8.4:
Aggression
When people find themselves in an unpleasant situation, like arguing with a sibling, they are more likely to act out to get what they want.
This event represents aggression—any observable behavior that is intended to cause physical or emotional harm to someone who does not want to be harmed.
Depending on the motive, the behavioral expressions can look different. In one type, hostile aggression, the perpetrator is motivated by anger. The hot summer day has made her miserable, and she then takes out her frustration on her partner by shoving him. This behavior would also be considered violence, due to the physicality of the interaction.
In the other type, instrumental aggression, the offender is motivated to achieve a goal and hurts another person as the means to an end.
For example, when a thief wants to steal something, they break a car window and take the valuables they were seeking. Here, the thief succeeds in obtaining material goods, and as a byproduct, causes psychological harm to the owner’s safety and security.
While all aggression represents the dark side of humanity, thankfully, there are some manageable ways of reducing its appearance.
For instance, one strategy could be to engage in incompatible behaviors—ones that prevent an angered state from being sustained—such as taking a calm walk, playing with a pet, or watching a funny video.
Such tactics may help lower arousal and allow an individual to view the triggering situation from a more distant perspective. Ultimately, by reducing exposure to the inducing factors, individuals can leave their aggressive tendencies behind them.
8.4:
Aggression
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire displays instrumental aggression.
There are many different theories as to why aggression exists. Some researchers argue that aggression serves an evolutionary function (Buss, 2004). Men are more likely than women to show aggression (Wilson & Daly, 1985). From the perspective of evolutionary psychology, human male aggression, like that in nonhuman primates, likely serves to display dominance over other males, both to protect a mate and to perpetuate the male’s genes. Sexual jealousy is part of male aggression; males endeavor to make sure their mates are not copulating with other males, thus ensuring their own paternity of the female’s offspring. Although aggression provides an obvious evolutionary advantage for men, women also engage in aggression. Women typically display instrumental forms of aggression, with their aggression serving as a means to an end (Dodge & Schwartz, 1997). For example, women may express their aggression covertly, for example, by communication that impairs the social standing of another person. Another theory that explains one of the functions of human aggression is frustration aggression theory (Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mowrer, & Sears, 1939). This theory states that when humans are prevented from achieving an important goal, they become frustrated and aggressive.
This text is adapted from OpenStax, Psychology. OpenStax CNX.