Theory

The frustration agression theory is when an individual's frustration can lead to aggression. Whenever tension or frustration builds up in a person, the person will target someone or something as a form to release intense negative emotions. Moghaddam stated the case of Freud's idea about how aggression is displaced (Scott's example) and other researchers like Berkowitz and Miller. In Freud's context of aggression in Moghaddam's textbook, he used the word, "transference", wherein the patient's frustration is transferred to the therapiast. The pressure that is felt by the client is transferred to a higher authority, and the likelihood of the patient developing aggression is high. For instance, the client experienced something terrible at work like being scolded by the boss. During the scheduled session with the therapist, the client will use harsh and powerful words or maybe do some slight acts of hostility towards the therapist to displaced the intense amount of negative odd feelings.