Question

Explain the difference between frustration aggression theory, social learning theory and social identity theory from the behaviourist perspective of conflict theory 20 Marks

Answer 1

There are various psychological theories that explain the origins and triggers of human aggression. The behaviourist perspective shows that how environmental factors affect the behaviour of people. The three types of theories and difference between them is explained below -

Frustration aggression theory – Frustration refers to feeling of irritation and disappointment. Aggression refers to malicious behaviour towards something. If any goal of the person gets blocked due to something, people often become frustrated which results in aggression. This theory says that aggression is the result of frustration due to blocking a person's efforts to attain a goal. The theory states that frustration often leads to aggressive behaviour among people.

Social learning theory - Social learning theory states that the new behaviours can be acquired by observing others. It states that a person can acquire aggressive behaviour as a social influence either by experiencing something of own or by observing others. Unlike frustration aggression theory, the aggression is not caused by not being able to achieve something; rather aggression is caused by social influence

Social identity theory – Social identity theory states that the behaviour of person depends upon the person's sense of who they are based on their group membership. If people feel threat to their social identity it can trigger their aggression. If the groups are of similar people then aggression levels are low. However, deviant group members are observed with high aggression levels. Unlike both other theory, triggering point of aggression here is threat to the social identity of people.