PSYS 130: Exam 4 Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
Aggression - ✔✔INTENTIONAL behavior aimed at causing physical harm or
psychological pain to another person
Hostile/Reactive Aggression - ✔✔The primary goal is to inflict injury or psychological
harm on another
- HOT aggression
- Driven by anger
Instrumental/Proactive Aggression - ✔✔Intent of causing harm as means to reach
another goal
- COOL aggression
Overt Aggression - ✔✔DIRECT physical or verbal aggression towards someone
Indirect Aggression - ✔✔Aggression that occurs when the target is NOT present
- Hidden aggression
Relational Aggression - ✔✔An act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a
person's relationship or social standing
- Aim to damage social reputation
Influences of Aggression - ✔✔- Biochemical
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,- Neural
- Genetic
- Group influences
- Environment (aversive experience & culture)
Biochemical Influences of Aggression - ✔✔1) Alcohol: acts as a deindividuator, e.g.
decreases self-awareness; affects judgment; associated with hostile aggression
2) Hormones
-Testosterone: associated with hostile aggression and dominance
-Serotonin: high levels decreases aggression
Neural Influences of Aggression - ✔✔1. Active AMYGDALA: increases aggressive
behavior
- associated with emotion --> anger
2. Active PREFRONTAL CORTEX: Decreases aggressive behavior
- associated with formal operations --> regulates emotional response
Genetic Influences of Aggression - ✔✔Gene that alters neurotransmitter balance -
MAOA - at risk of hostile (reactive) aggression if combined with childhood
maltreatment
- Gene-environment interaction
Environmental Influences of Aggression - ✔✔1) Aversive experiences: undesirable
experiences that cause negative psychological arousal/discomfort
2. Cultural/Subcultural: Some cultures encourage aggression (eg Culture of honor in
south where aggression is encouraged when personally insulted or to defend honor)
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Culture of Honor Study : Cohen et al. (1996) - ✔✔1. Southern and Northern UMish
students walk down hall to hand in paper work - Confederate in the way moves first
politely and then insults particiapnts
- 85% S. students were more angry than amused vs. 35% N.
- Ppl filled out 3 questionaires
- Fill in blank and rating faces activity = same scores
- BUT of ppl insulted 75% of S. chose an aggresie ending to story vs. 41% N.
2. Cortisol and testosterone swab test
- HIGHER cortisol and testosterone for S.
3. "Chicken": Measure amount of time for students to move out of way when large
confederate walks down hallway
- S. gave most time (polite) when not insulted but LEAST space when insulted
Group Influences of Aggression - ✔✔Increased aggression when in group due to group
polarization and diffusion of responsibility
Meiser & Hinsz (2004): Hot Sauce Study - ✔✔Ppl chose amount of hotsauce to give to a
group or person after they had been given 48g
- group --> group = MOST hot sauce given (92.9g)
Shows influence of group on aggression
Theories of Aggression - ✔✔1. Frustration-aggression Theory
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Answers 100% Pass
Aggression - ✔✔INTENTIONAL behavior aimed at causing physical harm or
psychological pain to another person
Hostile/Reactive Aggression - ✔✔The primary goal is to inflict injury or psychological
harm on another
- HOT aggression
- Driven by anger
Instrumental/Proactive Aggression - ✔✔Intent of causing harm as means to reach
another goal
- COOL aggression
Overt Aggression - ✔✔DIRECT physical or verbal aggression towards someone
Indirect Aggression - ✔✔Aggression that occurs when the target is NOT present
- Hidden aggression
Relational Aggression - ✔✔An act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a
person's relationship or social standing
- Aim to damage social reputation
Influences of Aggression - ✔✔- Biochemical
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,- Neural
- Genetic
- Group influences
- Environment (aversive experience & culture)
Biochemical Influences of Aggression - ✔✔1) Alcohol: acts as a deindividuator, e.g.
decreases self-awareness; affects judgment; associated with hostile aggression
2) Hormones
-Testosterone: associated with hostile aggression and dominance
-Serotonin: high levels decreases aggression
Neural Influences of Aggression - ✔✔1. Active AMYGDALA: increases aggressive
behavior
- associated with emotion --> anger
2. Active PREFRONTAL CORTEX: Decreases aggressive behavior
- associated with formal operations --> regulates emotional response
Genetic Influences of Aggression - ✔✔Gene that alters neurotransmitter balance -
MAOA - at risk of hostile (reactive) aggression if combined with childhood
maltreatment
- Gene-environment interaction
Environmental Influences of Aggression - ✔✔1) Aversive experiences: undesirable
experiences that cause negative psychological arousal/discomfort
2. Cultural/Subcultural: Some cultures encourage aggression (eg Culture of honor in
south where aggression is encouraged when personally insulted or to defend honor)
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Culture of Honor Study : Cohen et al. (1996) - ✔✔1. Southern and Northern UMish
students walk down hall to hand in paper work - Confederate in the way moves first
politely and then insults particiapnts
- 85% S. students were more angry than amused vs. 35% N.
- Ppl filled out 3 questionaires
- Fill in blank and rating faces activity = same scores
- BUT of ppl insulted 75% of S. chose an aggresie ending to story vs. 41% N.
2. Cortisol and testosterone swab test
- HIGHER cortisol and testosterone for S.
3. "Chicken": Measure amount of time for students to move out of way when large
confederate walks down hallway
- S. gave most time (polite) when not insulted but LEAST space when insulted
Group Influences of Aggression - ✔✔Increased aggression when in group due to group
polarization and diffusion of responsibility
Meiser & Hinsz (2004): Hot Sauce Study - ✔✔Ppl chose amount of hotsauce to give to a
group or person after they had been given 48g
- group --> group = MOST hot sauce given (92.9g)
Shows influence of group on aggression
Theories of Aggression - ✔✔1. Frustration-aggression Theory
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
