Plan
Start off with some general context to help us think about why aggression is
such an important topic
Definitions of aggression
Various explanations of aggression
Explanations of violent extremism – a particular form of aggression
Context
We are living in a world of conflict
War, terrorism, hate crimes, gangs, stabbing
People’s attitudes – some think things are getting worse, but some think
things are getting better.
Black and white photograph
This is Oxford Circus taken during the Second World War – a bomb was
dropped.
Second black and white photograph shows the John Lewis building in Oxford
Circus
Pinker, S. (2011). The Better Angels of our Nature. New York, NY: Viking.
Steven Pinker had a pessimistic view
Pinker put forward the argument that violence is decreasing around the world.
Historically, over time, there are fewer violent acts.
The graph in the slide looks at homicide rates in Western Europe – it has
become less violent.
Second graph shows the murder rates in the US – it was high during 1970s –
1990s, but then it comes down quite dramatically in 2000 – 2010.
, Western Europe and United States has become less violent according to
Pinker. Even though we have become more scared of becoming victims of
crime, the statistics doesn’t seem to reflect this.
Questions
Is this aggression inevitable?
How comes there are differences between groups and individuals?
How comes some people are more peaceful than others?
Defining aggression
Berkowitz gives a definition of aggression
Mental element and psychical element
Berkowitz looked at the dynamics of riots
He conducted a study in the Netherlands in the 1970s where one group of
kids were shown a violent film and the other group was shown a non-violent
film. Experiment was conducted to look at the effects of violence. His
experiment didn’t turn out the way he had intended – once the kids who
watched the non-violent film learnt that the other kids got to watch a violent
film, they got very jealous and angry and started a lot of fights. The kids felt
they had been deprived of watching a violent film.
Defining Aggression
Target – self-harm can be seen as aggression directed at oneself
Cause – is it a medical problem? A result of drugs? Is it habitual?
Pre-mediated? Is the aggression planned?
How do people feel when they are aggressive? Are they aroused?
Are people calm and collected?
Direct (physical) v. indirect (non-physical)
Physical – physical form of aggression
Indirect – online behaviour e.g. snide remarks. People being bullied with
words.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller SupplementaryStudyNotes. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.90. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
