Aggression

1. Chapter 6
Aggression
Aggression and violence are terms often used interchangeably; however, they both differ.
Violence can be defined as the use of physical force with the intent to injure another person
or destroy property, while aggression is generally defined as angry or violent feelings or
behavior. A person who is aggressive does not necessarily act out with violence.
Types of Aggression
1. Hostile Aggression
Hostile aggression takes place when the primary intention of the behavior is to harm the
other person. It has the underlying intention to see the victim suffer. The purpose is to harm
anyone for its own sake.
2. Instrumental Aggression
Primary aim is not to harm the other person but to achieve a different aim, such as to
prevent the team opponent to score a goal. Example: injuring a player to gain a competitive
advantage.
3. Impulsive aggression
Impulsive aggression is the sudden and unpredictable use of force or violence by an individual. It
is the action of automatically reacting violently to a stimulus without taking the time to consider
the action or the consequences. Impulsivity itself is frequently seen as a side-effect of several
disorders such as ADHD, substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality
disorder, psychopathy, and borderline personality disorder. Impulsive aggression is a primary
symptom of Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
4. Accidental aggression
It is not intentional and may be the result of carelessness. This form of aggression is often
seen in children at play and can also occur when a person is in a hurry. For example, a
person running to catch a bus may run into someone, or knock over a child.

2. 5. Expressive aggression
It is an act of aggression that is intentional but not meant to cause harm. A child who throws
toys or kicks sand is demonstrating expressive aggression: Though the behavior could be
frustrating to another person or cause harm, causing harm is not the purpose of the behavior.
Demographics of Aggression
o Age
o Gender
o Socio-economic class
o IQ level
o History of substance abuse
o Employment
o Diagnosis of mental illness
THEORIES OF AGRESSION
Psychological theories aim to explain the origins and triggers of human aggression.
INSTINCT THEORY
Aggression is instinctive. We are born with two opposing instincts. Life instinct and death
instinct. Our death instinct leads us to be aggressive. Sports is a healthy way to express our
anger because it channeling human destructive instincts.
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
Aggression like other social behaviors is learnt by imitation (modelling) and reinforcement.
Albert Bandura’s famous bobo doll study greatly contributed towards the formation of this
theory.
THE FRUSTRATION AGGRESSION HYPOTHESIS
We have an innate aggressive drive and when we are frustrated, we respond with aggressive
behavior. Berkowitz (1989) proposed that frustration leads to anger rather than directly to
aggression. More anger is generated if the frustration is unexpected. But because we apply
higher mental processes such as thinking and reasoning that is why do not necessarily

3. respond to frustration with aggression. We may do so, if our anger is not great enough or if,
for some reason we cannot think logically at that moment.
Causes of Aggression
Regions of brain associated with anger
 Limbic system (Amygdala, hippocampus)
The amygdala is a part of the brain responsible for regulating our perceptions and reactions
related to aggression and fear. The amygdala has multiple connections with other body
systems that are related to fear, including the sympathetic nervous system, facial expressions,
and the release of neurotransmitters related to stress and aggression. It is necessary that the
amygdala is working correctly to act appropriately in threatening or stressful situations. The
reactivity of the amygdala is a good predictor of aggression.
 Hypothalamus
 Frontal lobe
Neurotransmitters involved in aggression
 Serotonin: low serotonin functions are more common in impulsive aggression.
 Norepinephrine and epinephrine
 Testosterone
 Cortisol
Medical conditions
Aggressive behavior could happen as a result of certain health conditions that damage your
brain, including stroke, dementia, and head injuries.
Alcohol
Direct provocation (aggressive cues)
Individual personality (Narcissism)
Specific situations
Cultural norms and values
Exposure to media violence

4. How the Social Situations Influence Aggression?
The role of social situations apart from emotions and biology are also important in determining
aggression.
Social Learning and Modeling: Is Aggression Learned?
Some aggression is learned through modeling the violence that we see all around us every
day. Albert Bandura’s theory of social learning suggests that observation and modeling play a
primary role in how and why people learn. It states that individuals become aggressive by
imitating role models (Bandura & Walters, 1959). In his important research on aggression,
Bandura demonstrated that children learned new aggressive behaviors by observing aggressive
models. For example, watching a sibling hitting the other sibling may not only increase a child’s
likelihood of hitting but may also increase his or her beliefs that “Hitting is OK” or “One way to
solve problems is by hitting”.
Modeling is problematic for children who grow up in violent families. These children are
not only victims of aggression, but they also see violence being inflicted on their parents and
siblings. Children who witness their parents being violent or who are themselves abused are
more likely as adults to inflict abuse on their parents and children. In turn, their children are
more likely to interact violently with each other (Patterson, Dishion & Bank, 1984).
Violence Creates More Violence: Television, Video Games, and Handguns
It is quite obvious that the more violence media shows the more aggressive people are likely
to be (Anderson et al., 2003). The relationship between viewing TV violence and aggressive
behavior is as strong as the relationship between smoking and cancer. The average American
child watches over four hours of television every day, and such programs contain both physical
and non-physical aggression. Furthermore, the amount, intensity, and graphic nature of the
violence that children view continue to rise every year. Children are exposed to violence in
movies, video games, and virtual reality games, as well as in music videos (Coyne & Archer,
2005).

5. A recent meta-analysis (Anderson & Bushman, 2001) reviewed 35 research studies that
tested the effects of playing violent video games on aggression with both male and female
participants. They found that exposure to violent video games is linked to:
 Exhibiting aggressive behavior
 Produces higher levels of aggressive cognition
 Aggressive feelings
 Physiological arousal (including blood pressure and heart rate)
 Less altruistic behavior
Treatment/Management
1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): can help you learn to identify and change
unhelpful behavior patterns and practice more helpful coping techniques. This approach
doesn’t focus much on past experiences, but it can help improve symptoms
of depression, anxiety, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
2. Dialectical behavior therapy: can help you build and practice skills to tolerate distress,
regulate emotions, and navigate interpersonal relationships more effectively.
3. Interpersonal therapy: can help you explore relational challenges that affect your mood
and contribute to depression and other mental health symptoms.
4. Behavior modification: Parent management training can help address tense family
dynamics or unhelpful parenting tactics contributing to or reinforcing aggressive
behavior.
5. Anger management
6. Medications
7. Positive role models
8. Catharsis