Social-cognitive theory of aggression

Social-Cognitive Theory of Aggression

1. Video interview with juvenile murderers: What factors were responsible for their violent acts?

2. The social-cognitive model emphasizes that aggression is primarily learned, although it acknowledges smaller roles for biological theories.

Where does aggression originate?

What triggers aggression?

What maintains aggression?

1. Observational learning

2. Biological factors

A. Limbic disorders
B. Biowired programs

1. Negative affect

A. Physical assaults
B. Verbal threats and insults
C. Frustration
D. Noxious environmental stimuli (e.g., heat, noise)

2. Social incentives (e.g., money, praise)

3. Modeling (reduction of restraints)

4. Orders from authority figures

5. Faulty self-regulation of behavior

A. Psychopathology or brain injury
B. Deindividuation

1. External reinforcement

A. Tangible rewards (+)
B. Social rewards (+)
C. Pain cues from victim (- or +)
D. Alleviation of aversive treatment (+)

2. Punishment

A. Suppressive effects (--)
B. Occasional triggering of biowired programs (+)

3. Consequences for an aggressive model

A. Observed reward (+)
B. Observed punishment (--)

4. Self-reward

5. Self-punishment

A. Guilt (--)
B. Neutralization of self-punishment (moral justification, attribution of blame to victim, diffusion of responsibility, dehumanization of victim) (+)

Note:
+ = Increases the likelihood of future aggression
-- = Decreases the likelihood of future aggression

3. Description of two programs: Identify the common features of the two interventions. What aspects of the social-cognitive theory are present?

4. Huesmann article on social information processing: What aspects of the Huesmann model are consisitent with the social-cognitive theory?

5. Flannery et al article on the PeaceBuilders violence prevention program