Physical assault and aggression is the second leading cause of death among 14 to 17 year olds, next to vehicular accidents (Loeber). But why are humans so aggressive in the first place? There are two sides of the debate: Nature, and Nurture. Some say that it’s human nature, genetics that cause most behaviors, while others say that we act as we learned during childhood. This argument applies to aggression as well. Aggression is mainly caused by things during childhood and adolescence where people learn from various sources about aggression, although, human psychology plays a slight factor. But, what is aggression in the first place? Aggression is a behavior that causes or intends to cause harm to others. Accidental harm does not count as …show more content…
The social interaction theory is the theory that aggression is used as an adverse social influence, a decision for a what’s perceived as a more positive outcome (Tedeschi & Felson 1994). An example of this would be blackmailing someone to get them to do something for you. These theories of aggression are the most plausible because they account for both types of aggression, reactive and instrumental. People learn how to act from society, and use what is believed to be the most efficient way to achieve desired results. This can be a reaction to coerce someone into stopping an action, or instrumental, to force one to do something. Cues from the past, such as seeing a weapon that has been seen countless times on T.V. instead of a badminton racket, increases the aggressive reactions from people (Anderson). The biological/nature side of the argument should not be ignored, although it is less of a factor than the lifestyle and culture people grow up in. The fight-or-flight response is a biological effect that happens under stress, where adrenaline is pumped up to either protect or escape from harm. This can cause aggressive behavior if the fight response is chosen. Another important facet is genetic/mental disabilities that can cause extreme aggression for no apparent reason, along with genetic predisposition for extra receptors in the body that cause anti-social behavior and moodiness, which can be a precursor
The article See Aggression...Do Aggression discusses aggression, which is the biggest social problem facing America and the entire world. The article delves deeper into the question of why people are aggressive. Psychologists have theoreticized that aggression may stem from genetics or pent up frustration, but the most common and accepted is the theory that aggression is learned. This final reason for aggression is what prompted Bandera, a founder of the “social learning theory” and his team, Dorothea and Sheila Ross, to conduct “the Bobo doll study.”
Is aggression an innate and deterministic quality from birth, or is it something that one that all can control, as a matter of free will and choice, to be used when we need it in a calculated manner? At birth all people are born with aggression as a survival trait. As we educate ourselves as we have seen in the video “The Truth About Violence” even in an educated culture such as the United States we still have violence. Violent people and we are drawn to violent sports such as cage fighting and football. Even the most mild manner people who don’t like violence in movies, sports or anywhere else can find enjoyment from participating in violence. When a person results to violence I don’t believe they can control the amount of aggression
This research supports the hypothesis that environmental experiences are another source of influence. According to social learning theory, children who reside in crime-prone and violent areas are more likely to act out violently. They begin to view violent acts as normal behavior, which has no consequences for the actors (book chegg pg 73). Intergenerational transmission theory also explains the cause of domestic abuse cycle in out society. This theory adds that people who observe violence in the home as children are more likely to resort to battering in their own relationships later in life (chegg book pg 74).
Aggression is a natural part of human behavior, and can even be adaptive in certain situations. However, when aggression manifests itself in violent behaviors, it becomes problematic. Patterns of aggression change throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, and these changes usually differ between males and females (Loeber, 1997). Physical aggression is typically greatest early in life and decreases during adolescence, whereas more serious violence tends to increase with age, particularly during adolescence (Loeber, 1997). Despite the changes that occur in aggressive tendencies throughout childhood and adolescence, aggression is seen as a very stable trait, almost as stable as
As stated in the opening paragraph, aggression is an emotiion that everyone experiences at some point in time. However, it is very important that we are able to stay well disciplined before we actually act on our aggressive thoughts. The internal mechanism which are known as self-regulaion or self-control often times should serve as a form of regulating our behaviors along with actions caused by aggression. It was before believed that the entire process of self-regulation required a lot of cognitive effort of the part of the the person feeling the aggression. However, we often us a demanding amount of our cognitive effort towards other task, leaving us with a depleting state of cognitive effort, which
To understand the research in its entirety, it’s important to note the two types of aggression that were
After viewing Origins of Human Aggression (The Nature of Things), I learned a lot about origins of human aggression. In the first part of the video, it focused on 2 year old children and how aggression is derived. The video states a study shows that signs of aggression start within the first couple months of a newborn’s life (Maher, Origins of Human Aggression (The Nature of Things). This study within the video I believe is accurate. I was told by my parents that as I grew I began to be more aggressive. The older I got, I began to do things such as: throw objects, hit people, and throw a tantrum if I could not get my way. One time I cried for an hour just so my mother would buy me a pair of shoes. Throwing that tantrum got me my way, but
Violence is caused by different factors; one can be genetic. In chapter ten the author states that genetic influences aggressiveness. It is also stated that in a study examining 12.5 million residents of Sweden, those with a genetic sibling convicted of a violent crime were four times as likely to be convicted themselves. Alcohol can also be the reason of aggression. Poor diet is also a factor of aggression. According to the book frustration also causes aggression. A way to reduce violence is by keeping your temper and not getting out control. If you know you are a person that gets aggressive when drinking, do not drink to get drunk. Controlling your liquor is a way to reduce violence. Also eat good do not starve your self because that can cause frustration. Also media have a lot to do with violence. The media promotes violence TV shows and movies. A way to reduce to violence is by taking away this type of shows on TV. Also video games can be really violence, parents should not let their children play with violence. The video games teaches children how to be violent, those types of video games should
The Social Learning theory is by observing others and then to imitating them by learning through social behavior. People will asks their peers if being aggress is okay, and if the social norm accepts that as being an normal behavior then people will be aggress with one and other “Thus if a respected person or institution endorse aggression”.
The one theory that I chose from the five theories of aggression is frustration aggression. The frustration aggression theory is being describes as frustration which is blocking of a goal creates a motive for aggression. Fear of Punishment or disapproval may cause the aggressive behavior to be displaced against some other target, or oneself. As an example, last week I was trying to take a test for this class; however, I did not pay attention on the date that is supposed to be posted it. My birthday was on friday, so I wanted to take it so I can be free over the weekend. Soon as I opened up my computer on the test page , it was blank with the time running. I freak out; on top it my boyfriend would not stop blowing up my phone. I became very
There are clearly no simple genetic or hormonal factors that can explain the variation in aggressive in males and females. Studies of human males suggest that there is at most a small genetic component to aggression, but a greater one for personality traits associated with such behavior. The biological mechanisms translating the message in the genes into antisocial or criminal behavior are not known. Therefore, there is clearly no simple aggressive gene effect. Many genes are likely to be involved, and each may have a weak effect on aggressive behavior. A direct genetic effect on aggression, for example, may determine how quickly an individual responds to aggravation. Aggression may also be influenced indirectly; for example, a man's size and strength may affect the way he behaves and how others react to him. (Turner, 253)
Social Psychological Theories of Aggression Social learning theorists propose that behaviour, such as aggression is learnt through observation, imitation and behaviour shaping. This behaviour is learnt automatically through observation of male and female role models, for example parents, peers and media characters. Whether or not this behaviour is imitated depends on the type of reinforcement that the role model receives. Vicarious reinforcement involves the outcome of a role models behaviour, for example if a child observes a parent acting aggressively and receiving positive rewards for they are more like to be imitate this behaviour in the future, than they would be if the role model
Aggression is a complex issue to contextualise as it can mean both hostile, attacking behaviour and verbal behaviour with intent to cause harm. However, aggression may also be reactionary in response to environmental factors. Teenage aggression arises from negative environmental influences during upbringing. The roles of peers, family and media shape these environmental influences which include: bullying, abuse in the home, and violent video games.
Statistics indicate many aggressors at some point or another have witnessed acts of violence. During childhood, these observed behaviors can have a major impact and influence on adolescent and adult attitudes, perception of self and others. "Children become more susceptible and prone to negative and dangerous behaviors which can
Aggressive behavior is meant to victimize someone mentally, emotionally or physically and is more often then not done deliberately. This behavior will generally violate social norms but it may vary from culture to culture and those who are aggressive will also have other social impairments as well. (Education Portal, 2014)