DIRECT INDIRECT DIRECT INDIRECT
PHYSICAL Punching/hitting Practical joke/booby trap Obstructing a passage Refusing to perform necessary task
VERBAL Insulting a victim Malicious gossip Refusing to speak Refusing consent
3) HOSTILE & INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION
HOSTILE (EXPRESSIVE) AGGRESSION : response to anger-inducing conditions like real/perceived insults, physical
attacks & one’s own failures
Intent to harm the victim (to make them suffer) & intense/disorganising emotion of anger
ANGER defined as an arousal state elicited by certain stimuli (especially those evoking attack/frustration)
INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION : desire for some object/status possessed by another individual
Usually no intent to harm another individual
Often a factor in robbery, burglary, larceny & various white-collar crimes
VIOLE NCE : destructive physical aggression that is intentionally directed at harming other persons/things
4) THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AGGRESSION
PSYCHOANALYTICAL/ Humans will always be prone to aggressive impulses & are likely to commit violent acts
PSYCHODYNAMIC when impulses aren’t appropriately managed/held in check
VIEWPOINT If excessive pressure accumulates in human psyche an explosion is likely to occur
(Psychodynamic/ Internal energy is discharged through catharsis = may be accomplished by actual
hydraulic model) behaviour (ex. playing football) or may occur vicariously (ex. watching football)
Lorenz believed aggression is an inherited instinct
Territoriality: the tendency to attack space violators
ETHOLOGICAL Ritualised aggression: intra-species aggression that’s accomplished by displays of force
VIEWPOINTS (humans don’t have this)
Currently referred to as EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHO LOGY = study of the evolution of behaviour
using principles of natural selection (see aggression as normal)
Aggression is a direct result of frustration (frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression)
FRUSTRATION- Berkowitz’ revised version = person is blocked from obtaining expected goal frustration
AGGRESSION results that generates anger anger predisposes/readies person to behave aggressively
HYPOTHESIS Weapons effect: a visible weapon (such as carried by police officer) may actually facilitate rather
than inhibit a violent response in some people weapons provoke aggressive behaviour
UNIT 2: HUMAN AGGRESSION & VIOLENCE
1) THE VALUE OF AGGRESSION FOR HUMANS
Not all aggression is violent in the physical sense = is instrumental in helping people to survive
Enable to obtain material goods/land/treasures; protect property/family; & gain status, power/prestige
2) DEFINING AGGRESSION
The intent & attempt to physically/socially harm another individual or to destroy an object
CORPUS DELECTI : body of the crime
Varieties of human aggression:
ACTIVE AGGRESSION PASSIVE AGGRESSION
DIRECT INDIRECT DIRECT INDIRECT
PHYSICAL Punching/hitting Practical joke/booby trap Obstructing a passage Refusing to perform necessary task
VERBAL Insulting a victim Malicious gossip Refusing to speak Refusing consent
3) HOSTILE & INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION
HOSTILE (EXPRESSIVE) AGGRESSION : response to anger-inducing conditions like real/perceived insults, physical
attacks & one’s own failures
Intent to harm the victim (to make them suffer) & intense/disorganising emotion of anger
ANGER defined as an arousal state elicited by certain stimuli (especially those evoking attack/frustration)
INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION : desire for some object/status possessed by another individual
Usually no intent to harm another individual
Often a factor in robbery, burglary, larceny & various white-collar crimes
VIOLE NCE : destructive physical aggression that is intentionally directed at harming other persons/things
4) THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AGGRESSION
PSYCHOANALYTICAL/ Humans will always be prone to aggressive impulses & are likely to commit violent acts
PSYCHODYNAMIC when impulses aren’t appropriately managed/held in check
VIEWPOINT If excessive pressure accumulates in human psyche an explosion is likely to occur
(Psychodynamic/ Internal energy is discharged through catharsis = may be accomplished by actual
hydraulic model) behaviour (ex. playing football) or may occur vicariously (ex. watching football)
Lorenz believed aggression is an inherited instinct
Territoriality: the tendency to attack space violators
ETHOLOGICAL Ritualised aggression: intra-species aggression that’s accomplished by displays of force
VIEWPOINTS (humans don’t have this)
Currently referred to as EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHO LOGY = study of the evolution of behaviour
using principles of natural selection (see aggression as normal)
Aggression is a direct result of frustration (frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression)
FRUSTRATION- Berkowitz’ revised version = person is blocked from obtaining expected goal frustration
AGGRESSION results that generates anger anger predisposes/readies person to behave aggressively
HYPOTHESIS Weapons effect: a visible weapon (such as carried by police officer) may actually facilitate rather
than inhibit a violent response in some people weapons provoke aggressive behaviour
