Frustration Aggression Model Looks Beyond The Individual example essay topic

... frustration is intense and whether the aggression is seen as 'just' or 'illegitimate'. However, few researchers currently hold the view that 'frustration always leads to aggression', frustration is simply one of many different causes of aggression (Baron / Byrne page 329) When you look at the frustration hypothesis, it seems that practically any incident of aggression can be ascribed to frustration of acquisitiveness or " assertiveness. Gentry 1970 said that 'frustration does not always produce aggression, sometimes it produces depression and withdrawal, and not all aggression is preceded by frustration' (Bernstein et al page 718) According to Leaky and Lewis (1977), 'cultural influences are far more important determinants of human aggression than biological factors. ' Any potential for aggression that man has, is 'culturally overridden and re-packaged into behaviour which fits current circumstances. In most cases, cultural forces teach or support non-aggression, but when pro-social aggression is necessary (disciplining children, and wrong doers, ) cultural process teach and sustain it'. (Gross page 446) Bandura, Baron, and Zillmann argue that aggressive behaviour is a 'learned form of social behaviour, acquired and maintained' in much the same manner as other forms of social activity.

(Baron / Byrne page 362) Elicitor's of aggression such as personal insults, status threats, and the presence of weapons are all learned sources of aggressive behaviour. Many responses are learned by watching others, further, aggressive actions are often followed by rewards and are therefore likely to be repeated. Bandura said that children were capable of learning aggressive behaviour as a result of being exposed to it, because children tend to imitate what they see. Bandura exposed school children to a film of an adult behaving aggressively toward an inflated doll, ('Bobo Doll ') Following exposure the children tended to imitate the aggressive behaviour. These finding, Bandura believed, showed that young children learn to be aggressive against others, and that aggressive acts would be imitated.

In contrast, critics pointed out, Bandura's experiments were too artificial, that the Bobo Doll was designed specifically to be hit and that the children were aware of this, so maybe they were just expressing the behaviour that was expected of them. Although Bandura was has been criticized, his findings has led to considerable research into the influence of violence in the mass media, especially television, on promoting aggressive behaviour, and there is a growing body of research evidence which indicates that watching violent television is linked to increased tendencies towards subsequent aggression. Support for the model ling and imitation theory comes from Patterson (1976) who found that 'aggressive behaviour is frequently reinforced in the home'. (Biechker / Hudson page 415) A young child who finds that anger and aggression are more effective in gaining what they want and which can enable them to control resources such as toys and parental attention, is having his aggression reinforced. Further, 'aggressive parents who discipline with physical force act as models for their children and are likely to encourage aggression in their children towards other people' (Hardy / Heyes page 163). Children learn aggression by observing others behave aggressively, and this is supported by a recent national survey by the N.C.H. Action For Children which found that in families where there has been domestic violence, children imitate the aggression they witness between their parents, and '33 per cent of children in homes where the father was violent, became aggressive towards their mothers themselves'.

(The Guardian Newspaper). To summarise, ethologists treat aggression as an evolutionary determined instinct, which was necessary for survival. The frustration-aggression model looks beyond the individual, seeing the tension as being triggered by factors in the environment which prevent the individuals attempts to reach a goal. Both the instinctive and the frustration -aggression models suggest that it is something about the individuals psychological make-up which causes aggression, and individual aggressive impulses are triggered by personality dynamics, such as ego, need or frustration, and in which the aggressive drives / impulses buildup, and must be dissipated in some way. On the other hand, Social learning theorist view aggressive acts as responses learned through observations and imitation of others and by positive reinforcement for the behaviour. Also, mans cultural heritage and his experience of socialization, and the many traits or characteristics passed by the individual is an important factor in determining his aggressive behaviour.

In conclusion, , the reason as to why the individual is aggressive, has many possible sources. It has been suggested that aggression springs from basic drives. However, there is little evidence that supports the catharsis view, that aggression depends on a build up of energy which must be released in some way. On the other hand, there is a large body of research evidence that supports the view that exposure to aggressive models can stimulate similar behaviour among observers. People who behave aggressively act as aggressive models, and through such action can influence others to act in a similar manner. So it can be seen, that there are views that point towards a pre-disposition towards aggression, while others would indicate either frustration, or a learned form of behaviour as to the cause of aggression.

It is proposed, that it is more likely that an individual will be aggressive if all of these criteria are met to some degree or other, however, the greater emphasis should be placed upon learnt behaviour. It would seem strange if we, unlike all other mammals, were not genetically equipped to defend ourselves or our children when under attack, and it would be surprising if we lacked the urge to assert ourselves to some degree in competitive social situations. However, the claim that for man all is learned and nothing is genetically inherited, gives the impression that society can be moulded into any shape and a human being is merely a blank canvas in which anything could be written upon... In answer to the question, why are individuals aggressive? It is clear that there is no single cause as to why an individual is aggressive, many factors contribute to the occurrence of aggression. and that aggressive behaviour has multiple, interlinked causes.

Bibliography

Baron, RA, and Byrne, D, Social Psychology, Bernstein, D.A., et al International Student Edition, Houghton Miff in Company 1991, 3rd EditionBiechler, RF, and Hudson, L.
M, Developmental Psychology, Longman Inc. 1972 Dobson, CB, et al, Understanding Psychology, Butler & Tanner Ltd 1993 Gregory, RL, The Oxford Companion to the Mind, Oxford University Press 1987 Gross Hardy, M, and Heyes, S, Beginning Psychology 3rd edition Butler & Tanner 1987 Muss en, P, et al, Psychology An Introduction, Heath & Company 1973 Channel 4 Television, To Kill and Kill Again, A Scientific Analysis of Serial Killers, January 4th 1995 The Guardian Newspaper, Violent Children, Tuesday January 24th 1995.