PSY 360 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% VERIFIED
What is aggression? - ANSWER Behavior aimed at causing harm or pain. They are actions not
feelings or thoughts, it is intentional not accidental, even if it succeeds or not
What is emotional aggression? - ANSWER Hurtful behavior that stems from angry feelings
(reactive)--- motivated by a desire to hurt somebody (goal), premeditated and calculated
What is instrumental aggression? - ANSWER Hurtful behavior to accomplish another goal
(proactive
What is the difference between direct and indirect aggression? - ANSWER • Direct: behavior
intended to hurt someone to his/her face
• Indirect: behavior intended to hurt someone without face-to-face contact
What is the difference between anger, violence and hostility? Give examples of each. Are they
mutually exclusive? - ANSWER • Violence: Extreme acts of harm
• Anger: Strong feelings of displeasure
• Hostility: Strong feeling or state of antagonism (more extreme version of anger)
Explain the evolutionary and behavioral genetics basis for aggression - ANSWER •
, Evolutionary: Because at least some of a person's genes can be transmitted through the
survival of the reproductive success of genetic relatives, evolution should have favored the
inhibition of aggression against those who are genetically related to us
o Ex. birth parents are less likely to abuse or murder their offspring
What role do anatomy, physiology, testosterone, serotonin and executive function play in
aggression? What do instinct theories of aggression state? - ANSWER o Testosterone: higher
levels or testosterone correlates with higher levels of physical aggression and violence
o Serotonin: appears to work like a braking mechanism to restrain impulsive, reactive acts of
aggression
• Low levels= high levels of aggression
o Executive Functioning: the cognitive abilities and processes that all humans to plan or
inhibit their action
• Poor executive functioning can lead to high aggression
How do cultural differences in aggression challenge the evolution/biological/genetic
perspectives - ANSWER • Biology
o Anatomy: Stimulation of the hypothalamus (amygdala) effect aggression
o Physiology: Blood Chemistry
• Alcohol & Drugs affect aggression
• Presence of hormones specifically testosterone affects aggression
• Socio-evolutionary The "kill" instinct (Darwin 1871)
o Genes pass alone and give the instinct to be aggressive. It is an adaptive evolution
100% VERIFIED
What is aggression? - ANSWER Behavior aimed at causing harm or pain. They are actions not
feelings or thoughts, it is intentional not accidental, even if it succeeds or not
What is emotional aggression? - ANSWER Hurtful behavior that stems from angry feelings
(reactive)--- motivated by a desire to hurt somebody (goal), premeditated and calculated
What is instrumental aggression? - ANSWER Hurtful behavior to accomplish another goal
(proactive
What is the difference between direct and indirect aggression? - ANSWER • Direct: behavior
intended to hurt someone to his/her face
• Indirect: behavior intended to hurt someone without face-to-face contact
What is the difference between anger, violence and hostility? Give examples of each. Are they
mutually exclusive? - ANSWER • Violence: Extreme acts of harm
• Anger: Strong feelings of displeasure
• Hostility: Strong feeling or state of antagonism (more extreme version of anger)
Explain the evolutionary and behavioral genetics basis for aggression - ANSWER •
, Evolutionary: Because at least some of a person's genes can be transmitted through the
survival of the reproductive success of genetic relatives, evolution should have favored the
inhibition of aggression against those who are genetically related to us
o Ex. birth parents are less likely to abuse or murder their offspring
What role do anatomy, physiology, testosterone, serotonin and executive function play in
aggression? What do instinct theories of aggression state? - ANSWER o Testosterone: higher
levels or testosterone correlates with higher levels of physical aggression and violence
o Serotonin: appears to work like a braking mechanism to restrain impulsive, reactive acts of
aggression
• Low levels= high levels of aggression
o Executive Functioning: the cognitive abilities and processes that all humans to plan or
inhibit their action
• Poor executive functioning can lead to high aggression
How do cultural differences in aggression challenge the evolution/biological/genetic
perspectives - ANSWER • Biology
o Anatomy: Stimulation of the hypothalamus (amygdala) effect aggression
o Physiology: Blood Chemistry
• Alcohol & Drugs affect aggression
• Presence of hormones specifically testosterone affects aggression
• Socio-evolutionary The "kill" instinct (Darwin 1871)
o Genes pass alone and give the instinct to be aggressive. It is an adaptive evolution
