General Aggression Model

This presentation provides an overview of the General Aggression Model (GAM) and its components. It discusses the different factors that contribute to aggression and violence, including proximal and distal factors. The presentation also explores the relevance of psychological theories in the modern context and the impact of media exposure on behavior. References to relevant research articles are provided for further reading.

General Aggression Model

Definitions
Aggression
Any behavior intended to harm
another person who
does not want to be harmed
violence
It is any aggressive act that
has as its goal extreme physical
harm, such as
injury or death
Thus, all violence are aggression but aggressions are not
violent

Tenets of General aggression
model
• Violence among
intimate partners
•Inter- group violence
• climate related changes
on prospects of violence
•Suicide

Types of factors
1. Proximal
2. Distal
Person
Situation
Environmental
modifier
Biological
modifier

List of proximal factors
 Scripts written aggressively
 Alcohol and drug abuse substances
 Attitude related to violence
 Bad moods
 Cultural biases leading to breeding of hatredness
 Diffusion of responsibility
 Dehumanization by social peers
 Frustration
 Responsibility displacement
 Noise
 Other developments
 Goals to be completed in long run

Proximal factors
 Pain/discomfort
 Social Exclusion
 Narcissism
 Social stress
 Normative beliefs
 Poor impulse control
 Uncomfortable temperature
 Low arousal
 Self-efficacy beliefs

Distal factors
 Environmental modifiers
 Antisocial peers
 Cultural norms, teachings
 Deprivation
 Victimization
 Social Exclusion
 Biological modifiers
 ADD/ADHD
 Deficits in impulsivity
 Low arousal
 Low level of serotonin
 Poor Executive Function
 Various Hormones

Components of GAM
1. Situation factors- stress,
fatigue, extreme temperatures
2. Person factors – attitudes,
beliefs. personality traits, values,
genetics
3. Environment factors –
biological factors, climate,
seasonality

Person factors
Attitudes,
Beliefs.
Personality traits,
Values,
Genetics
Cognitive ability
Intellectuality
Emotional intelligence
Pain

Situational factors
Stress,
Fatigue
Extreme temperatures
Alcohol consumption
Drug addiction

Environment factors
Biological factors
Climate
Seasonality
Weather
Media responses
Noise
Violent neighbourhood
Social Exclusion

Learning from Psychological
theories
•Different attitudes
•Better concentration
•Different values and beliefs
•Different cultures
•Social adjustments
•Importance of cognitive skills
•Importance of behaviour
management

Benefits from psychological
theories
Cognitive skill development
Emotional intelligence
quotient
Better personality traits
Multitasking
Better mental health
Increased concentration
Long time momentum

Assumptionss
• psychological theories have
positive impact only
•Psychological theories
improve emotional
intelligence
•Cognitive abilities are
developed throughout life of
an individual
•Mental stability impacts
personality development
•Media exposure in childhood
impacts behaviour in
adulthood

What new have been
learnt
•Evolution of Psychological theories
•Importance of psychological
theories
•Importance of GAM model
•Relevance of psychological
theories in modern context

Significance of GAM model
•Relevance in modern
text
•Increased globalization
•Impact of modern
social norms
•High Emotional
intelligence

References
 Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2018). Media Violence and the
General Aggression Model. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 386–
413. https://doi-org.proxy1.ncu.edu/10.1111/josi.12275
 Gilbert, F., Daffern, M., Talevski, D., & Ogloff, J. R. P. (2013). The
Role of Aggression-Related Cognition in the Aggressive Behavior
of Offenders: A General Aggression Model Perspective. Criminal
Justice and Behavior, (Issue 2), 119. Retrieved from
https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy1.ncu.edu/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=edshol&AN=edshol.hein.journals.crmjusbhv40.11&site
=eds-live
 van Honk, J., Harmon-Jones, E., Morgan, B. E., & Schutter, D. J. L.
G. (n.d.). Socially Explosive Minds: The Triple Imbalance
Hypothesis of Reactive Aggression. JOURNAL OF
PERSONALITY, 78(1), 67–94.
https://doi-org.proxy1.ncu.edu/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00609.
x

References
 Peltzer, C. J. (2019). Exploring the psychometric properties of the
CES‐D‐10 and its practicality in detecting depressive symptomatology
in 27 low‐ and middle‐income countries. International Journal of
Psychology, 45-65.
 Sainz, M., Martínez, R., Moya, M., & Rodríguez‐Bailón, R. (2019).
Animalizing the disadvantaged, mechanizing the wealthy: The
convergence of socio‐economic status and attribution of humanity.
International Journal of Psychology , 43-36.
 Shahzad, S., Kliewer, W., Ali, M., & Begum, N. (2019). Different risk
factors are associated with alcohol use versus problematic use in
male Pakistani adolescents. International Journal of Psychology, 435-
445.
 Żemojtel‐Piotrowska, M., Piotrowski, J., Rogoza, R., Baran, T., Hitokoto,
H., & Maltby, J. (2018). Cross‐cultural invariance of NPI‐13:
Entitlement as culturally specific, leadership and grandiosity as
culturally universal. International Journal of Psychology branding
banner, 50-62.