Social Psychology Assignment: Aggression Theories and Concepts

This social psychology assignment explores the concept of aggression, defining it as behavior violating social conduct and causing harm. It examines various perspectives on aggression, including interpersonal aggression, and its impact on individuals and relationships. The assignment delves into different types of aggression like reactive-expressive, reactive-inexpressive, and proactive relational aggression, along with the ethological and social explanations for aggression. It also discusses the frustration-aggression hypothesis, the relationship between frustration and anger, and the social determinants of aggression, such as social media usage and cultural differences. Finally, the assignment suggests modifying aggressive behavior through physical activities and sports, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.

Running head: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Answer 1
Interpersonal aggression is the behavior that violated the social conduct of personal
behavior and with combination of anger, this behavior leads to physical fights, deliberate
intimidations, social rejection and verbal insult (Hogg, 2018). This behavior puts an adverse
effect on people, their social relationships, welfare system and affects their mental peace, in both
the victim of the behavior and the perpetrator. This level of aggression is seen among people
who are known to each other and this behavior is a result of their anger, and their envious nature
(Gilbert & Bushman, 2017).
Answer 2
As per a theorist and psychologist perspective, aggression is the behavior that has the
capability to harm the person, both physically and psychologically. Besides that it also has the
capability to harm people, objects and the environment. Whereas, it is also defined as aggression
as the social impact of aggression that affects others more than the person in anger. Hence, it is
harmful for the victim. The third definition, defines aggression as the intent of the perpetrator as
the means using which they affect the physical and psychological state of others (McGregor,
Hayes & Prentice, 2015).
Answer 3
There are three type of aggression such as reactive-expressive aggression, reactive-
inexpressive and proactive relational aggression. The first type of aggression was associated to
physical and verbal aggressions, whereas the reactive-inexpressive is associated to hostility. The
final type of aggression is associated to spreading inappropriate rumors and affecting human

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relations. Therefore, in different combinations, these three type of aggression affects people and
their internal and external peace (Hogg, 2018).
Answer 4
As per the Ethological explanation, aggression is a subsidiary instinct which is used by
the people having a drive for aggression, and these drives are perceived as goals by the people,
who use them as a goal to achieve with their survival values (Henshall & McGreevy, 2014.
Whereas, as per social explanation, aggression is the deliberate approach to harm people with
non-violence means and due to this the entire society has to suffer from inflict harm (Warburton
& Anderson, 2015).
Answer 5
As per Groves and Anderson (2018), the frustration-aggression hypothesis depends on
the personal abilities of the person and occurs in situation when people are blocked from
achieving their perceived goals. On the other hand, this hypothesis defines aggression as the
malicious behavior towards known or unknown people and this aggression triggered in the
presence of higher level of frustration. Therefore, as per the theory, if people are frustrated, their
tendency to become aggressive becomes higher.
Answer 6
As per psychologists, frustration is the mention which ultimately leads to anger,
disappointment and annoyance in people (McGregor, Hayes & Prentice, 2015). Further, it was
also seen that if people are frustrated because of their passion, goals and inability to achieve of
their target, they become angry about the situation and that provides the detailed idea of the

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relationship between frustration and anger. Therefore, frustration is the feeling that ultimately
leads to the aggressive behavior (Warburton & Anderson, 2015).
Answer 7
As per the recent researches conducted in psychology determines the relationship
between the social determinants of aggression. This aggressions could be associated with usage
of social media, sexual violence and cultural differences among people. Further, it was also seen
that elevated level of any one of these factors could lead to aggression rapidly (Warburton &
Anderson, 2015).
Answer 8
As aggression is a behavior, it is not possible to reduce it, however modification of this
behavior or drive them towards a positive way is achievable and for this people with aggression
and anger should be incorporated in exercises, sport or another physical activities so that using
them their aggression could be used for their benefit (Hogg, 2018).

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References
Gilbert, M. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2017). Frustration-aggression hypothesis. Encyclopedia of
Personality and Individual Differences, 1-3.
Groves, C. L., & Anderson, C. A. (2018). Aversive events and aggression. Current opinion in
psychology, 19, 144-148.
Henshall, C., & McGreevy, P. D. (2014). The role of ethology in round pen horse training—A
review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 155, 1-11.
Hogg, M. A. (2016). Social identity theory. In Understanding peace and conflict through social
identity theory (pp. 3-17). Springer, Cham.
McGregor, I., Hayes, J., & Prentice, M. (2015). Motivation for aggressive religious
radicalization: goal regulation theory and a personality× threat× affordance
hypothesis. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 1325.
Warburton, W. A., & Anderson, C. A. (2015). Aggression, social psychology of. International
encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences, 373-380.