Ways Of Reducing Aggression. ( Ethological )

1. Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(Ethological) • Ethological- using ritualised behaviour, discharge negative energy using relaxed slow movements. • Also to remove threatening objects which block appeasement- Weapons. • One way of discharging energy is through sport..this is called channelled aggression e.g. punching boxing bag/ rugby tackles.

2. Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(Biological) • Through use of surgery, chemicals or drugs. • Surgery on the amygdala(area of brain) has reduced aggression in violent people. • (extreme,& has ethical issues) • Difficult to devise specific treatment as the brain is a complex area, and we are still unsure of what processes are involved in aggression. • Side effects of drugs (incl) memory loss, inability to concentrate.

3. Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(psychodynamic) • Through positive outlets such as Sport- This approach views aggression as something that has built up over time, that needs discharging sublimation channelling aggression acceptably. • Another method is displacement- hit objects I.e punch bag. • A revised frustration-aggression hypothesis shows that by using relaxation techniques I.e Deep breathing may be more effective at reducing aggression.

4. Ways Of Reducing Aggression.(Social learning theory) • If we see models punished for aggressive behaviour we are less likely to display aggressive behaviour (remember Bandura!!) • Viewing non-aggressive behaviour also has the same effect. • Baron (1977) • Method: experiment. • Procedure: gave participants the opportunity to electric shock someone. This person was a confederate (in on experiment!!)Experimental Group observed aggressive model before the procedure the control group saw a non aggressive model • Results: Those who saw non aggressive model gave fewer shocks than those who saw the aggressive model.

5. Research into child rearing styles and aggressive behaviour. • The way we rear our children is related to levels of aggression. • Baumrind (1967) observed families with pre-school children noting several behaviours of parents: • Amount of warmth • How clear and consistent the parents rules were. • How independent the children were expected to be. • How much the parents talked to and listened to their children. • Three distinctive parenting styles: • Permissive-warm but inconsistent with rules children tended to remain and be aggressive. • Authoritarian-Not warm did not explain or discuss very obedience driven. These children aggressive when young but less as as they grew up. • Democratic-warm, explained everything- children were less aggressive and remained that way.

6. Evaluation of this research... • Depends upon reports by parents of their own and children's behaviour. • Answers may have been socially desirable. • How accurate are the descriptions- Our behaviour varies from day to day. • Different parents (even within one family) have different parenting styles it is difficult to say what style causes what behaviour.

7. Sample questions..... • Describe one study in which the reduction of aggression has been investigated. Indicate in your answer the method used results obtained an the conclusions drawn (4) • Describe how the biological approach explains aggression (3) • Using your knowledge of psychology, discuss how parents might influence their children's behaviour (8)