John Dollard (1900-1980)

1. John Dollard(1900-1980) By: Nevetha Uthayakumar & Kelsey Tharmakumar

2. Biography • John Dollard was born in Menasha, Wisconsin in 1900 • He was a psychologist and also a social scientist who studied the race relations in the United States • He received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago in 1931 • In 1952 he became the professor in Yale University’s Department of Psychology • He retired with the title of professor emeritus in 1969. • Dollard developed the explanation for aggressive behavior called the frustration-aggression hypothesis • He died in 1980

3. aggression • Aggression(psych defn): Refers to a range of behaviors that can result in both physical and psychological harm to oneself, others and objects in the environment. The expression of aggression can occur in a number of ways, including verbally, mentally and physically. • Why do people behave aggressively? What causes aggressive behavior? 3 theoretical perspectives:  1) person centered (instinctual) 2) situation centered (behavioral, environmental) 3) interactionist (cognitive)

4. Frustration-aggression theory • Brief description: When people perceive that they are being prevented from achieving a goal, their frustration is likely to turn into aggression which produces aggressive or unusual behavior. • Example: People who become frustrated with their jobs because they don't like their work, they have conflicts with employees, can't get the raise they want, etc., but can't take out their aggressions at work (can't yell at the boss, can't punch annoying co-workers), will redirect this frustration and act aggressively towards others (like a husband, wife, children, etc.).

5. Frustration-aggression Hypothesis • The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis described aggression as the resultof frustration, which occurs when obstacles interfere with a goal that a person is trying to reach. • It is often a response to a number of varied negative emotions such as embarrassment, fears, disappointment, depression and physical pain. • The closer we are to considering our own deaths,the more we consider violence as a response. • When we fear forour lives, we allow much unjustified violence in the guise ofself-protection.

6. Causes of violence according to dollard • There are many areas where aggression manifests in our society today, such as: • Domestic violence • Abuse • School bullying • Road-rage • War • These situations cause people to become frustrated leading them to think that violence will resolve their problems

7. Case Study: Rolando Negrin • The reason for the assault: people said the victim and other TSA employees had been making fun of the size of the screener's genitals. • The perpetrator said after months of ridiculed “he could not take it anymore” • Frustration-Aggression Theory could very well explain why and how the subjects found themselves in an aggressive situation. • The goal of the perpetrator was to gain respect and to extinguish the constant jokes of his penis size • He was blocked from this goal because the victim declined his request to talk about the issue. Miami TSA Screener Rolando Negrin was charged with assault after allegedly attacking a co-worker who had been making fun of the size of his genitals.

8. Statistics • Road rage Road rage is aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of a motor vehicle. It is caused by emotions of frustration that occur before a driver gets into his car. This frustration leads people to act in an aggressive manner. • Statistics by the Road and Travel Magazine, show drivers age 18-24 (70%) to be more aggressive than drivers 65 and older (30%). • A piece of information shown is that drivers with children are more likely to respond aggressively (55%) than those without children (45 %.) • Research shows that there has been a 51 percent increase in aggressive driving incidents since 1990. 37% of these in involved the use of firearms, 28% other weapons and 35% involved the use of a car as a weapon.