What is aggression? “Aggression is behavior that is intended to harm another individual” (Kassin, Fein, & Markus, 2014, p. 435). From the beginning of time, different factors have come in all directions to influence aggression in humans. A couple of factors affecting aggression include adults and society. Adults continually set the stage for how children react to certain situations. Society also starts affecting a child at a very young age. The factors of adults and society play a major role in how the difference in gender aggression has evolved.
What most adults do not realize is the impact their actions have on a child. For example, in one study that took place by Bandura and his associates in 1961, they used what they called a Bobo doll
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A study performed in Montréal, Québec took into consideration many variables while researching how boys’ aggression played out. They measured from the mother whether or not the she was a teenager, her SES status, and if she divorced before her son turned six. In the boy, they measured cognitive and behavioral attributes that go along with aggression such as low IQ and hyperactivity. The conclusion of the study showed that the characteristics of the boy’s mother, such as how old she was and if she finished school or not, greatly affected the boys’ levels of aggression, and if the boys were more aggressive when they were young, then they were more prone to be aggressive as they aged (Nagin & Tremblay, 2001, p. 389). All children need parents who are going to steer them in the right direction when it comes to handling their …show more content…
If males feel their reputation to be threatened, they will do whatever it takes to maintain it. Britt Galon and Marion Underwood said, “Boys may use their fists to fight, but at least it’s over with quickly,” (Kassin et al., 2014, p. 442), and Vladas Griskevicius said, “…Not caring about status, which can be implied by backing away from a fight, can be evolutionary suicide. Aggression can lead to status…” (Kassin et al., 2014, p. 445). These statements are accurate in describing the way males fight in real life and also in movies. As in the movie “Never Back Down” there is an illustration of how society teaches young males how to handle their aggression. The main character, Jake Tyler, got involved in fighting and was faced multiple times to fight against the local bully, Ryan McCarthy. The fights turned extremely violent, but Jake persevered and finished the fight. This example shows how a young male fought for his status. He no longer wanted to be picked on by the bully so he found some extra motivation and did something about it. Along the same lines, parents tend to give their sons a pat on the back or some form of praise for retaliating against someone who has caused them some kind of
This essay will provide an analytical comparison of the approaches of Psychodynamic perspective and Behaviourist perspective, in understanding Aggression. One assumption about human behaviour from the psychodynamic perspective is that all behaviour including aggression is determined by our genes. In contrast, the behaviourist perspective argues that aggression is shaped by our environment.
Nurture brings out the aggressive behaviour in humans. Mikal Gilmore’s book, Shot in the Heart, correlates with the aspect of aggressive behaviour nurture because of how he turned out unlike the other four, who did not have a this ability to kill. The nurture of a child into adulthood develops and creates the aggressive behaviour within the environment. The aggressive behaviour can be found in every human, but it is not until the cognitive development of a child that the aggressive behaviour can start to form and become overpowering. Though the basis of aggression is found in people it is not until a child is exposed to an aggressive
Aggressive individuals often act in ways that will result in having personal gain, rather than focusing what impact they have on others. Aggression is pervasive. It affects the rich as well as the poor, the upper and lower classes, it defines us. This means that most sole individuals will behave in certain ways to promote their well being, instead of how they affect others. Michael Crichton uses characters in Jurassic Park to portray the negative physical, social and intellectual impact they can have on society. This is evident in everyday life because society has molded individuals into looking out for their well being with no considerations of the impact that it has on others.
Aggression is defined as any behavior intended to harm another person who is motivated to avoid the harm according to Baumeister & Bushman (2014). A study was conducted in 1967 by Leonard Berkowitz and Anthony LePage, to determine whether the presence of weapons would elicit aggressive behavior from an individual (Baumeister & Bushman, 2014). They hypothesized that participants were likely to associate weapons, particularly firearms, to aggression and violence, which would cause observing a weapon to elicit an aggressive response. The experiment determined that the presence of weapon can elicit an aggressive response from people ready to act aggressively. In the study, participants were shocked up to seven times then given the opportunity to
Lefkowitz, Monroe M. 1977. Growing Up to be Violent: A Longitudinal Study of the Development of Aggression. New York: Pergamon.
Campbell, A. (1993). Cultural Lessons in Aggression. Men, Women, and Aggression: From Rage in Marriage to Violence in the Streets – How Gender Affects the Way We Act. New York. Basic Books, 1-18.
306) and society’s knowledge of the ramifications of aggression, combined with cultural expectations, helps to control how aggressive behavior is manifested (Eagly & Wood, 1991, p. 311). Females are for the most part not overtly aggressive with each other and are more inclined to use their social intelligence to exploit relationships or undermine other peers they are in competition with (Crothers, Lipinski, & Minutolo, 2009, p. 102). These manipulative behaviors are comprised of gossiping, avoidance, rumor spreading, and stealing of friends or romantic interests (Crothers et al., 2009, p.
Aggression is defined as a form of animal behavior characterized by an assault or attack by one animal on another. In humans aggression is a learned behavior as opposed to an instinctual behavior, it is learned in childhood, and as one matures into an adult, these aggressive behaviors develop and become part of one's personality traits.
Aggression is a critical part of animal existence, which is a driving force to humans, as we too are animals. The source of aggression within humans is an ongoing list so therefore, we must understand the definition of aggression. Aggression in psychology defined by the World Book Encyclopedia is hostile behavior that may hurt or upset other people. Such behavior may take the form of physical attack against people or their possessions, or verbal abuse (Larsen, 2000). There are many types of aggressive behaviors which we must differentiate from. Aggression may be an automatic response to such experiences as pain or danger. In other cases, it is a deliberate action with a definite purpose (Larsen, 2000). Some people act out of hostility to gain money, pleasure, power or prestige. Other aggressive behavior is intended to cause physical or psychological injury (Larsen, 2000). For example, an aggressive behavior can be negative or positive, accidental or intended and physical or mental.
So why are girls so “aggressive?” Nicki Crick, PhD, a researcher at the University of Minnesota says: “Physical aggression isn’t very accepted for girls, so they turn to manipulation and emotional threats as weapons” (Murray, par 3). “In recent research, it indicates that gender differences in aggression disappears when the definition of aggression is broadened to include aggressive acts in whish the victim’s personal relationships are manipulated of damaged-- that is, relational aggression” (Miller, 145).
One of the most researched topics in the history of psychology is aggression. One goal of social scientists has been to define aggression. Some believe that aggression is biologically preprogrammed, others look toward situational factors and this study suggests that aggression is learned. This study was conducted by Albert Bandura and his associates in 1961 at Stanford University. The researchers proposed that the children be exposed to adult models with either aggressive or nonaggressive ways, they would then be tested without the models present to determine if they would imitate that aggression they observed in the adult.
Vaillancourt, T., & Hymel, S. (2006). Aggression and social status: The moderating roles of sex and peer-valued characteristics. Aggressive Behavior, 32, 396–408. doi:10.1002/ab.20138.
...ehaving adults started to act out what they had seen earlier. They were extremely more likely to hit “BoBo” with the mallet and yell. The children who were not exposed proceeded to play calmly with the non-violent toys.
Aggression has been linked to significant repercussions in academic and social functioning (Farmer et al., 2011); and studies on youth have concluded that physical aggression was a predicting factor which preceded risky behaviors which developed later on in the adolescents that were studied. Those dicey inclinations included early onset of sexual activity and tendency to unsafe sexual behaviors, as well as substance abuse that incorporated tobacco, alcohol and drugs (Deater-Decard, 2008). This is an indication of how important is to prevent and intervene before aggression can lead to other dangerous and risky behaviors. To Deater-Decard (2008) it is essential that we continue to understand and improve our capability to decrease aggression, and to minimize the impact on our society.
Many social psychologists agree that aggression can be defined as behaviour which intends to harm another person who does not want harm inflicted on them (Baron & Richardson, 1994; Bushman & Huesmann, 2010). This definition is all encompassing capturing the possible range of aggressive behaviours whilst excluding activities that can ‘hurt’ but to which the target of the hurt willingly consents and are therefore not considered aggressive due to this circumstance, for example, surgery. As aggression can be presented at differing levels and as result of this can range from the act of pushing someone over to domestic violence or even the extremities of terrorism. Therefore, as aggressive behaviour encompasses such a wide range of actions ranging