### Week 2 Discussion – Aggression in Your Life
**Experience with Aggressive Behavior**
One experience with aggressive behavior that stands out occurred during a group project in my undergraduate studies. We were tasked with presenting a comprehensive marketing strategy for a hypothetical product, and tensions were high due to differing opinions and the looming deadline. During a particularly heated discussion, one group member, Alex, became visibly frustrated and began to raise his voice, dismissing others’ contributions and aggressively pushing his own ideas. His behavior escalated to the point where he slammed his laptop shut and stormed out of the room.
**Exploring the Reasons for the Aggression**
Two psychological theories that can help explain Alex’s aggressive behavior are the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis and Social Learning Theory.
**Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis**
The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis posits that aggression is often the result of frustration, which occurs when an individual is blocked from achieving a goal (Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mowrer, & Sears, 1939). In this scenario, Alex’s aggressive outburst can be attributed to his frustration with the group dynamics and the progress of the project. His ideas were not being accepted as readily as he had hoped, leading to feelings of helplessness and anger. The mounting pressure of the approaching deadline likely exacerbated his frustration, triggering an aggressive response as a means of coping with the perceived obstruction to his goals.
**Social Learning Theory**
Social Learning Theory, proposed by Bandura (1977), suggests that individuals learn aggressive behaviors through observation and imitation of others, particularly when such behaviors are rewarded or go unpunished. Alex’s behavior may have been influenced by previous experiences where assertiveness and aggression yielded positive results, such as getting his way or achieving his objectives. If he had witnessed similar behavior in other contexts being effective, he might have learned to replicate it in situations where he felt his control or influence was being challenged. Additionally, if aggressive behavior had not been adequately addressed or discouraged in the past, Alex might have perceived it as an acceptable way to handle conflict and frustration.
**Conclusion**
In summary, Alex’s aggressive behavior during our group project can be understood through the lens of the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis, which highlights his frustration with unmet goals, and Social Learning Theory, which points to learned behaviors from previous experiences. Both theories offer valuable insights into the complex interplay of emotions and social influences that can lead to aggression.
**Reference**
– Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Prentice-Hall.
– Dollard, J., Doob, L., Miller, N., Mowrer, O. H., & Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and Aggression. Yale University Press.
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### Response to a Classmate’s Submission
**Classmate’s Experience with Aggressive Behavior**
One classmate described an incident where a coworker became aggressive during a team meeting, verbally attacking another team member for a mistake made in a recent project. The coworker’s aggressive behavior included shouting and making derogatory comments, which created a hostile and uncomfortable environment for everyone involved.
**Reflection and Additional Possible Causes**
In reflecting on this incident, two additional possible causes for the aggressive behavior are:
**1. Cognitive Neoassociation Theory**
Cognitive Neoassociation Theory suggests that aggression can result from negative emotions that are linked to unpleasant experiences or thoughts (Berkowitz, 1989). The coworker’s aggressive outburst could be a response to negative emotions such as stress or dissatisfaction related to the project’s outcome. The mistake made by the team member might have triggered these underlying negative emotions, leading to an aggressive reaction.
**2. Deindividuation**
Deindividuation theory posits that individuals in group settings may lose their sense of self-awareness and personal responsibility, leading to behavior that they might not exhibit when alone (Zimbardo, 1969). The aggressive coworker might have felt a sense of anonymity or reduced accountability in the team meeting, which could have lowered their inhibitions and contributed to their aggressive behavior. The presence of other team members might have amplified the aggressive response, as the coworker sought to assert dominance or shift blame in a high-stress situation.
**References**
– Berkowitz, L. (1989). Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: Examination and Reformulation. *Psychological Bulletin*, 106(1), 59-73.
– Zimbardo, P. G. (1969). The Human Choice: Individuation, Reason, and Order Versus Deindividuation, Impulse, and Chaos. *Nebraska Symposium on Motivation*, 17, 237-307.
By considering these additional theories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the various factors that contribute to aggressive behavior in different contexts.
Week 2 Discussion – Aggression in your life
Prompt:
Discuss an experience with aggressive behavior you had and explore the reason for it using any 2 of the reasons covered in either the lecture or reading. Once you submit your paper, respond to any one of your classmate’s submissions with a brief reflection offering two additional possible causes of the aggressive incident they describe.
Response Parameters:
You are expected to participate in all Discussion exercises assigned throughout the course in two stages.
· First, for each assignment, post a response that addresses the key Prompt question(s) presented by the stated deadline
· Minimum word requirement for initial posts is 250 words
· In order to earn credit, all posts must be accompanied by at least one citation with accompanying reference outside of, or in addition to, the textbook. Wikipedia, ask.com, about.com and the like are not considered valid sources for any assignment in this course. Your post must adhere to APA citation rules. Grading will take into consideration grammar, spelling, organization, length, citations, knowledgeable content, display of logical reasoning, and adherence to APA citation and referencing
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