General Aggression Model

Definition

The General Aggression Model (GAM) is a theoretical framework that explains how various factors, such as personal traits, situational influences, and media exposure, can lead to aggressive behavior. This model integrates cognitive, emotional, and arousal processes, suggesting that media violence can activate aggressive thoughts and feelings, leading to increased likelihood of aggressive actions. Understanding GAM helps in analyzing the impacts of media violence and pornography on audience behavior.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The General Aggression Model emphasizes the interaction between personal characteristics and situational factors in influencing aggression.
2. Research shows that repeated exposure to media violence can lead to increased aggressive thoughts and behaviors over time.
3. GAM suggests that emotional responses to media content, like fear or anger, can escalate aggressive tendencies.
4. The model highlights the role of cognitive processes in interpreting and responding to media violence, impacting how individuals perceive aggression in real life.
5. GAM has been applied in understanding the effects of not just media violence but also pornography on attitudes towards aggression and sexual behavior.

Review Questions

• How does the General Aggression Model explain the relationship between media exposure and aggressive behavior?
  • The General Aggression Model explains that media exposure influences aggressive behavior through a combination of cognitive, emotional, and arousal processes. When individuals consume violent media, it can activate aggressive thoughts and feelings, which may lead to an increase in aggressive actions. This model considers both personal characteristics and situational factors that contribute to this behavior, suggesting that the more one is exposed to violence in media, the more likely they are to exhibit aggression.
• Discuss the role of cognitive processes in the General Aggression Model as it relates to media violence.
  • Cognitive processes play a crucial role in the General Aggression Model as they help individuals interpret and respond to media content. When exposed to violent scenes, viewers may internalize aggressive scripts or schemas, affecting their perceptions of conflict and their responses to real-life situations. This mental framework can lead individuals to view aggression as an acceptable solution in interpersonal conflicts, thereby increasing the likelihood of exhibiting aggressive behavior.
• Evaluate the implications of the General Aggression Model for understanding the effects of pornography on aggression and societal attitudes.
  • The General Aggression Model has significant implications for understanding how pornography can shape societal attitudes towards aggression and sexual behavior. By framing sexual acts within contexts of violence or objectification, pornography may desensitize viewers and normalize aggressive behaviors towards others. The model's focus on emotional and cognitive responses highlights how these portrayals can lead to distorted beliefs about consent and relationships, ultimately influencing societal norms around aggression and sexuality.

Related terms

Desensitization: The process by which individuals become less sensitive to violence and aggression due to repeated exposure to violent media.

Social Learning Theory:

A theory proposing that people learn behaviors through observation and imitation, particularly from media representations.

Aggressive Behavior: Any action intended to cause harm or injury to another individual, which can be influenced by various factors including media consumption.