Frustration functions like physical pain as an adaptive signal to diagnose problems
Evidence
Attribution theory (e.g., Kelley, 1967) posits that people seek to understand the causes of events, especially negative ones. This makes adaptive sense: when bad events happen, people try to diagnose why they occurred, which may indicate how to correct the problem. When goals are blocked, frustration energizes the individual to diagnose and overcome obstacles. Like physical pain, frustration is an aversive state that indicates something is amiss and motivates the individual to attend to the problem. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1579 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Tajfel termed the process by which frustration becomes group blame “social attribution,” situating it firmly within the social-cognitive approach favored by social psychologists. Attribution theory (e.g., Kelley, 1967) posits that people seek to understand the causes of events, especially negative ones. This makes adaptive sense: when bad events happen, people try to diagnose why they occurred, which may indicate how to correct the problem. When goals are blocked, frustration energizes the individual to diagnose and overcome obstacles. Like physical pain, frustration is an aversive state that indicates something is amiss and motivates the individual to attend to the problem. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1579 (
#expands, via linked claim)
Attribution theory (e.g., Kelley, 1967) posits that people seek to understand the causes of events, especially negative ones. This makes adaptive sense: when bad events happen, people try to diagnose why they occurred, which may indicate how to correct the problem. When goals are blocked, frustration energizes the individual to diagnose and overcome obstacles. Like physical pain, frustration is an aversive state that indicates something is amiss and motivates the individual to attend to the problem. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1579 (
#expands, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Frustration functions as adaptive pain signaling goal blockage — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1579; Frustration functions like physical pain by signaling problems needing diagnosis. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1579; Frustration functions as an adaptive alarm signal motivating diagnosis of blocked goals. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1579 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Frustration functions like physical pain by signaling problems needing diagnosis.
#corroborates(0.97) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1579 - Frustration functions as adaptive pain signaling goal blockage
#expands(0.93) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1579 - Frustration functions as an adaptive alarm signal motivating diagnosis of blocked goals.
#expands(0.92) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1579 - Relieving frustration can increase scapegoating when the movement takes credit
#complicates(0.73)