Explain one psychological or social question from the cognitive perspective

When aggression is explained with priming it is assumed that aggression can be primed in an individual. Berkowitz and LePage (1967) conducted a study ‘weapons effect’ investigating the effect of priming on aggression. The study found that angered participants gave more shocks to their experimental partner when they were exposed to weapons than when they were not exposed to weapons. The weapons were the aggressive cues of the experiment. Aggressive cues are situational cues with an aggressive meaning that increase the accessibility of aggressive cognitions. These aggressive cues can be seen as priming for the participants. Since the aggressive cues provoke and increase the activation of associated aggressive behavior when seeing a weapon. This experiment has provided a further explanation to aggressive behavior. And has also provided evidence for the cognitive neo-association model. According to the neo-association model aggressive behavior is seen as the result of negative affect that is subjected to cognitive processing and activates a network of aggression-related thoughts and feelings.

A second concept from the cognitive approach which has been applied to the explanations of aggressive behavior is schema. Schemas are the mental frameworks which organize knowledge beliefs and expectations. Schemas are seen as guiders for human behavior. Thus the schemata guiding the individual’s behavior affects the possibilities of aggressive behavior. This can be seen in the study provided by Anderson known as ‘code of the streets’ (1994). In this experiment he studied the set of norms governing the interpersonal relationships in inner cities for African American teenagers. The code includes self-esteem being dependent on receiving respect. The code for the teenagers resulted in aggressive posturing and quick violent responses even to imaginary wrongs. According to Andersons study the inner city violence is due to the assumptions of the code. The code is a schema which these teenagers have adapted themselves and allow it to guide their behavior leading to inner city violence. Andersons experiment provides clear evidence for the effects of schema on aggressive behavior. However the code of the streets is not universal and cannot explain all of aggressive behavior only to a certain extent. Since ‘decent kids’ use the code only when necessary to reduce confrontational situations. Implying that different cognitive schemas have an effect on the likelihood of aggressive behavior.

Schemas may also be applied to the social cognitive models of aggression. According to Huesmann (1998) social behavior in general and aggressive behavior in particular may be influenced by abstract representations of appropriate behaviors in different situational contexts. These schemas are known as aggressive scripts. Aggressive scripts are cognitive representations of when and how to show aggressive behavior. As shown in the study by Anderson and Guerra (1997). Results showed how norms describe acceptable responses with physical aggression when provoked by a peer however not when provoked by an adult.

Hostile aggression can be linked closely to cognition. Hostile aggression is motivated by the desire to express anger and hostile feelings. This desire for expression of hostile feelings can be further linked with frustration.

The general aggression model is an integrative framework explaining how personal and situational input variables lead to aggressive behavior through cognitive appraisal. According to Anderson and Bushman aggressive responses depend upon a person’s personality and situational constraints. GAM integrates cognitive social learning theory and cognitive neo-association theory.

In conclusion aggression may be explained with cognitive key concepts such as schema and priming. Multiple experiments provide sufficient evidence for these explanations. Priming a key concept in the cognitive mental processes of the mind has been applied in the neo association model of aggressive behavior. Schema the second concept taken from the cognitive approach can be applied into explaining aggression with aggressive scripts and general aggression model.  Generally the cognitive approach sees aggression depending upon the way we think (schemata and priming).