AGGRESSION

Concept of Aggression and Two Main Theories

  • Aggression is defined as behaviour directed towards harming another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment.

There are many theories about the roots of aggression, and the ultimate goal of research is to understand these to develop ways to reduce aggression. Aggression can manifest in a wide range of behaviours from excluding people from social groups to physical violence. Modern theories acknowledge that there is no single cause of aggression.

Let's look at the two types of aggression you've described:

1. Hostile Aggression

  • Hostile aggression is aggression in which the main aim is to inflict harm on the victim. For example, if someone is angry at another person and punches them, this is likely to be hostile aggression. The main goal is to cause pain to the other person.

    • It is driven by anger and often fuelled by a desire to see the other person suffer.

    • Sometimes described as "aggression for its own sake," hostile aggression is not a means to achieve something else but an end in itself.

2. Instrumental Aggression

  • Instrumental aggression, on the other hand, involves harming another person to achieve a goal other than simply causing harm. For example, if a robber threatens a cashier with a gun to get them to hand over money, this is instrumental aggression. The robber's primary goal is to get the money, and the aggression is a means to achieve that end.

    • It is usually planned and calculated.

    • The sources do not provide examples of "anger + see other suffer" for instrumental aggression, suggesting that this is less important in instrumental aggression than in hostile aggression.

The sources primarily discuss the effects of aggression rather than the experience of the aggressor, but they provide several examples of aggression that could be categorised as hostile or instrumental. For example, the example of Charles Barkley throwing someone through a window in response to having water thrown at him could be interpreted as hostile aggression. In contrast, bullying may be driven by both hostile and instrumental aggression, depending on the individual.

Aggression, a behavior intended to harm or intimidate others, has been widely studied in psychology with various theories aiming to explain its origins and mechanisms. Here’s an overview of three major theories: Biological, Frustration-Aggression, and Social Learning.

  1. Biological Theories of Aggression:

    • Genetic Factors: Some research suggests that aggression may have a genetic component. Twin and adoption studies indicate that genetics may play a role, with identical twins often showing similar levels of aggressive tendencies, even when raised apart.

    • Neurological and Hormonal Influences: Aggression has been linked to certain brain areas, like the amygdala, which plays a role in emotional responses, and the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate impulses. Hormones like testosterone are also associated with aggressive behavior, particularly in males.

    • Evolutionary Perspective: Some biological theorists argue that aggression has evolved as an adaptive behavior that helped early humans compete for resources, establish social hierarchies, and protect offspring, ultimately aiding survival and reproduction.

  2. Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis (Dollard et al., 1939):

    • This theory suggests that aggression is often the result of frustration. When a person is blocked from achieving a goal, the resulting frustration can lead to aggressive behavior. The more intense the frustration, the stronger the likelihood of aggression.

    • Displacement: The theory also explains why aggression may be displaced onto someone or something unrelated to the original source of frustration. For example, a person frustrated at work may take out their aggression on family members or friends, as they cannot directly confront the cause.

    • Revised Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: Berkowitz (1989) updated this theory to suggest that frustration alone doesn’t cause aggression; instead, frustration creates an emotional readiness for aggression. Aggression only occurs if there are cues in the environment that trigger an aggressive response.

  3. Social Learning Theory of Aggression (Bandura, 1977):

    • According to Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, aggression is learned through observational learning and modeling. Children and adults observe aggressive behavior in others (like parents, peers, or media characters) and may imitate it, especially if they see it being rewarded or going unpunished.

    • Vicarious Reinforcement: If an individual sees someone rewarded for aggressive behavior, they are more likely to imitate it. For example, if a child sees a sibling receive attention for aggressive acts, they may repeat that behavior.

    • Bobo Doll Experiment: In a well-known study, Bandura demonstrated that children who observed an adult behaving aggressively toward a Bobo doll were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior toward the doll themselves, illustrating how aggression can be learned through imitation.

These theories offer insights into different aspects of aggression:

  • Biological theories focus on inherent predispositions and physiological influences.

  • The Frustration-Aggression hypothesis emphasizes situational triggers.

  • Social Learning Theory highlights the role of the environment and observed behaviors in shaping aggressive actions.