Question 1

Portrayal of aggression on television would be of particular theoretical concern to the

Accepted Answer

Social learning theorists are concerned with how behavior is shaped by observing and imitating others, especially in the context of media influences. This makes them particularly interested in the portrayal of aggression on television and its potential impact on viewers' behavior. The other options do not directly relate to the study of media influences on aggression.

Question 2

Research by Donnerstein and Linz suggests that _____ are most responsible for people's attitudes about women and rape.

Accepted Answer

Donnerstein and Linz's research suggests that violent images, particularly those depicting rape or sexual assault, are most responsible for shaping people's attitudes about women and rape. Exposure to these images can desensitize individuals to the severity of sexual violence and perpetuate harmful myths and stereotypes about gender and sexuality. While factors like narcissism and dependency may play a role in shaping attitudes towards rape and sexual assault, the research cited in this question suggests that violent media is the primary culprit.

Question 3

Regarding the aggressiveness of the American culture, which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

Accepted Answer

All of these statements are true. According to statistics, approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population owns firearms. In 2005, a violent crime occurred every 23 seconds in the United States. And, nationally, 70 percent agreed with the statement that "When a boy is growing up, it is very important for him to have a few fist fights." These factors contribute to the perception of aggressiveness in American culture.

Question 4

Regarding social learning theory and aggression, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Social learning theory acknowledges the role of cultural factors in shaping aggressive behavior. It recognizes that socialization and cultural norms can teach people to use aggression as a means of achieving their goals, and that exposure to violence in media and the community can also contribute to aggressive behavior.

Question 5

The importance of the weapons effect is demonstrated by the fact the nearly 80 percent of the victims in homes where guns are kept are killed by

Accepted Answer

According to the statement, nearly 80 percent of the victims in homes where guns are kept are killed by family members or acquaintances, making choice A the correct answer. Choices B and C are incorrect because they are not supported by the given information while D is incorrect because it refers to suicides, which was not mentioned in the statement.

Question 6

Regarding the relationship between pornography and aggression against women, which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

Accepted Answer

All three statements are true based on research in the field of social psychology. Research has shown that exposure to erotic or sexual content alone does not necessarily increase aggression towards women; however, aggressive pornography has been linked to increased aggression towards women, particularly in men who are already prone to sexual violence. Furthermore, exposure to media with violent and sexual content has been shown to increase viewers' aggressive sexual fantasies, belief in rape myths, and aggressive behavior.

Question 7

_____ is demonstrated by the fact that murders are almost three times more likely to occur in homes where guns are kept with 80 percent of the victims being killed by a family member.

Accepted Answer

The weapons effect is the idea that the mere presence of a weapon, such as a gun, can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior. The statistic mentioned in the scenario supports this concept, as the presence of guns in homes correlates with a higher likelihood of murders occurring.

Question 8

The _____ theory emphasized that we learn to be aggressive by observing aggression in others.

Accepted Answer

The social learning theory emphasizes that we learn through observation and imitation of others, including aggression. This theory was proposed by psychologist Albert Bandura.

Question 9

_____ theorists predict that people growing up in nonaggressive cultures will be nonaggressive, while those raised in cultures with aggressive heroes and other aggressive models will develop aggressive responses.

Accepted Answer

Social learning theorists believe that aggression is learned through observing and imitating role models in one's environment. Therefore, they would predict that individuals raised in cultures with aggressive models would develop aggressive responses, while those in nonaggressive cultures would not necessarily exhibit aggression. Ethological theorists focus more on innate behavior patterns and instincts, while humanistic and psychoanalytical theories do not specifically address the development of aggression in different cultural contexts.

Question 10

_____ involves media depictions of sexual violence or of forced participation in sexual activity.

Accepted Answer

Aggressive pornography involves media depictions of sexual violence or of forced participation in sexual activity. Erotic stimuli can refer to a variety of sexual material, not necessarily involving aggression. Fantasy pornography and all pornography are too broad and do not specifically apply to this definition.

Question 11

The _____ theory combines learning principles with cognitive processes, socialization, and modeling to explain behaviors, such as aggression.

Accepted Answer

The social learning theory combines learning principles with cognitive processes, socialization, and modeling to explain behaviors, such as aggression. The theory posits that individuals learn behaviors by observing others and the consequences of their actions, and they also learn through direct experiences and feedback from others. This theory was developed by psychologist Albert Bandura.

Question 12

Regarding the violent behavior among delinquent boys, which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

Accepted Answer

All of these statements are true. The capacity for violent behavior among delinquent boys typically develops slowly over time and progresses from minor acts of aggression to more severe, violent acts. Furthermore, research has shown that overall aggression among delinquents tends to increase dramatically in early adolescence, which is a time when many boys experience hormonal changes and are exposed to new stressors and social influences. As they gain more physical strength and access to weapons, male delinquents may become even more aggressive and violent in their behavior.

Question 13

The main finding of studies on aggressive-pornographic stimuli is that these images

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that exposure to aggressive-pornographic stimuli increases aggression against females by men who are already prone to sexual violence. This finding suggests that such images can have a harmful impact on men who are at risk of committing sexual violence.

Question 14

A mother who is searching for an explanation for the increased aggression in her six-year-old child would be advised by social learning theorists that such aggression is

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory suggests that children learn through observation and imitation of models in their environment, including parents, peers, and media. Therefore, the increased aggression in the child may be a result of exposure to aggressive models in their environment.

Question 15

Research by Donnerstein and others suggests that the circumstances most likely to increase violent sexual acts against women (such as rape) involve

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research by Donnerstein and others suggests that...

Question 16

The belief that we learn to be aggressive by observing aggression in others is held by

Accepted Answer

The belief that we learn to be aggressive by observing aggression in others is a central premise of social learning theory. Other choices are not relevant or incorrect, as ethological theory emphasizes innate behavior patterns, dissonance conditioning theory pertains to the reduction of cognitive dissonance, and there are serious theorists who propose social learning theory.

Question 17

The social learning theory of aggression explains that

Accepted Answer

The social learning theory of aggression suggests that individuals learn aggressive behavior by observing and imitating the behavior of others, particularly those in their immediate environment or social groups. This model proposes that aggressive behavior is not solely an innate characteristic but can be shaped by social learning experiences.

Question 18

Erotic stimuli have been found to have adverse effects on viewers when _____ are also present.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that pairing erotic stimuli with aggressive images can lead to an increase in aggressive behavior and attitudes towards women. This is known as the "hostile media effect" and has been observed in both men and women. Homosexual relationships and unusual sex acts have not been consistently found to have adverse effects on viewers. Fantasy themes are subjective and can vary from person to person, so it is unclear what effect they may have.

Question 19

People who were the victims of violence during childhood are likely to become violent themselves.This is a testament to which theory of aggression?

Accepted Answer

The social learning theory proposes that individuals learn through observation and imitation of others’ behavior. In this case, individuals who were victims of violence during childhood may learn and imitate those aggressive behaviors, leading to a perpetuation of violence.

Question 20

Exposure to mass media images that have violent and sexual content increases all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Exposure to mass media images with violent and sexual content can increase aggressive sexual fantasies, aggressive behavior, and beliefs in rape myths. However, there is no evidence to suggest that it increases the likelihood of engaging in bizarre sexual acts.

Quiz 17: Extension B: Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior