After he is spanked, Terrence feels angry, frustrated, and hostile, and goes immediately outside and picks a fight with his younger brother. What is most likely to occur in the future?
A)Picking a fight with his brother will be an isolated event in the future, although he will still misbehave and receive spankings.
B)Because Terrence releases some of his anger on his younger brother, his aggression will be rewarded and will tend to occur again in other frustrating situations.
C)Because Terrence releases his anger on his younger brother, he will be less likely to be aggressive toward any other children in the future due to the cathartic effect.
D)Terrence's overall aggression will decline, and he will become a model child at home, in the neighborhood, and at school.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Terrence's behavior of picking a fight with his brother after being spanked is an example of displaced aggression. When this aggression leads to a sense of relief or satisfaction, it is positively reinforced, making it more likely that Terrence will exhibit similar aggressive behaviors in future frustrating situations.

After He Is Spanked, Terrence Feels Angry, Frustrated, and Hostile