Question 1

The rape myth is the belief that:

Accepted Answer

The rape myth includes false beliefs that blame victims and excuse perpetrators, such as the idea that women provoke rape or secretly enjoy it.

Question 2

In Bandura's "Bobo doll" study, children who watched an adult act aggressively toward a plastic, air-filled doll:

Accepted Answer

Bandura's "Bobo doll" study found that children who watched an adult act aggressively toward a plastic, air-filled doll not only imitated the adult's aggressive behavior, but also engaged in new forms of aggressive behavior toward the doll. Therefore, choice C is the best answer.

Question 3

In his study of the effects of televised prize-fights, sociologist David Phillips found that:

Accepted Answer

In his study, David Phillips found that the more publicity surrounding televised prize-fights, the greater the increase in homicides in the following days. Option A is incorrect because the U.S. homicide rate increased after both domestic and overseas fights. Option C is also incorrect because Phillips found that there was no relationship between the race of the fighters and the race of homicide victims. Option D is incorrect because age was not found to be a significant factor in the effects of televised fights.

Question 4

In the experiment by Kulik and Brown, subjects attempted to earn money by telephoning potential donors (confederates) for charity pledges. Subjects displayed the most aggression when:

Accepted Answer

The experiment found that subjects displayed the most aggression when their expectations were high but their success rate was low, suggesting frustration and disappointment.

Question 5

"Bobo doll" studies found that:

Accepted Answer

The "Bobo doll" studies found that children imitated adults who had been aggressive toward a "Bobo doll," and thus learned new forms of physical and verbal aggression through observation. This is known as observational learning or social learning theory. Children who witnessed non-aggressive behavior toward the "Bobo doll" were less likely to be aggressive themselves. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 6

In a study by Berkowitz, subjects were made angry in a room containing either a gun or a badminton racket. Later, when given a chance to administer shocks to a "fellow student," subjects who had been in the room with the gun shocked the other person more than those who had been in the room containing the badminton racket. This study demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

The study demonstrates the power of "aggressive cues" (i.e. the presence of a gun) in facilitating aggressive behavior. It does not necessarily provide evidence for the other options.

Question 7

Aronson explains the high school shootings like Columbine by:

Accepted Answer

Aronson explains the high school shootings by examining the relative deprivation in high schools for the youth on the bottom being rejected by the "preppies" on top. He argues that these youth feel hopeless and powerless, and resort to extreme acts of violence as a way to exert control and gain attention. While factors like testosterone levels, upbringing, and exposure to media violence may also play a role, Aronson's focus is on the social dynamics and psychological pressures that contribute to these tragic events.

Question 8

The results of Josephson's study, in which boys watched violent movies of police violence or exciting nonviolent bike racing and were later exposed to a frustrating situation, indicate that:

Accepted Answer

Josephson's study found that the boys who watched violent movies of police violence exhibited higher levels of aggression when faced with a frustrating situation compared to those who watched exciting nonviolent bike racing. This suggests that exposure to violent stimuli strengthens the tendency for aggression.

Question 9

According to Aronson's analysis, the riots that occurred in Watts and in Detroit most clearly exemplified the effects of:

Accepted Answer

Aronson's analysis suggests that the riots in Watts and Detroit were a result of relative deprivation, which occurs when people feel that they are not getting what they believe they deserve in comparison to others. This feeling of unfairness and frustration can lead to social unrest and violence.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a reason cited by Aronson for why media violence might increase aggression?

Accepted Answer

Aronson does not specifically cite increased physiological arousal as a reason for media violence increasing aggression, whereas the other options are commonly discussed reasons.

Question 11

Martha argues that children should not be exposed to sex and violence on TV because it leads them to behave more aggressively. Martha's view is most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Martha's argument aligns with social learning theory, which posits that children learn behavior through observation and imitation of others, including on TV. This theory also suggests that exposure to violent or sexual content can lead to aggressive behavior in children.

Question 12

In Donnerstein's study on the effects of pornography, male subjects delivered more intense shocks to a female confederate:

Accepted Answer

The male subjects delivered more intense shocks to the female confederate after viewing an aggressive-erotic film involving rape. This suggests that exposure to violent or aggressive sexually explicit material can increase aggression towards women.

Question 13

Zimbardo's research suggests that "deindividuation" contributes to aggression. By this, he means that we are more likely to behave aggressively when we are:

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's research on deindividuation suggests that when individuals feel anonymous and less identifiable in a group setting, they are more likely to engage in impulsive and aggressive behavior. This is because a sense of individual responsibility and accountability are decreased in such situations. Anger, frustration, and being rewarded for aggressive behavior can also contribute to aggression, but the specific focus of Zimbardo's research is on the impact of deindividuation.

Question 14

The results of Zimbardo's experiment on deindividuation and aggression, in which some subjects "shocked" a confederate while wearing hoods and loose-fitting robes, suggests that:

Accepted Answer

The results of Zimbardo's experiment showed that anonymity reduces concern over social evaluation, and therefore tends to increase aggression. Participants who were anonymous (hooded and wearing loose-fitting robes) were more likely to shock the confederate than those who were identifiable. This suggests that being anonymous can lead to a decrease in self-awareness and an increase in aggression due to a reduced concern for social evaluation.

Question 15

One important aspect of the social learning theory of aggression is that human beings will consider the ________ of a person who has caused us pain or frustration.

Accepted Answer

According to the social learning theory of aggression, when we experience pain or frustration caused by another person, we consider their intentions, or why they behaved in the manner they did. This can help inform our own behavior in response and influence whether we choose to respond aggressively or not. The other options listed (appearance, gender, occupation) are not emphasized in this theory as relevant factors in the decision-making process of how to respond to aggression.

Question 16

In a study by Thomas and colleagues, subjects watched either a violent TV police drama or an exciting volleyball game. When subjects later saw an aggressive interaction between two preschool children, people who had watched the volleyball game:

Accepted Answer

People who watched the volleyball game reacted more emotionally because they were not desensitized to violence, unlike those who watched the violent police drama.

Question 17

Brian Mullen studied lynchings perpetrated from 1899 to 1946, and found that the larger the lynch mobs, the more violent the lynchings. This research suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Brian Mullen's research suggests that being a "faceless" member of a crowd lowers inhibitions against destructive acts, which is known as deindividuation. The larger the lynch mobs, the more likely individuals were to lose their sense of individual responsibility and engage in violent behavior. This supports the idea that deindividuation plays a role in mob violence.

Question 18

According to a study by Mallick and McCandless, in which children were kept from achieving a goal by another child's clumsiness, the amount of aggression we express after a frustrating experience is often reduced when:

Accepted Answer

Learning that the person who has frustrated us actually intended no harm can reduce our aggression because we no longer perceive them as a threat or intentionally causing us harm. This can lead to more understanding and empathy, which can reduce our aggressive response.

Question 19

In experiments on the effects of violent pornography, Malamuth found that:

Accepted Answer

Malamuth found that men were more accepting of violence against women after watching violent pornography. This was seen through increased levels of aggression, decreased empathy towards rape victims and more positive attitudes towards rape in general. However, it is important to note that these results are not universal and may vary based on individual differences and situational factors.

Question 20

Generalizing from Berkowitz's research, you would predict that a subject who has just watched a "slasher" movie (in which a beautiful young woman gets brutally raped, beaten, and murdered by a man who was an artist) would be more likely to act aggressively against:

Accepted Answer

According to Berkowitz's research, exposure to violent media can increase aggression towards individuals who are perceived as similar to the targets in the media. In this case, the target is a beautiful young woman who is brutally murdered by a man who is an artist. Therefore, it is likely that the subject who has watched the "slasher" movie would be more likely to act aggressively towards beautiful young women, as they are perceived as similar to the target in the media.

Quiz 6: Aggression