Samantha is frustrated after waiting in a long line for an hour ...

[JMatthes]

Samantha is frustrated after waiting in a long line for an hour and ultimately shouts at the person in front of her. According to the frustration-aggression hypothesis, Samantha is showing aggression due to ________.
 
  a) the fact that frustration always leads to aggression
  b) Samantha's inherent aggressive tendencies
  c) the negative affect emanating from her frustration elicited by the person in front of her
  d) obvious provocation from others

Question 2

What is self-affirmation? Describe this phenomenon and provide an example of it in practice.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[joshbk44]

Answer to Question 1

c

Answer to Question 2

Self-affirmation is a strategy people use to restore positive self-evaluations that are threatened by cognitive dissonance. It is a method for reducing the discomfort that comes with dissonance. For example, if a person takes a stand against the breeding and selling of puppies due to the current amount of dogs that need to be adopted but then succumbs to the cuteness of a purebred basset hound and purchases it from a breeder, this person may say, well, someone would have bought it, and at least I will give it a good home. This rationalization of behavior in order to reduce the threat of dissonance is an example of self-affirmation.