Introduction to Aggression

What is Aggression?

  • An act carried out with the intention to harm another person

What are the features of Aggression?

  • Active

  • Passive

  • Physical

  • Verbal

Four types of aggression

  • Indirect:

    • Attempt to hurt another without face-to-face conflict

  • Direct:

    • Behaviour intended to hurt someone to their face

  • Emotional:

    • Hurtful aggression that stems from angry feelings

  • Instrumental:

    • Hurting another to accomplish another (non-aggressive) goal

What is Hostile aggression:

  • It is sometimes called reactive or hot-blooded. This is impulsive aggressive behaviour

    • It is accompanied by physiological arousal. For example, increased heart rate and blood pressure. It is often physical, but sometimes verbal or relational

What is Instrumental aggression:

  • Proactive or cold-blooded because it involves using aggression as an instrument to get what you want

    • It is goal-directed and planned but not accompanied by physiological arousal. This would be typical of bullying which can be physical, verbal or relational and intended to provoke a response

    • Armed robbery is a form of instrumental aggression

    • The aim is to obtain money, not to harm people

What is Relational aggression:

  • It involves damaging relationships by spreading gossip or withdrawing friendships

    • This is instrumental when used as part of a plan or campaign of aggression to undermine an individual

    • It can be hostile, such as firing off an angry text or social media post in the heat of the moment

What is bullying (Olweus, 1993):

  • One form of negative social interaction among children that has become a national concern is bullying. Bullying is repeated negative treatment of another person, often an adolescent, over time

  • The negative treatment typical in bullying is the attempt to inflict harm, injury or humiliation and bullying can include physical or verbal attacks. However, bullying doesn’t have to be physical or verbal, it can be psychological. Research finds gender differences in how girls and boys bully others

  • Boys tend to engage in direct, physical aggression such as physically harming others. Girls tend to engage in indirect, social forms of aggression such as spreading rumours, ignoring, or socially isolating others

What is a summary of aggression?

  • Aggression is seeking to cause another person harm or pain.

  • Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with the intent to cause pain, and instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve the intent to cause

Another two types of aggression:

  • Bullying is an international public health concern that largely affects the adolescent population. Bullying is repeated behaviours that are intended to inflict harm on the victim and can take on the form of physical, psychological and emotional abuse

  • Cyberbullying is a newer form of bullying that takes place in an online environment where bullies can remain anonymous and victims feel helpless to address the harassment