Question

Compare and contrast frustration-aggression theory and social learning theory of aggression

Answer 1

• The two theories try to explain that if or if not aggression is a product of only environmental factors or whether is it a product of combination of innate factors and environmental. factors.
• The social learning theory of aggression states that aggression is only infleunced by the environment and it is a learned behaviour.Through the process of modeling,the observer perceives the aggressive behaviour of the model and imitates it only if it is rewarding.
• Bandura had argued that children tend to learn aggressive behaviours by imitating the different role models in real life present in their surroundings or through media.Only if the behaviour is rewarded,then it is imitated.For instance,if the aggressive behaviour is being rewarded with some financial incentive,a rise in self esteem or even receiving praise,then only it would be learned.
• The frustration-aggression theory stresses upon that when our internal goals are blocked,we feel annoyed and irritated as we cannot reach them,this causes frustration,and this frustration culminates into aggression.The efforts to attain the goal ar stopped or blocked by some external factor,and the person cannot find way to overcome those obstacles leadinf to frustration and this frustration results in aggressive behaviour.
• Aggression is cathartic release of our frustration.We use defense mechanisms in catharsis of our aggression like,displacement which is directing our negative emotions outwards towards something else,which is less threatening and not a source of our frustration.