According to Bandura,
aggressive behaviour is
learned either through direct
experience or vicarious
experience
Learning by direct experience: if a child pushes
another child and as a result gets something they
want, the action is reinforced & is more likely to
occur in similar situations in the future. these
principles are similar to those of operant
conditioning.
Learning by Vicarious experience: Observational
learning.
When a child observes a role model behaving in a particular way and
reproduces that behaviour. The child is then said to be imitating the behaviour of the model.
The aggressive behaviour is
more likely to be imitated if
the model if rewarded for their
behaviour.
Bandura believed that vicarious learning is the
most probable cause for aggression
social psychological
explanations of Agression
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF AGGRESSION
Hormonal mecancisms in aggression
Testosterone
Androgens (male hormaones), such as
Testosterone are considered important factors in
aggressive behaviour.
This link is demonstrated in an increased violence of young
adolescent males, which is when Testosterone levels peak.
Lindman et al (1987)
Found that young males who behaved aggressively when
drunk had higher levels of testosterone than those who did
not act aggressively.
Although, the research support
provides positive correlations we
cannot establish cause & effect
because there are mediating factors
which could influence aggression
rather than testosterone.
For example, in Lindman's
study the alcohol may have
influenced the aggressive
behaviour. Furthermore, high
levels of testosterone could be
a consequence of engaging in
aggressive acts rather than
testosterone causing the
aggression.
Research support for Testosterone
Archer 1991 analysed the results of
230 males over 5 studies and found
a low positive correlation between
testosterone and aggression
A larger meta -analysis (Book at al) of 45
studies established a mean correlation of
0.14 between testosterone and
aggression.
... However, Archer et al claims, that methodological problems with
this study meant that a correlation of 0.08 was more
appropriate.
Inconsistent evidence for
Testosterone
Despite supporting evidence, much
of it has only shown weak positive
correlations between testosterone
and aggression, with some studies
that find no relationship at all.
For example, Bain at al,
found NO significant
differences in testosterone
levels between men who
had been charged with
murder or violent assault,
& those charge with
non-violent burglary.
Therefore the explanation should be applied with caution.
- biased sample#
Biased samples, Gender Bias, Reductonist
Testosterone has this effect due to its
action on areas of the frontal lobe in the
brain, which are responsible for
aggression.
Cortisol
Second hormone involved in the
increase of aggression. However, it
may have a less of a direct effect than
testosterone.
Cortisol is an
important part of
the body's
response to
stress and
encourages
social withdrawal
Cortisol is percieved to have a mediating
effect on aggression
Without typical
levels of Cortisol,
testosterone
levels are not
stabilised
Low levels of Cortisol are
therefore associated with higher
levels of aggression; they are
negatively correlated.
For example, there have been low levels of
Cortisol found in habitually violent offenders.
(Virkken, 1985)
Research support for the role of Cortisol
The moderating effect of
Cortisol on aggressive
behaviour is supported in a
4 year study of boys with
behavioural problems. ( Mc Burnett et al, 2000).
Those boys with
consistently low
cortisol levels
began antisocial
acts at a younger
age and exhibited
3x the number of
aggressive
symptoms,
compared to boys
with higher or
flucuating cortisol
levels.
Researchers concluded that Cortisol
levels were strongly and inversely
related to aggressive conduct disorder.