Question

• Compare and contrast the diifferent theories of aggression. Which do you think are best/worst? Why?
• Describe a personal experience that you have had with aggression (either you experienced it or witnessed it). Which theory or theories of aggression might help you to understand this situation?
• Social learning theory suggests that allowing kids to play violent video games causes increased aggressive behavior because kids imitate the characters in the games. The research does support this (although it clearly does not say that every person who plays a violent video game is going to go out and commit a violent act like a school shooting). Discuss your opinions about kids playing violent video games.
• ESRB ratings of video games are only guidelines for parents. They do not prevent minors from buying mature video games. What are your opinions about this? Explain.

Answer 1

1, There ARE mainly three theories of aggression

1. Instinct Theory of Aggression:

The instinct theory of aggression was advanced by Sigmund Freud (1927) the great psychoanalyst of yester years. In his earlier writings, Freud was of view that all human behaviour originates either directly or indirectly from ‘EROS’, the life instinct, which helps in reproduction of life.

In this back ground aggression was considered simply as a reaction to the blocking of libidinal impulses. Thus, it was neither an automatic nor an inevitable part of life.

But in course of psychoanalysis and particularly after the second world war Freud gradually came to know the presence of two basic urges such as Eros and Thantos or life instinct and death instinct instead of one instinct (Life instinct) held earlier.

2. Frustration Aggression Hypothesis:

Miller and Dollard in their stimulating yet no less illuminating book “Frustration and Aggression” define frustration as “that condition which exists when a goal response suffers interference.” Frustrating events are those which block the individual’s goal oriented behaviour, threaten his sell’ esteem or deprive him of the opportunity to gratify his important motives and immediate goals.

When an event or situation disturbs or upsets the child or the adult, it is considered frustrating. But a situation which is considered frustrating for one person may not be frustrating for another person. Here parental training, social class, economic status and early childhood training for frustration tolerance play their role.

Freud probably for the first time gave the term frustration a scientific basis. Frustration in simple terms may be defined as that state in the organism which exists as a consequence of interference in the goal oriented behaviour and gives rise to a number of maladaptive or substituted reactions.

3. Social Learning Theory:

Subsequent research works in the area of frustration and aggression give the impression that Frustration— Aggression hypothesis should be modified. From such researches originate the Social Learning Theory.

Bandura, Berkowitz and others, the proponents of social learning theory view that an arousal which results from frustration does not necessarily lead to aggression, but only creates a condition for a readiness to cope with a threatening situation.

It can elicit different kinds of responses depending upon the kind of responses an individual has learned to cope with the frustrating situations in the earlier period of life.

Thus, he may become aggressive, may become regressive and cry or may withdraw from the situation, may remain silent, may displace his aggression on others or may seek the help of others. That response which has been most successful in the past in relieving his frustration will be repeated.

According to me social learning theory is best because Bandura has demonstrated that aggressive responses can be learned by reinforcement or by imitation or by modeling which come under social learning theory. In a study on nursery school children it was observed that when an adult showed various forms of aggressive responses towards a large doll, the children showed similar aggressive responses through imitation.