More handpicked essays just for you.
Nature of aggression in social psychology
Nature of aggression in social psychology
Nature of aggression in social psychology
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
As aggression in the media increases, studies examining its effects on human behavior do as well. It is widely accepted that physical aggression is characterized by physical violence. On the other hand, social aggression is characterized by both verbal and nonverbal actions typically ranging from gossip and rumors to ignoring peers. While a plethora of studies have focused on physical aggression, there are some that indicate pertinent information relating to social aggression. One study conducted by Crick, Bigbee, and Howes, indicates that there is a higher prevalence of social aggression among females than males, while another conducted by Coyne and Archer found 92% of programs popular among adolescents aged 11-14 contained acts of social …show more content…
In one lab study, children mirrored physical aggression immediately after exposure, thus directly illustrating social cognitive theory. This theory states that children will mirror a model’s actions in the short term, especially when the actions are rewarded rather than punished. Results in a longitudinal study show an overall increase in adult aggression when the participant was exposed television violence as a child (Martins & Wilson, 2011, p. 49-51). This study directly relates to the information processing theory, which states that the child will create his or her own scripts based on the acquired material and use the processed information in social situations. Popular television shows seemingly normalize social aggression through humor and attractive actors. Martins and Wilson have used this information to explore whether this repeated exposure to nonphysical aggression leads to mirroring and the perception that these behaviors are normal in social …show more content…
Boys reported using significantly more physically aggressive behaviors at school than girls and higher overall exposure to physically aggressive programs than girls. They also reported higher overall television exposure than girls but this data fell short of significance. Girls reported higher overall exposure to socially aggressive programs than did boys, but there was no significant sex difference in the perpetration of socially aggressive behaviors (Martins & Wilson, 2011, p. 59).
Additionally, exposure to total TV was not a significant predictor of why some children were more socially aggressive than others. Conversely, exposure to televised social aggression was a positive predictor of children’s social aggression, specifically stronger for girls than boys (Martins & Wilson, 2011, p. 62). This data allowed Martins and Wilson to conclude that rather than TV as a whole, TV that illustrates social aggression specifically, is correlated with socially aggressive behavior in young
Rachel Simmons was amazed there were so many books regarding aggression in boys, but was unable to find any books on the subject of girls’ aggression. The experiments that were conducted regarding aggression were also only performed using males. Many psychologists considered aggression to be behavior such as hitting, punching, name calling and threatening others as a male issue. Simmons discovered from the many interviews she conducted on women that aggression is just as much a female issue. In her book, “The Odd Girl Out: The hidden culture of aggression in girls”, Simmons interviews many women and girls who were victims of bullying, were the actual bully, and also people who witnessed the abuse. Simmons’ purpose for writing this book was to make everyone aware of the secretive way girls bully each other, and to show how they hide their aggression, which many times is the result of their own struggle for acceptance. This book was effective because Simmons also gives the reader suggestions to help everyone involved in some form of aggressive behavior know how to deal with this behavior, and the lifelong consequences it has on everyone involved.
306) and society’s knowledge of the ramifications of aggression, combined with cultural expectations, helps to control how aggressive behavior is manifested (Eagly & Wood, 1991, p. 311). Females are for the most part not overtly aggressive with each other and are more inclined to use their social intelligence to exploit relationships or undermine other peers they are in competition with (Crothers, Lipinski, & Minutolo, 2009, p. 102). These manipulative behaviors are comprised of gossiping, avoidance, rumor spreading, and stealing of friends or romantic interests (Crothers et al., 2009, p.
Everyday thousands of people suffer from some type of violence, some may able to live and see the next day and even be able to overcome it and become and advocate to other, however others are not so lucky. No one should ever have to be a victim of any type of abuse, whether it is verbally, emotionally, physically or mentally. Interpersonal violence is a term often used to describe sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking (UNC Charlotte, 2017). No matter what type of violence is being experiences, the victim should always know that it is not their fault, that is help, and safety is available.
Vaillancourt, T., & Hymel, S. (2006). Aggression and social status: The moderating roles of sex and peer-valued characteristics. Aggressive Behavior, 32, 396–408. doi:10.1002/ab.20138.
Many psychologists have studied the effect of the media on an individual’s behavior and beliefs about the world. There have been over 1000 studies which confirm the link that violence portrayed through the media can influence the level of aggression in the behavioral patterns of children and adults (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001). The observed effects include, increased aggressiveness and anti-social behavior towards others, an increased fear of becoming a victim or target of aggressive behavior, becoming less sensitive to violence and victims of violent acts, and concurrently desiring to watch more violence on television and in real-life (A.A.P. 2001). According to John Murray of Kansas State University, there are three main avenues of effects: direct effects, desensitization, and the Mean World Syndrome (Murray, 1995, p. 10). The direct effects of observing violence on television include an increase in an individual’s level of aggressive behavior, and a tendency to develop favorable attitudes and values about using violence to solve conflicts and to get one’s way. As a result of exposure to violence in the media, the audience may become desensitized to violence, pain, and suffering both on television and in the world. The individual may also come to tolerate higher levels of aggression in society, in personal behavior, or in interpersonal interactions. The third effect is known as the Mean World Syndrome, which theorizes that as a result of the amount of violence seen on television and also the context and social perspective portrayed through the media, certain individuals develop a belief that the world is a bad and dangerous place, and begin to fear violence and victimization in real life (A.A.P. 2001).
Thesis Statement: Unsupervised children who watch violence on television exhibit violence in their everyday lives and develop into aggressive adults.
Why are we as aggressive and can we develop a way to reduce our ever increasing aggressive behavior? What this research paper is going to cover just might answer that. First we’re going to go over different types of aggression and the differences between them. Next will be the several theories about aggression. This will cover from a biological and genetic point of view to how our diet affects our behaviors in negative ways. We will even look into how our culture has an effect on our aggression levels. Last is what ways can we potentially reduce and manage our angry tendencies as well as control the ever rising aggressive behavior in our society.
Physical Aggression This behavior consists of hitting, punching, slapping, pulling hair and pinching. Functions cited as task avoidance, denied access, attention or without clear antecedent. Recently at a graduation party, Alexis was upset that attention was going towards the brother and not her. This resulted in Alexis getting physically frustrated with mom by attempting to hit her. Staff member had to use verbal re-direction such as “Calm hands Alexis” to re-direct her from expressing any further behaviors.
Viewing physical aggression in the media is an important risk factor for increased physical aggression, and decreased empathy and prosocial behavior. Studies show that exposure to relational aggression in the media is also associated with relational aggression behavior in children viewing certain media. This study found that preschool children that viewed more “educational media” tended to inscr easily show relational aggression across a four month period. Another researcher examined relational aggression on children between the ages of eight and twelve. During this study, it was found that children who viewed higher levels of relational aggression in the media help more supportive mornativve beliefs about relational aggression one year later which can be moderated through active mediation by parents. Long term associations only in children whose parents did not discuss the media with
Owens, L., Shute, R. & Slee, P., 2000, ‘“Guess what I just heard”: Indirect Aggression among Teenage Girls in Australia’, Aggressive Behaviour, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 67-83.
Aggression has been linked to significant repercussions in academic and social functioning (Farmer et al., 2011); and studies on youth have concluded that physical aggression was a predicting factor which preceded risky behaviors which developed later on in the adolescents that were studied. Those dicey inclinations included early onset of sexual activity and tendency to unsafe sexual behaviors, as well as substance abuse that incorporated tobacco, alcohol and drugs (Deater-Decard, 2008). This is an indication of how important is to prevent and intervene before aggression can lead to other dangerous and risky behaviors. To Deater-Decard (2008) it is essential that we continue to understand and improve our capability to decrease aggression, and to minimize the impact on our society.
Television is a central feature of contemporary American life. American children spend more time watching television than they do in school. In 1989, the average child in the United States spent more time watching television than performing any other activity, except sleeping. In 1989 The Nielson Report on Television commented that children age 2 to 5 viewed approximately 27 hours of television per week. Children 6 to 11 years of age viewed more than 23 hours of television per week, and adolescents between 12 to 17 years of age viewed 22 hours of television per week (Sege 32). During the past several decades, violent programs have been steadily increasing in numbers on television screens. Many believe that there could be the possibility that a direct relationship exists between the violence witnessed on television and the increasingly violent behavior of children and adolescents (Palermo 23). Coming at a time when the homicide rate is
This is a highly debated subject that I do not feel has a definitive answer. In my personal opinion I do not think violent media such as games, music, and movies cause social aggression in the majority of people. I do however believe that "reality" T.V (not actual reality T.V shows) but media such as the news and social media can contribute a lot to social aggression. When people think things are going on in real life on a constant bases it can cause a revolt. For example, the police officer shootings and brutality recently publicized over the last few years has lead to an increase in animosity towards police. Even though statistics show the number of police shootings and brutality is a very small percentage of actual stops and arrests. However,
Furthermore, television violence causes aggressive behavior in children. Many people believe that children who watch violent television programs exhibit more aggressive behavior than that exhibited by children who do not (Kinnear 23). According to the results of many studies and reports, violence on television can lead to aggressive behavior in children (Langone 50). Also, when television was introduced into a community of children for the first time, researchers observed a rise in the level of physical and verbal aggression among these children (Langone 51). The more television violence viewed by a child, the more aggressive the child is (“Children” 1).
Bullying is a serious problem in our society today. There are many examples in the world, either in direct contact or through social network to harass peers. Bullying can leave many different effects on child’s development, and adulthood as well. Bullying not only affect physical health, it also can affect mental health. The effects bullying can have on its victims is something that may last throughout their lives, or something that may end their life. Violence can be psychological, economic, physical, and sexual. Bullying can affect your brain and body. There is also workplace bullying, which became international problem. Children hood bullying can leave lifelong scars.