Freud’s theory of aggression - the importance of catharsis

Freud’s theory of aggression is based on the idea that aggressive drives build up over time and need to be let out somehow.  This idea gives rise to several predictions

1. If a person’s drives are frustrated, they will become more aggressive.
2. If a person does not express their aggressive drives safely, their aggression will come out as explosive rage.
3. If a person is allowed to vent their aggression safely, they will be less aggressive afterwards.  

Complete this table by commenting on and evaluating the studies of aggression.  Made sure you bring the completed table to class.  

Study	Support or challenge Freud’s theory - how?	Strengths and/or limitations of the study	
Bushman (2002) had a confederate deliberately anger his participants.  The experimental group then were allowed to punch a punchbag for a few minutes, whilst the control group did nothing.  The PPs were then given the opportunity to be aggressive against the person who had angered them, by blasting them with white noise.  PPs in the experimental group were significantly more aggressive than those in the control group.			
Verona and Sullivan (2007) arranged for a confederate to act in ways that deliberately frustrated their participants.  The experimental group was then allowed to act in an aggressive way by pressing a button that gave (fake) electric shocks to someone.  The control group pressed a ‘non-shock’ button.  Later, all the PPs were subjected to an uncomfortable blast of hot air, and given the opportunity to act aggressively.  The experimental group were more aggressive than the control group.
			
Megargee (1966) documented a series of cases of violence carried out by people who were 
regarded as passive and harmless.  For example, an 11 year-old boy who stabbed his brother 34 
times with a steak knife was described as polite and softly spoken with no history of aggression.