Summary of 1970s Human Aggression Documentary - 16mm Restored to 4k

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

This 1970s documentary about human aggression explores how the emotion is not just an anger response, but is also shaped by evolutionary development. The film looks at how aggression is expressed as a threat, how it is present in all animal species, and how it is often provoked by territoriality. The documentary also discusses how mass media can influence the expression of aggression in children.

• 00:00:00 This 1970s documentary follows a gang of teenagers in an average day, examining how aggression is present in their lives and how it shapes their behavior. The film discusses modern psychological theory and research which tells us that aggression is not just an emotion such as anger, but is also a product of evolutionary development. It also examines how aggression is often expressed as a threat rather than a consummated act, and how it is present in all animal species. In particular, the film discusses how territoriality plays a part in provoking human aggression, and how conflicts over territory are not limited to lower class youths.
• 00:05:00 The 1970s human aggression documentary shows how aggression is a result of frustration and how it can be displaced onto other objects or people.
• 00:10:00 This documentary discusses the theory that aggression is an instinctual response that is always present in humans, but can be channeled into more or less constructive lines. It also discusses how mass media and television can influence the expression of aggression in children.
• 00:15:00 In this human aggression documentary, 16mm footage of an adult repeatedly hitting an inflatable doll is shown to children, with the frequency of violence depicted on television having a pronounced impact on their behavior. The experiment also demonstrates that aggression is not simply the property of an isolated person, but is interwoven with the life of a group. In a study of punishment, subjects are given shocks ranging from 15 volts to 375 volts, with about a quarter resisting the group and holding the shocks to the lowest levels on the generator. Finally, in a real-world scenario, three people must decide on a punishment to be administered to a fourth subject, with 375 volts being the correct answer.
• 00:20:00 In the 1970s, a documentary was made about human aggression, which showed how it is often caused by factors such as society, justice, and inequality. The film also pointed out that, in order to reduce aggression, society must constantly work to improve mental and physical health, the environment, and the way people perceive injustice.