What is it in simple terms?

When your goals are blocked, you are more likely to lash out.

Does frustration always cause aggression?

No; it is one factor that raises the likelihood.

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 27, 2026

The frustration-aggression hypothesis, proposed by Dollard and colleagues at Yale in 1939, holds that frustration from blocked goal-directed behaviour is a major cause of aggression.

Contents

1. The original claim
2. Scapegoating
3. Reformulation
4. FAQ
5. References

The original claim

Dollard et al. (1939) said frustration always leads to aggression, often displaced; Miller (1941) softened this.

Scapegoating

Hovland and Sears (1940) linked cotton prices to lynchings; Green et al. (1998) found the link weak. See relative deprivation.

Reformulation

Berkowitz and LePage (1967) found a weapons effect; Berkowitz (1989) centred negative affect; Anderson and Bushman (2002) integrated social learning and attribution.

FAQ

What is it in simple terms?: When your goals are blocked, you are more likely to lash out.
Does frustration always cause aggression?: No; it is one factor that raises the likelihood.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

Dollard, J., Doob, L. W., Miller, N. E., Mowrer, O. H., & Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. Yale University Press. The Yale group's original statement of the hypothesis.
Miller, N. E. (1941). I. The frustration-aggression hypothesis. Psychological Review, 48(4), 337–342. Revises the claim: frustration can produce responses other than aggression.
Hovland, C. I., & Sears, R. R. (1940). Minor studies of aggression: VI. Correlation of lynchings with economic indices. Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 301–310. Reported a link between cotton prices and lynchings, a scapegoating example.
Green, D. P., Glaser, J., & Rich, A. (1998). From lynching to gay bashing: The elusive connection between economic conditions and hate crime. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(1), 82–92. Reanalysis showing the economy–hate crime link is weak.
Berkowitz, L., & LePage, A. (1967). Weapons as aggression-eliciting stimuli. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 7(2, Pt. 1), 202–207. The weapons-effect experiment on situational aggression cues.
Berkowitz, L. (1989). Frustration-aggression hypothesis: Examination and reformulation. Psychological Bulletin, 106(1), 59–73. Reformulates the hypothesis via negative affect.
Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002). Human aggression. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 27–51. Integrates aggression theories into the General Aggression Model.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '좌절-공격 가설' on CampusDown →

Bandura's Social Learning TheoryBandura's social learning theory explained: observational learning, vicarious reinforcement, reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy, the Bobo doll experiment, criticisms, and report examples.📚 Education Relative deprivationWhat is relative deprivation? How it differs from absolute deprivation, the surprising findings of Stouffer’s The American Soldier (1949), Runciman’s egoistic and fraternal deprivation, what a 2012 meta-analysis of 210 studies found, and how social media comparison fits in.👥 Sociology Attribution TheoryWhat is attribution theory? Heider’s internal vs external attributions, Kelley’s covariation model, Weiner’s three dimensions of achievement attribution, the fundamental attribution error, actor–observer and self-serving biases, with classroom and workplace examples.🧠 Psychology Maslow's Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow's hierarchy of needs explained: definition, the five levels, deficiency vs. growth needs, the pyramid myth, empirical criticisms and limitations, report examples for social work, nursing and business, and references.🧠 Psychology

Latest ArticlesView all ›

New guides for college study and assignments (Korean)

This article was last updated on October 27, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.