Question 1

Research has shown that exposure to media violence is not only causally related to aggressive behaviour by the viewer but also causally related to a decrease in

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that exposure to media violence is not only causally related to aggressive behaviour by the viewer but also causally related to a decrease in both empathy and prosocial behaviour.

Question 2

A cross-national study of violence found that homicide rates in countries all over the world are correlated with

Accepted Answer

The availability of guns has been found to be a significant predictor of homicide rates across different countries. Studies have shown that countries with higher rates of gun ownership tend to have higher rates of homicide.

Question 3

Which of the following is the best example of an aggressive stimulus?

Accepted Answer

A gun rack in the rear window of a pick-up truck is a direct symbol of aggression and can serve as a cue for aggressive thoughts or behaviors, making it a strong example of an aggressive stimulus.

Question 4

Mike's parents try to stop Mike from hitting his brother by punishing him.Based on social learning theory why might that not work?

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory suggests that individuals learn through observation and imitation of others. In this case, if Mike's parents are aggressive or use violence as a means of resolving conflicts, then punishing Mike may not effectively stop his violent behavior. Instead, Mike may learn to solve problems and conflicts through violence by observing his parents' behavior as a model.

Question 5

A situational factor for teen aggression at schools has been identified as

Accepted Answer

Social exclusion has been identified as a situational factor for teen aggression at schools. Students who feel socially excluded may display aggressive behavior as a means of gaining attention or asserting their dominance.

Other options such as alcohol intoxication, aggressive stimuli and objects, testosterone, and overcrowding are also potential contributing factors to teen aggression, but they may not be as directly linked to situational factors at school.

Question 6

John and Sam get into a fistfight in the middle of a gun shop.The presence of the guns would be an example of

Accepted Answer

The presence of guns in the environment can serve as aggressive stimuli, which are objects that can trigger or increase the likelihood of aggressive responses.

Question 7

_______ theory posits that we learn to aggress by observing and imitating others.

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory, also known as observational learning or modeling, proposes that we learn behaviors such as aggression by observing the actions of others and imitating those behaviors. This theory suggests that violent media, such as movies or video games, can contribute to the development of aggressive behavior by providing models of violent behavior for individuals to imitate.

Question 8

The fact that a large percentage of physically abusive people were themselves abused by their parents can be best explained by

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory suggests that people learn behaviors from observing and imitating others. If a person grew up in an environment with abusive parents, they may learn that physical violence is an acceptable way to solve problems or control others, and may repeat that behavior in their own relationships.

Question 9

Twenge and colleagues (2001)conducted an experimental study on social exclusion in which participants were told that none of the other participants wanted to work with them on the experimental task.Their results reveal that

Accepted Answer

Participants who experienced social rejection were found to retaliate with aggression when given the opportunity, supporting the idea that social exclusion can lead to aggressive behavior.

Question 10

Which of the following findings provides the most sound support for the assertion that we learn aggression by observing others and imitating them?

Accepted Answer

This finding provides concrete evidence of the social learning theory, as the children observed and imitated the aggressive behavior they witnessed in the adult.

Question 11

Grant (2008)asked skilled immigrants from Asia and Africa about their feelings when credentials earned in their country of origin were not recognized in Canada.Participants showed anger,frustration,and resentment.The authors explained this as due to

Accepted Answer

The participants' anger, frustration, and resentment can be explained by relative deprivation, which refers to the feeling of being unjustly deprived of something one is entitled to compared to others in their reference group. In this case, the skilled immigrants feel deprived of recognition of their credentials, which they earned in their country of origin and believe should be recognized in Canada.

Question 12

The numerous school shootings that has followed in the decade since the shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton,Colorado,suggests that

Accepted Answer

The fact that school shootings have followed in the decade after the Columbine shooting suggests that people may imitate acts of violence performed by their peers. This theory is supported by research on the contagious effects of mass shootings, which suggests that individuals who commit mass shootings may inspire copycat attacks. It is important to address this issue through preventative measures such as education and mental health support for at-risk individuals. While gun laws may be part of the solution, they are unlikely to be effective on their own.

Question 13

A little girl watches a television cartoon in which a woman yanks a child by the hair and screams at her.After seeing the cartoon,the little girl acts out this same interaction with her doll.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of social learning, as the little girl is imitating the behavior she saw on the television cartoon.

Question 14

Leonard Berkowitz (1981,p.12)wrote,"An angry person can pull the trigger of a gun if he [sic] wants to commit violence; but the trigger can also pull the finger or otherwise elicit aggressive reactions from him [sic],if he [sic] is ready to aggress and does not have strong inhibitions against such behaviour." This quote is an argument

Accepted Answer

The quote suggests that guns can elicit aggressive reactions from someone who is ready to aggress and doesn't have strong inhibitions against violence. This supports the argument that the presence of guns can increase aggression.

Question 15

According to Leonard Berkowitz and Anthony LePage (1967),human beings

Accepted Answer

According to Berkowitz and LePage (1967), humans seem to have an inborn tendency to aggress against certain provocative stimuli.

Question 16

Gina has recently been convicted in a highly publicized assault case.When asked by the press,she offers many reasons for her aggressiveness.Which of the following of Gina's arguments would a social psychologists find the least compelling?

Accepted Answer

Gina's argument that "The man I assaulted provoked me. It wasn't intentional, but I didn't care" is the least compelling because it is a form of victim blaming. Social psychologists would argue that Gina's own behavior is responsible for her actions, regardless of the actions of the victim.

Question 17

One factor identified as a common theme in case studies of school violence is

Accepted Answer

Social exclusion has been identified as a common factor in cases of school violence, as individuals who feel marginalized or ostracized from their peers may become more likely to engage in violent behavior in order to feel powerful or "seen."

Question 18

A number of long-term studies that monitor what children actually watch on television and that use teacher and peer ratings of aggressiveness (e.g.,Eron,1987; Huesmann,1982)have found that

Accepted Answer

The answer of A number of long-term studies that monitor...

Question 19

As Dale is walking by Andy,he trips over Andy's foot,falls to the ground,and hits his face on the side of a table as he is falling.Dale will be most likely to reciprocate by acting violently toward Andy if

Accepted Answer

If Andy intentionally tripped Dale, it suggests a hostile intent, which is likely to trigger retaliatory behavior from Dale. In contrast, if Andy unintentionally tripped Dale, Dale is less likely to feel targeted or threatened, and less likely to act aggressively. The other options are less relevant to the situation and do not provide sufficient information about the cause-effect relationship between the incident and Dale's potential response.

Question 20

Garin is having lunch in the cafeteria,quietly minding his own business.While he is eating,he notices two guys whispering to each other and occasionally glancing in his direction.One of the guys picks up his tray and walks towards Garin.He dumps his tray in the garbage next to Garin,dropping leftovers all over him.When would Garin be most likely to respond with aggression?

Accepted Answer

Garin is more likely to respond aggressively if he believes that the guy's behavior towards him was intentionally hostile. This perception of intentionality may evoke feelings of anger and a desire to retaliate in Garin.

Quiz 11: Aggression