CUET Preparation Today
| Read the passage given below and answer the question given below: Aggression and violence are among the major problems in today’s society, and they cover a wide range of behaviours — from ragging of newcomers in educational institutes, through child abuse, domestic violence, murder and rape, to riots and terrorist attacks. Psychologists use these to show the problem being faced by the people in their everyday life. One can encounter any behaviour by one person/ persons that is intended to cause harm to another person/persons. It can be demonstrated in actual action or through the use of harsh words or criticism, or even hostile feelings against others. Even, sometimes forceful destructive behaviour towards another person or object is also seen in people. Some psychologists distinguish aggression from violence by pointing out that aggressive behaviour involves the intention to harm or injure another person, whereas violence may or may not involve such an intention. For example, burning buses or other public property during a riot is called violence as well as aggression. But, suppose you see a person kicking a motorbike violently. Her/his intention may be only to start the vehicle and, therefore, this act will not be considered a case of aggression. On the other hand, the person may also perform the violent act in order to damage the vehicle, because it belongs to a person s/he dislikes. In this case, because harm was intended, the act would be called a case of aggression. A distinction is also made between two acts. One such act of aggression is meant to obtain a certain goal or object. For example, a bully slaps a new student in school so that s/he can snatch the newcomer’s chocolate. Whereas, in second act is that which is shown as an expression of anger towards the target, with the intention of harming her/ him, even if the aggressor does not wish to obtain anything from the victim. For example, a criminal may beat up a person in the community for mentioning his name to the police. An American psychologist, John Dollard along with his collaborators, conducted research specifically to examine the frustration-aggression theory. |
| A bully slaps a new student in school so that s/he can snatch the newcomer’s chocolate. This shows? |
Hostile aggression Instrumental aggression Frustration-aggression theory Aggression |
| Instrumental aggression |
| In instrumental aggression, the act of aggression is meant to obtain a certain goal or object. For example, a bully slaps a new student in school so that s/he can snatch the newcomer’s chocolate. |
