frustration

Frustration is a psychological state that occurs when a person's goals are blocked or interfered with. This can lead to feelings of annoyance, disappointment, and anger. The frustration-aggression hypothesis suggests that frustration can be a cause of aggressive behavior.

Initially, this hypothesis proposed that frustration directly leads to aggression. However, later research indicated that frustration might result in various responses, with aggression being only one possibility. Other responses could include vigorous exercise or other activities that reduce the aggressive drive. The hypothesis has been applied to understand phenomena like scapegoating and hate crimes, where frustrated groups may direct their aggression towards a convenient social target, often a minority group. While influential, the hypothesis has also faced criticism for theoretical rigidity and overgeneralization, leading to modifications that emphasize the role of negative emotions and the perceived legitimacy of the interference in provoking aggression.