s for business and health settings.

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

How does social learning theory explain aggression?

What is the evolutionary argument about aggression?

How are gender, race, and culture related to self-esteem?

UNDERSTANDING INTERACTIONS IN COMPLEX SOCIAL SYSTEMS

There has been a lot of psychological research on the cause of aggressive behavior and much discussion on how to reduce aggressive behavior. The social learning theory of aggression (Bandura, 1973) can be extended to understand the link between exposure to media with violent content and aggressive behavior. Thousands of studies have established a clear link between watching aggressive models and engaging in aggressive behavior (Anderson, Carnagey, & Eubanks, 2003). Most of these studies were focused on children and violent television content. However, recent research has looked at the effects of video games and violent content in music as it relates to aggressive behavior.

REFERENCES

Anderson, C. A., Carnagey, N. L., & Eubanks, J. (2003). Exposure to violent media: The effects of songs with violent lyrics on aggressive thoughts and feelings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 960–971.

Bandura, A. (1973). Aggression: A social learning analysis. Prentice Hall