Aggression is a dangerous form of behavior. This is a tremendous, destructive force. At least that’s how they used to think. However, aggression can be used to your advantage and directed towards achieving success, overcoming obstacles. But more often the opposite is true: aggression uses a person.
What is aggression
We encounter aggression at almost every step: aggressive and rude people in transport or in a store, “skirmishes” at school or at work. If we ourselves are not participants in situations, then we become involuntary witnesses.
Why do people show aggression? They protect themselves. Z. Freud believed that a person destroys everything around in order not to destroy himself. That is, the causes of aggression are internal, but first things first.
Aggression is any form of behavior aimed at insulting or causing harm to another living creature that does not want such treatment. Aggression is a form of deviating destructive behavior with a pronounced emotional connotation. With aggressive behavior, a person is motivated to cause harm (moral or physical) or capture another person (s).
In psychology, there are several approaches to studying the problem of aggression:
- Aggression is based on natural, innate instincts.
- Aggressive behavior becomes under the influence of biological factors (hormones and mental disorders).
- Aggression is prompted by external motives of the personality (social factors, environmental influences).
- Aggression is the result of a person’s learning through someone else’s and his own experience, example.
- The basis of aggression is a complex interaction of cognitive processes (memory, attention, feelings, logic, imagination, etc.) and previous human experience.
In animals, aggression is a defensive reaction. The same foundations are noted in human psychology. Aggression is a sign of weakness, insecurity, defenselessness.
Without training, human socialization, aggression remains an animal instinct. Which is why we can conclude that it is characteristic of immature, maladaptive individuals.
Aggression begins with irritation that comes when we feel that someone has encroached on our safety, personal space, physical or mental “I”.
Causes of aggression in children
In children, even at a very young age, there are two forms of aggression: non-destructive and congenital destructiveness:
- Non-destructive aggression is a form of defensive behavior aimed at achieving a goal, self-affirmation, and gaining experience.
- Congenital destructiveness is malicious and dangerous behavior for others. Interestingly, congenital destructiveness does not appear immediately after birth, in contrast to non-destructive aggression. Congenital behavior is activated after severe stress or pain.
The main cause of aggression in children is an example from the environment. Neither games nor movies have such an impact. Violence against the child himself is especially destructive. Those who have experienced violence and aggression become aggressive towards others.
Causes of aggression in adolescents and adults
Causes of aggressiveness in adults include:
- family aggression;
- the nature of the relationship with peers.
The negative impact of punishment on a child has been scientifically proven. Parental punishment is fraught with the following dangers:
- example of aggression;
- avoiding or resisting parents;
- punishment that is too emotional for a child will eventually remain in the memory as unreasonable;
- a child under pain of punishment can change his behavior, but these norms are unlikely to become his inner convictions.
Social factors also contribute:
- frustrating obstacles to meeting needs;
- provocations from the outside;
- propaganda of cruelty and violence in the media;
- increased excitement and excitement in society;
- excessive emotionality of a person, which interferes with making adequate decisions and predicting results.
As I said, by and large it can be considered that a person is aggressive towards himself. But sometimes such dissatisfaction with oneself pours out on others. Especially those who, in the opinion of the aggressor, are guilty of his failure.
Types of aggression
There are 5 types of aggression:
- physical (direct infliction of moral or physical harm);
- verbal (verbal aggression);
- expressive (expression through non-verbal means);
- indirect (directed and undirected aggression towards not the true object of irritation, but more accessible);
- direct (impact on the very object of irritation);
- irritation (willingness to show aggression);
- negativism (opposition, passive resistance to active struggle).
There are other classifications of aggression. In general, they can be presented through a description of the key properties of aggression, around which the classifications are built:
- orientation (towards oneself, towards an object, towards a living object);
- observability (hidden or open aggression);
- measure of severity (frequency, duration);
- manifestation space (house, street);
- the nature of mental actions (physical, in dreams, in words);
- on social danger (legally punishable or unpunished aggressive actions).
In addition, aggression can be individual or collective. Hatred, envy, resentment are also a variant of aggression.
Also, aggression can be directed to the outside world (heteroaggression) or to the inner world, that is, the person himself (auto-aggression). Depending on the cause of the appearance, aggression is reactive (a response to irritation from a quarrel, conflict) and spontaneous (unexpected outbursts as a result of mental problems or the cumulative effect of patience). In terms of direction, aggression can be targeted (causing harm) or instrumental (winning a competition, working as a physician).
Psychological aggression
I would also like to consider psychological aggression as the most popular type. It includes:
- imposing on us goods, services, someone’s society, beliefs;
- unsolicited advice;
- shifting responsibility;
- intimidation;
- the formation of addiction;
- emotional deprivation;
- slander;
- induce feelings of guilt;
- infringement of self-esteem;
- compulsion;
- unfair demands;
- annoying requests;
- insults and rudeness.
Sometimes the true goal is not even realized by the aggressor. And often this goal is self-affirmation, compulsion. For example, manipulation is the same aggression in order to exert influence, to get what you want.
Forms of aggression
Forms of aggression include rage, irritation, anger, hatred.
- Rage is an affective state as close as possible to aggression. Aggression is impossible without rage.
- Irritation is a weak manifestation of aggression, a signal of its potential.
- Anger is a more intense feeling than irritation, but more frequent. The object of anger is always more clearly expressed in nature and content.
- Hatred is the worst form of aggression. More often it is a character trait, it quickly becomes chronic and takes root.
Correction of aggressive behavior
In psychology, there is the concept of “socialization of aggression”. This presupposes the conscious submission of aggression to oneself, gaining control over it, and the expression of aggression in forms that are acceptable and acceptable in a particular society. The success of the socialization of aggression is influenced by the pattern (example) and reinforcement (praise, encouragement).
To correct aggression, you need to consciously relate to the world and yourself, see cause-and-effect relationships and be able to control situations, know your capabilities. It’s not easy to work on yourself. But you can overcome aggression if you really want to.
- Take control of your life. If you are confident in yourself, you will know that the result depends only on you, you will be able to react more adequately to difficulties.
- Determine why you are angry or annoyed. Which of your needs is not being met? How can you solve this problem?
- Think: why are you being aggressive? What do you want to achieve by this? What other ways can you get what you want?
- Find the meaning and purpose of life. You must have a clear life plan, motives. Then there will simply be no time, no strength, no desire for aggression.
- Learn to express anger in socially acceptable ways.
- Master the techniques of self-regulation.
- If you cannot cope with aggression on your own, ask loved ones for help, contact a specialist.
- Do not look for the guilty, do not indulge yourself with hopes and expectations. Take full responsibility for your own life.
- Goodbye and forget grudges.
- Practice and practice again. Regularly repeat the mastered techniques of self-regulation, reflect on your behavior and its results, apply in practice alternative ways to achieve the goal.
- Developed self-knowledge and an adequate perception of the world are the key to mental balance.
Aggression is only justified if it is the only way to keep yourself safe. If aggression is a way of getting pleasure, then we are talking about a destructive, abnormal feeling that must be got rid of.
For other reasons of aggression and interesting facts, including the differentiation of the issue by gender, temperament, age, read the article “24 interesting facts about aggression.”
