Blog 1: What are the environmental (situational) explanations for aggression?

Aggression is a behaviour or action motivated by the intention to harm another person who wishes to avoid the inflicted harm (Parrot & Giancola 2007). There are a number of types of aggression including active, passive, hostile and instrumental (Baumeister & Bushman 2008). Active aggression is defined as the harming of another by performing a particular behaviour (Baumeister & Bushman). Passive aggression is the intent to harm another by withholding a behaviour or action (Baumeister & Bushman). Hostile aggression is impulsive and the desired goal is to inflict injury to the victim (Baumeister & Bushman). Finally, instrumental aggression is the intentional use of a harmful behaviour motivated by another goal (Baumeister & Bushman). All types of aggression are caused by internal and external factors which influence an individual’s reaction to a situation (Myers 2007). External or environmental factors used to cause aggression include personal observation and modelling, mass media and propaganda, and victimization. The Ghosts of Rwanda and Jane Elliot’s Australian Eye both provide insight into the environmental provocations of aggression.

Aggression can be learned by observing and modelling the aggressive and violent behaviours of others (Myers 2007). Research indicates that people who witness the rewarding of aggressive behaviours are more likely to replicate those actions (Baumeister & Bushman 2008). The Blue Eyed Brown Eyed experiment conveyed this occurrence as Jane Elliot’s discriminatory behaviour towards the blue eyed group was copied by the members of the brown eyed group (Robins & Cullen 2002). Elliot aimed to establish a “pecking order” within the experimental group. Elliot’s goal was to set brown eyed people apart from blue eyed people by building brown eyed people up and engendering a feeling of worthlessness within the blue eyed group. The brown eyed members immediately began to put-down and insult the blue eyed group because they felt superior and encouraged by Jane Elliot to behave in that manner. The aggressive behaviour of the brown eyed group was interesting as many of the members were Aboriginals who had been discriminated against by white Australians throughout their lives and personally did not agree with that treatment. The Blue Eyed Brown Eyed exercise explained how an environment promoting discrimination and racism can encourage aggressive behaviours among groups of people almost instantaneously.

Aggression between groups can be encouraged by the means of mass media. Mass media is an extremely influential tool used to instigate instrumental aggression. Instrumental aggression is a cold, premeditated behaviour with the aim to bring about an end which is considered necessary (Baumeister & Bushman 2008). During the civil war and genocide in Rwanda radios were used to campaign for the killing of all Tutsi people (Des Forges 1999). “War legitimates such extreme violence that it can make aggrieved or opportunistic citizens feel licensed to target their neighbours” (Power 2002). The propaganda justified the targeting and killing of non-violent Tutsis by instilling a belief in the Hutus that they would became a problem for the nation of Rwanda. Dutton, Boyanowsky and Bond (2005) explain that violence towards target groups is advanced by the belief that the target group had an unfair advantage over the perpetrators in the past and therefore violence is justified as revenge. The Hutu propagandists took a party line which conditioned hatred in the Hutu people for the Tutsi tribe by telling the Hutus that the Tutsis were foreign invaders bent on turning the Hutus into slaves as they had in previous times (Barker 2004). Radio broadcasts instructed Hutu people to set up barriers to stop Tutsis escaping the country and search out Tutsis with the soul purpose of killing (Des Forges). The propaganda told the Hutu people that Tutsis were going to try and kill them and so Hutus should carry a gun at all times and endeavoured to kill any Tutsi person whom they came across (Barker). Using the Radio airwaves was a calculated action on the behalf of the Hutu government with an aim of wiping out the Tutsi tribe by encouraging the Hutus to kill any Tutsi tribe members.

Victimization and experiencing unpleasant treatment such as personal insults, or feelings of social exclusion can cause humiliation and self-worthlessness, which subsequently encouraging aggressive behaviours from those who are being victimized (Myers 2007). For some of the members in the Blue eyed group from Elliot’s experiment this was very apparent. Hostile and passive aggressions were both observed throughout the Australian Eye documentary. Two of the participants, Caroline and Jack, became hostile almost immediately when treated in a discriminatory way (Robins & Cullen 2002). The videorecording showed how Jack became hostile towards Elliot as soon as he entered the room. He stood at the back of the room and would not comply with the instructions which Elliot was issuing. When he tried to sit in chair which he was not allowed to sit in he became rude and eventually walked out of the program (Robins & Cullen). In an interview following his exit, Jack said that he with his personality he could not handle the manner in which Elliot treated him (Robin & Cullen). Another participant, Caroline, also behaved aggressively toward Elliot when she could not handle the way she was being treated. Caroline was impolite and replied angrily to questions directed towards her; however she remained in the experiment (Robins & Cullen).
Passive aggression was also observed within during the exercise. One man, Irving, did not handle the belligerent style in which Elliot addressed him and therefore would not obey Elliot’s instructions (Robins & Cullen). Although he did not act hostilely or rudely toward Elliot, he purposefully disobeyed her as a way of undermining what she was trying to achieve in the group (Robins & Cullen).

Aggression is a behaviour motivated by the intention to harm another person. Environmental factors influence an individual’s aggressive motivations and reactions to a particular situation. Aggression can be learned by observing and copying how other’s deal with situations. It can be encouraged through media and propaganda programs which instil particular beliefs in individuals and communities. Aggression can also arise as a reaction to victimisation and discriminatory treatment. Situations and environmental factors have a large impact on how aggression develops in individuals.


REFERENCE LIST:

Baumeister, R.F., Bushman, B.J. 2008 Social psychology and human nature, Belmont, C.A.: Thomson Wadsworth

Barker, G. 2004. Ghosts of Rwanda [video]. USA, Frontline

Des Forges, A. Leave none to tell the story, New York: Human Rights Watch
Dutton, D.G., Boyanowsky, E.O., Bond, M.H. 2005. “Extreme mass homicide: From military massacre to genocide”, Aggression and violent behaviour, vol. 10(4); 437-473

Myers, D.G. 2007, Psychology (8th edn), New York: Worth Publishers

Parrott, D.J., Giancola, P.R. 2007, “Addressing ‘the criterion problem’ in the assessment of aggressive behaviour: Development of a new taxonomic system”, Aggression and violent behaviour, vol.12; 280-299

Power, S. 2002. A problem in hell, America and the age of genocide. New York: Harper Collins Perennial


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