Understanding Aggression In Human: Theories, Factors, And Implications

Background to the Topic

Discuss about the Research on Aggression in Human.

The main concern of this report lies with the explanation on the understanding of the aggression in human and the factors that stimulates this behavioural approach in human. Little, Rodkin and Hawley (2013), defined, aggression can be considered as a particular way to interact with others that involves harsh and unpleasant treatment to another individual. Moreover, aggression in human being can sometimes involve the intention to damage or hurt others (Longino 2013). Several factors have been identified in this report to understand the reason behind this behaviour.

This report has incorporated several theories to make this report more approachable from the literary aspect. Moreover, a number of situational factors have been discussed here that plays major in exposure of aggression in behavioural approaches of human.

To explain the reason behind the aggressiveness in human Blanchard and Blanchard (2013), mentioned that it can come as a result of retaliation or without any provocative activities. Research on this topic is not new; researches have taken out discussions and explanations on this behavioural approach from various scientific aspects. Aggression of behaviour can be reviewed from the social science and behavioural sciences. In this regard, Carré, Murphy and Hariri (2013), mentioned that aggression in behaviour should not be misunderstood with the defensive behaviour as aggression in an individual expresses the intentional attack or harmful motives towards another individual. Connor (2012), suggested that in broader sense, aggression in human can be distinctive in terms of emotional and instrumental. Emotional aggression is the result of the reaction to any kind of provocation. On the other hand, instrumental aggression involves goal oriented approach that is possessed by the individuals to achieve any particular criteria. For instance, if a person gets abused and in turn, he gets into a fight it would be identified as emotional or hostile aggression; whereas, if the person is involved any illegal actives such as robbing a bank can be defined as the instrumental aggressiveness. However, Montoya et al. (2012), argued that both this approaches cannot be successfully distinguished as in practical approaches the motive behind the aggressiveness is mixed and interacting. Researchers and scientists have conducted a number of researches to understand different concepts on the aggressiveness. Their various experiments have disclosed different points; some have focused on the genetical factors whereas others have concentrated on the social and cultural values.

Theories Related to human Aggression

For the genetical concerns, as mentioned by, Weiner (2013), the behavioural approach of aggression is the result of a huge number of genetical activities; in this regard, it should be known that each of these genes are effective and start interaction with each other during the developmental phase of the life. However, more extensive research is required to hold a clear conception on the fact of identifying genetical issues as the reason for aggressiveness in human. From another point of view, social and cultural aspects have been given more values. As suggested by, Hasan et al. (2013), aggression is the way to get control over the resources. Survival factors spontaneously involve the aggression in human behaviour. There are certain measures like possessing playful spirit in life, tend to use humour in a complicated situation to counter any act of dominating, non-coercive parenting style that can be extremely helpful in reducing the aggression. Another approach mentioned by, Ellis et al. (2012), depicts that if the children are often physically punished it can grow aggressiveness among the children against the family members.

The aggressive behaviour within human causes intentional harm to other human, which can even cause physical injury. The psychologists have used several theories related to human behaviour that has helped to understand the social and the psychological factors for the aggressive behaviour within human. According to Rubin and Pepler (2013), the abnormal physical and mental health of an individual is considered to be the main causes of human aggression. Mental health problems like autism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are few of the popular causes. Among children few of the major causes include poor interpersonal relationship with different people of the society and stress or pressure.

The human life consists of certain basic instincts, which are also one the root cause for all major human aggressive behaviour. The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud came up with the instinct theory of human aggression that is based on the human behaviour of life instinct. According to this theory, the aggression of human is just a basic reaction that is aimed to block the libidinal impulse (Biglan and Cody 2013). This behaviour is considered neither automatic nor inventible cause of life. However, the instinct of life and death, which are the two basic urges within human, can cause aggressive behaviour. The instinct of death in a particular situation of death can give rise to worst aggression within a situation. It can also cause the behaviour of hostile and hatred and pleasure, which are totally connected with the feeling of death instinct. This can ultimately result in destructive attitude and also can give rise to the development of intellectual activate. This theory of aggression is considered to be one of the most global and universal nature within human. This theory also states that the feeling of love and aggression or desire needs to be analysed together as these feelings within human are connected with each other.

This theory of aggression is considered to be one of the vital theories in the context of human history. However, in the recent context the applicability of this theory is highly limited as it only helps to identify the general cause of aggression and do not specify on the narrow elements related to the cause of human behaviour. This theory also suggests the fact that the intensity of the aggressive behaviour can be reduced by the promoting positive attitude within the mind set of an individual.

The frustration is also one of the common causes of aggressive behaviour that occurs due to the failure of achieving the target. This forms the basis of the frustration hypothesis of aggression (Carlson 2012). The self-esteem level of an individual is compromised due to this aggressive behaviour. The frustration within a human can give rise to the maladaptive and substituted reaction. The frustration within a childhood can occurs due to several social factors that are caused due to the divorce between parents and failure in the academic field. The aggression can be measured as the basic fundamental reaction of frustration and it is not one of the inborn behaviour as it is considered to be acquired among every individual child. The frustration is always induced as one of the action of inhibition of the aggressive behaviour within human. The frustration within human can also occur from the neglecting of the human society, which may also give rise to the feeling of humiliation. The depravation of the weaker section of the society from getting few of the basic human rights will also give rise to frustration behaviour.

The rate of frustration within human is also dependent on the level of anger and patience of a human. The level of violence feeling within an individual is also dependent on the level of frustration. The level of success that is accomplished in the past is responsible for the rise of the level of expectation. The high level of expectation within an individual is responsible for high frustration. One of the main advantages of this theory is that it helps to determine the success level past records in a particular domain of a human. The underlying reasons for the high level of frustration can also be judged with the help of this hypothesis. Moreover, it is also possible to do the counselling sessions using the principles of this theory. The level of dis-satisfaction in the workplace of an individual can also be evaluated. On the other hand, the main limitation of this theory is that there is little empirical evidence to support this theory as it is dependent only on the frustration behaviour of an individual. This theory also suggests that frustration is the only the root cause of the aggressive behaviour and hence, it do not considers the other minor factors.

According to Bushman and Dialog (2016), it is important to control the level of frustration within an individual that helps to minimize the adverse effects related to the aggrieve behaviour of an individual. The social theory of learning has been developed in this context to help the people suffering from the hyper aggressive behaviour. The theory suggests the fact that the frustration may not give rise to aggressive attitude within human every time. Depending upon the type of attitude, the level of aggression within human can vary significantly. The behaviour of aggression is considered as function of the social learning that can be acquired due to abnormal behaviour of the people of a community. For example the children usually learn the aggressive attitude from the behaviour of their parents and other adults of the family. Hence, the adult behaviour is responsible for high level of aggression within young child as they have high level of cognitive senses. There are other factors, which includes the crime and violence TV shows, which ultimately have deep impact on the mindset of young child. The social behaviour within children is thus a subject of environmental situation, in which a child is being raised. With the help of this theory, it is possible to understand all the environmental and social factors that give rise to aggressive behaviour within every individual. This theory totally relies on the level of interaction that occurs within human and also personal behaviour.

Unlike the other two theories, which are considered to be general and unable to identify the individual cases, the social learning theory also helps to identify the individual case, which induces the aggressive behaviour within individuals. However, the main issue with this theory is that it cannot be applied within short of period of time and the counselling sessions requires several months to be applied.

The situation, of the life of an individual is the prime factors that cause aggressive behaviour within human. Bushman (2016), believes that the frustrating situation is one of the prime factors that cause of aggressive behaviour within human. The frustration can result in the restlessness and impatience for failing to achieve any particular goal. The society can also give rise to certain situation in the form of violence and crime attitude, which will induce aggressive within human. The people within negative situation of life due to any tragic incident can lose the faith in the self capability and thereby find it challenging to deal with tricky situation of life.

Kooij et al. (2016), have mentioned about the effects of alcohol and abusive forms of drugs, which can induce chemical changes within individuals. This psychological situation is responsible for irregular behavioural within human. Thus, the display of aggression is common for people suffering alcohol and drug addiction. Over consumption of alcohol can also damage the cognitive sense of an individual and they may lose the power to control the unwanted desires. The child, who are being raised in the violence like situation may also display high level of aggression in their adulthood. Depending upon the elements of the situation it is possible to measure and predict the level of aggression that is expected from an individual.

Conclusion

The aggression is one of the common forms of behaviour within human, which is considered to be one of the negative sides of human psychology. The aggression is responsible for the violence and crime like situation that is caused within human society. Scientists have used the evidence of different situations to design theories, which helps to define the cause of aggressive behaviour with the human society. With the help of the principles of the theories it is possible to define the situation that induces aggressive attitude within human. The social theory of learning is being applied to provide counselling sessions, which help the people to minimize the adverse effects of the aggressive attitude. 

Reference 

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Longino, H.E., 2013. Studying human behavior: how scientists investigate aggression and sexuality. University of Chicago Press.

Montoya, E.R., Terburg, D., Bos, P.A. and Van Honk, J., 2012. Testosterone, cortisol, and serotonin as key regulators of social aggression: A review and theoretical perspective. Motivation and emotion, 36(1), pp.65-73.

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