Ways Of Reducing Aggression. (Ethological)

1
Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(Ethological)

• Ethological- using ritualised behaviour,
  discharge negative energy using relaxed slow
  movements.
• Also to remove threatening objects which block
  appeasement- Weapons.
• One way of discharging energy is through
  sport..this is called channelled aggression e.g.
  punching boxing bag/ rugby tackles.

2
Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(Biological)

• Through use of surgery, chemicals or drugs.
• Surgery on the amygdala (area of brain) has
  reduced aggression in violent people.
• (extreme, has ethical issues)
• Difficult to devise specific treatment as the
  brain is a complex area, and we are still unsure
  of what processes are involved in aggression.
• Side effects of drugs (incl) memory loss,
  inability to concentrate.

3
Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(psychodynamic)

• Through positive outlets such as Sport- This
  approach views aggression as something that has
  built up over time, that needs discharging
  sublimation channelling aggression acceptably.
• Another method is displacement- hit objects I.e
  punch bag.
• A revised frustration-aggression hypothesis shows
  that by using relaxation techniques I.e Deep
  breathing may be more effective at reducing
  aggression.

4
Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(Social learning
theory)

• If we see models punished for aggressive
  behaviour we are less likely to display
  aggressive behaviour (remember Bandura!!)
• Viewing non-aggressive behaviour also has the
  same effect.
• Baron (1977)
• Method experiment.
• Procedure gave participants the opportunity to
  electric shock someone. This person was a
  confederate (in on experiment!!)Experimental
  Group observed aggressive model before the
  procedure the control group saw a non aggressive
  model
• Results Those who saw non aggressive model gave
  fewer shocks than those who saw the aggressive
  model.

5
Research into child rearing styles and aggressive
behaviour.

• The way we rear our children is related to levels
  of aggression.
• Baumrind (1967) observed families with pre-school
  children noting several behaviours of parents
• Amount of warmth
• How clear and consistent the parents rules were.
• How independent the children were expected to be.
• How much the parents talked to and listened to
  their children.
• Three distinctive parenting styles
• Permissive-warm but inconsistent with rules
  children tended to remain and be aggressive.
• Authoritarian-Not warm did not explain or discuss
  very obedience driven. These children aggressive
  when young but less as as they grew up.
• Democratic-warm, explained everything- children
  were less aggressive and remained that way.

6
Evaluation of this research...

• Depends upon reports by parents of their own and
  children's behaviour.
• Answers may have been socially desirable.
• How accurate are the descriptions- Our behaviour
  varies from day to day.
• Different parents (even within one family) have
  different parenting styles it is difficult to say
  what style causes what behaviour.

7
Sample questions.....

• Describe one study in which the reduction of
  aggression has been investigated. Indicate in
  your answer the method used results obtained an
  the conclusions drawn (4)
• Describe how the biological approach explains
  aggression (3)
• Using your knowledge of psychology, discuss how
  parents might influence their children's
  behaviour (8)