Do Now: What are the three roots of prejudice (S…E…C)?

Social

Emotional

Cognitive

Cognitive

1) Categorizing2) Vivid Case Phenomenon3) Just World Phenomenon4) Hindsight Bias

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Cognitive Roots of Prejudice

One way we simplify our world is to categorize. We categorize people into

groups by stereotyping them.

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Cognitive Roots of Prejudice

In vivid cases terrorists can feed stereotypes or prejudices

Example: 9/11

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Cognitive Roots of Prejudice

Just-world phenomenon The tendency of people to believe the world is just, and

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Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe that we could have predicted an outcome beforehand

How can we reduce prejudice?

• Contact theory- contact between antagonistic groups will reduce hostility if groups work toward superordinate goal

Do Now:

• Video on Aggression Bandura, Road Rage, Intentional Aggression

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5I8OEnNNMY

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWsxfoJEwQQ

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Aggression

Aggression any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.

Aggressive behavior emerges from the interaction of biology and experience.

Two types of Aggression

• Instrumental: act is a means to gain something

• Hostile: emotional and impulsive- typically in response to pain or stress

Aim: What is the cause of aggression?

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The Biology of Aggression

Three biological influences on aggressive behavior are:

1. Genetic Influences2. Neural Influences3. Biochemical

Influences

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Genetic Influences

1) Twin Studies

2) Animal Breeding Studies

3) Y chromosome: Men are much more likely to engage in aggressive behavior

Neural Influences: The limbic system (amygdala) will

increase aggression

The frontal lobe will suppress aggression

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svP7-L2Zu3M

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Biochemical Influences1) Castrated animals (low testosterone) become docile2) Animals injected with testosterone= increased aggression 3) Prenatal exposure to testosterone= increased aggression

Alcohol and Aggression

• Alcohol increases aggression

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Frustration-Aggression Principle

Frustration (caused by the blocking of an attempt to achieve a desired goal) creates anger, which can generate aggression.

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Learning that Aggression is Rewarding

When aggression leads to desired outcomes, one learns to be aggressive.

How might viewing violent or sexually violent media lead to

aggression?

Violent media will desensitize people to violence

• Media can create social scripts and use these scripts as guides

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Observing Models of Aggression

Sexually coercive men are promiscuous

and hostile in their relationships with

women. This coerciveness has increased due to

television viewing of R- and X-rated

movies.

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Acquiring Social Scripts

The media portrays social scripts and generates mental tapes in the minds of the

viewers.

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Do Video Games Teach or Release Violence?

The general consensus on violent video games is that, to some extent, they breed violence. Adolescents view the world as

hostile when they get into arguments and receive bad grades after playing such

games.

Summary

• What are three causes of aggression?

• How does our psychology influence aggression?

• How could you study the effects of prejudice on aggressive behaviors?

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Summary