PSYC 312
AGGRESSION P A TAND REJUDICE CTIVITY EMPLATE
Markus was excited to finally arrive in Metrocity and was eager to explore. He stepped out of the
crowded subway car and headed for the long, steep stairway that led to street-level. He was shocked
to see a group of young men forcing their way through the crowd on the stairway, pushing people
aside, shouting about trying to catch the next train. Several people were hurt including a young
woman who fell down and was bleeding. Her husband grabbed one of the young men and began
shaking and punching him.
1. Two types of aggression are described in this scenario. Describe each type, identify which person or
persons exhibited each type of aggression and support your answer with information from our textbook.
The first example of aggression in this scenario is instrumental aggression (Myers & Twenge, 2019).
The instrumental aggression was displayed through the young men forcing their way through the
crowd on the stairway as the had a goal to catch the next train. However, in the pursit of their goal,
they injured a woman who fell down. The second type of aggression displayed is hostile aggression.
The husband of the woman who fell was angry and as a resulted wanted to injure one of the young
men, which he aimed to do by shaking and punching him.
2. Based on empirical evidence described in our textbook, would you say that aggressive behavior is
learned or are we all born with aggressive tendencies? Be sure to include examples from our textbook
(cited) to support your answer.
Many social psychologists have analyzed the causes of aggression (Myers & Twenge, 2019). Social
pyschologists mainly focus on three big ideas, biological influences, frustration, and learned
behavior. Thus, aggression is is multifactorial and stems from both learned behaviors and instinct.
For instance, Albert Bandura had an experiement where he took children and had them observe
aggressive behavior. What was found was that the children who obsereved the aggressive behavior
were much more likely to display aggressive tendencies. On the other hand, instinctive aggressive
tendenceies are found in nature. For instance, men on men aggressive has been seen when finding a
mate.
3. A man was punched and knocked unconscious when he was caught in the act of breaking into
another man’s home. Which of these men is more likely to have reacted to the home invasion in this
aggressive manner: Mitchell (who was born and raised in an area historically inhabited by sheep
farmers in a Southern state) or Steven (who was born and raised in an industrial Northern city).
Explain your choice based on what Myers and Twenge wrote about culture and aggressive behavior.
Steven, who was born and raised in an industrial Northern city, is more likely to have reacted to the
home invasion. According to Myers and Twenge (2019), men that are from cultures that are
nondemocratic and high in income equality, such as an industrial Northern city, are more likely to
behave aggressively. This comes from the idea of teaching men in those cultures to be warriors.
4. Based on information provided in our textbook, how is aggression related to social status?
It is seen that social status plays into aggression (Myers & Twenge, 2019). For example, men may
become aggressive when their social status is challenged. This has been seen in experimetns with
college men who were motivated to increase their status. As a result of a want to increase their status
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they became more aggressive toward others in face-to-face confrontations.
5. Describe the experiment Albert Bandura conducted that provided important information related
to aggressive behavior. What did this research tell us about aggressive behavior? Why was this
landmark study so significant?
Albert Bandura conducted an experiment to demonstrate that humans learn aggression by obersving
the aggressive behaviors of others (Myers & Twenge, 2019). In the experiment, children observed
adults pounding a doll for ten minutes. The children who observed the outburst of the adults were
much more likely to display aggressive tendencies than children who did not observe the outbursts.
This landmark study was so significant because it showed that aggression is a learned behavior.
Pat has been arrested several times for crimes involving aggressive behavior. Explain how the
following factors may be impacting Pat’s behavior.
6. Alcohol:
Accroding to Myers & Twenge (2019), both labatory experiments and police data indicates that
people under the influence of alcohol are more likely to unleash aggression when provoked.
Therefore, Pat is more likely to display aggressive behavior when alchol is involved. It has been
shown that 40% of all violent crimes involve alcohol.
7. Gender. Did you assume Pat was male or female? Explain why. Does gender typically have an impact
related to aggressive behavior?
I assumed that Pat was a male. According to Myers & Twenge (2019), human aggressiveness
correlates with the male sex hormone testosterone. For instance, when men ingest drugs that diminish
testosterone levels, aggressive tendencies are shown to decrease. In addition, after men turn 25, their
testeosterone starts to decrease and subsequently aggressive tendencies decrease. Overall, it is clear
sex plays a role in aggressive behavior.
8. Family Background:
An absence in close family bonds may lead to youths finding their societal identity in gangs (Myers
& Twenge, 2019). Gangs tupically precipitate delinquent acts such as fighting over drugs, territory,
honor, sexual partners, or insults. Therefore, if Pat lacked a good family background, this could
subsequently lead to his aggression.
9. Personal Discomfort or Pain:
Pain would increase Pat’s aggressive behavior. Myers & Twenge (2019) discussed a study where rats
were put in a cage and shocked. They observed that the greater the shock to the rat, the more violent
the rats became. Therefore, if Pat was experiencing pain, the more aggressive he would become.
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Respond to the next two statements based on the information provided by Myers & Twenge
regarding violence and the media.
10. Violent movies and television programs should be banned because they cause people to commit
violent acts. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Although I do not believe violent movies and television programs should be banned, I do believe
they need to be censored and filtered based upon viewing age because according to Myers & Twenge
(2019), viewing violent movies and television programs impacts aggressive behaviors. According to
a longitudinal study of German adolescents, those that viewed violent media were more likely to be
more aggressive two years later.
11. People are responsible for choices they make. Violent movies and television programs are purely
entertainment and have no impact on violent behavior. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I do not agree. Based on experiments it is clear that violence in movies and television programs
provokes violence in humans. Even though if that is by choice, the end result is still violence, which
is wrong.
12. Myers and Twenge identify eight factors associated with (or predictive of) aggressive behavior.
Please list all eight.
1. Pain
2. Heat
3. Attacks
4. Arousal
5. Pornography and sexual violence
6. TV shows, movies, and online videos
7. Video Games
8. Group influences
(Myers & Twenge, 2019)
13. What are some ways Myers and Twenge suggest that could help reduce cyberbullying? Please
provide at least two specific examples from our textbook and explain why each of these might be
successful.
Accoridng to Myers & Twenge (2019), cyberbulling may be reduced when teachers or parents
monitor their children more closely. In addition, cyberbullying may decrease when children are
educated on what behaviors are considered bullying. Education should be in the form of interaction
rather than a lecture, as it is better received when it is interactive.
14. What role does parenting play in reducing aggressive behavior? Provide an example from
research cited in our textbook. Explain from a Biblical perspective why parenting has such a
powerful effect.
Parents have a large influence on their children when it comes to the development of aggressive
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behaviors. According to Myers & Twenge (2019), in order to foster a more gentler world, it is
important to model reward sensitivity and cooperation from an early age. One way this could happen
is by training parents how to disciple without violence. For instance, parents can frame their
statements more positively like “when you finish cleaning your room then you can go play.” From a
Biblical perspective, parenting is one of God’s most important callings as parents are called to raise
their children up in faith and bring them to the full measure of his glory (Ephesians 4:13).
15. Explain how anger and aggression may or may not be connected. What is the best way to
manage anger or frustration (venting, holding it in or other?). Use information and scenarios from
our textbook rather than from personal experience.
Anger typically leads to aggression. According to Myers & Twenge (2019), it is critical to prevent
aggression before it even happens. Contrary to popular belief, venting anger only leads to more
aggressive behavior, thus it is important to not participate in venting. For instance, one study
ecamined internet users who were frequently visiting “rant” sites where expressing your anger was
encouraged. It showed that those who used these sites, had an increase in their hostility and anger and
a decrease in their happiness.
Reference(s)
Meyers, D.G. & Twenge J.M. (2019). Social Psychology. McGraw Hill LLC.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Links to an
external site.) (Original work published 1769).
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