SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, WEEK 11, Part 2

Furthermore, watching violent shows enables people to release their hostilities. This
occurrence is what we call catharsis.

A catharsis is an emotional release. In terms of aggression, if one has been exposed to

violent shows, one tends to release their emotions through aggression.

● Television effects on behavior. The effect of television on one's behavior is that if a

person is exposed to violent content, the more aggressive the person is (Eron, 1987;
Turner & others, 1986).

There are also other factors or "hidden third factors" that can influence one's aggression.

For example, family size, the severity of violence in television content, and the individual's
age.

Studies show that viewing violence at the age of 8 is more likely to be aggressive at the age
of 19 (Ron & Huesmann, 1980).

● Television effects on thinking

● Desensitization. If an individual is always watching a show that elicits certain behavior,

that person is more likely to decrease their emotional response as if they are used to it.

If the television content repeatedly shows sexual scenes, the person who is watching
the scenes seems not to be bothered if he was exposed to that kind of television show
already.

● Social Scripts. A social script is a mental instruction acquired from one's culture to guide
one on how to react in various situations.

This script is only used when a person is uncertain about how they are going to react.

For example, male teens acquire violent scripts to defend themselves from others. If
they engaged in fights, they might exhibit that scripts.

● Altered Perceptions. People who spend time watching television for four hours a day or
more are more likely to exaggerate their views on violence and more likely to fear being
personally assaulted.
 This is not only occurring in violent shows but also in all genres of shows.

● Cognitive Priming. Research proves that television shows can also prime one's cognitive
thinking.

For example, if an individual is exposed to violent videos, he is more likely to

associate things with aggressive-related ideas. He may think of aggressive words
more quickly.

MEDIA INFLUENCES: Video Games

Video games are very influential to people, especially to younger ones. It is a very helpful tool in
teaching students as it is more experiential and more enjoyable. Thus, violent video games may
also influence one's behavior as they may teach kids to be more violent.

With video games, an individual:

● May adopt the role of his character in the game - violent character. 。 May actively
practice violence, not just passively watch it.

● Engage in the whole situation of the video games wherein the player would enact
violence.

● May repeat aggressive behavior

● Are rewarded for aggression and satisfaction

Moreover, a person who plays video games is more likely to increase their arousal (Heart rate
and blood pressure increase), increase aggressive thinking, feelings, and behaviors, and decrease
their helping behavior.

Group Influences

Group pressure is very influential on one's behavior. It provokes individuals to aggress. For
example, if two groups clash together, if two people who came from each group fight, other
group members are also triggered to fight.

The aggressive reactions diffused among group members. Moreover, groups increase their
aggressive tendencies through social "contagion .
"If an individual lacks close family bonds and expectations of academic success, he is more
likely to find a social identity in his group of friends.

In a group, an individual develops group identity, conforms to group norms, and increases
deindividuation (Staub, 1996).

Therefore, aggressive cues that provoke an individual may provoke the group through the
diffusion of responsibilities and polarizing actions. The group increases their aggressive
behaviors.

How Can Aggression Be Reduced?

● Catharsis. An individual who feels anger, frustration, or any other negative emotions that
may trigger their aggressive behavior should be released by acting it out.

For example, a mad person should vent his emotions by throwing some balls at the wall or
punching a punching bag.

This technique may increase the mood of a person.

Moreover, retaliation may also help reduce one's tension in the shorter run and increase
more negatives after a while.

For example, a person who vents out his anger by punching his punching bag may also
exhibit more hostility afterward.

Lastly, there are nonaggressive ways to vent out one's negative feelings. It is
communication. If one becomes mad, he should express his feelings and inform the other
person how he affects him.

● Social Learning Approach. This approach suggests that one way to control aggression
is to counteract the factors that provoke it.

Aversive experience, such as frustrations, develops aggression. So to counteract this

tendency, one should refrain from expecting from others.

It is also helpful if a person rewards and models nonaggression. Aggressive stimuli also
develop aggression; this is why one should not have weapons that may hurt oneself or
another.
 Also, since behavior is learned, the individual should be exposed more to nonviolent
circumstances so that he won't be able to imitate violent behaviors.

Thus, a person must prevent aggression before it happens.

GLOSSARY

● Aggression-Physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone.

● Instinctive behavior-An innate, unlearned behavior pattern exhibited by all members of

a species.

● Frustration-aggression theory- The theory that frustration triggers a readiness to

aggress.

● Frustration-The blocking of goal-directed behavior.

● Displacement-The redirection of aggression to a target other than the source of the

frustration. Generally, the new target is a safer or more socially acceptable target.

● Social learning theory- The theory is that we learn social behavior by observing and
imitating and by being rewarded and punished.

● Catharsis Emotional release- The catharsis view of aggression is that aggressive drive
is reduced when one "releases" aggressive energy, either by acting aggressively or by
fantasizing about aggression.

● Prosocial behavior- Positive, constructive, helpful social behavior; is the opposite of

antisocial behavior.