Aggressive and Defensive Behaviors

AggressionReport By: Zaballero, Dennice Reeze E. Physiological Psychology Th(3pm-6pm)In all of nature, there is nothing so threatening to humanity as humanity itself. Lewis Thomas, 1981

Aggression-- Intentional action aimed at doing harm or causing harm.

Aggressive Behavior-- Behaviors whose primary function is to threaten or harm.

Causes of Aggressive BehaviorsCausesInherited or Learned BehaviorsResearch published in 2003 in Neuron suggests that there may indeed be a genetic link to aggressive outbursts. Learned behaviors, unlike inherited traits, are not linked to genetics but acquired through environmental influence.

CausesMedical ProblemsAn adverse reaction to medication may cause aggressive behavior.Medications also have the power to bring about hostile behaviors in people with or without a psychological illness.

CausesInwardPeople who engage in inward aggressive actions typically have an underlying mental problem.Inward aggression occurs when individuals direct the belligerent actions towards themselves.

CausesExternalExternal aggressive behaviors occur when an individual directs the action towards another person. The causes of external aggressions vary and can include social pressure or a reaction to a previous abuse.

Types of Aggressive BehaviorsTypesInstrumental Aggression- Harm inflicted as a means to some goal other than causing pain. Goals include: -- Personal gain -- Attention -- Self-defense

TypesEmotional Aggression-Harm inflicted for its own sake, to cause pain.- Often impulsive- But can be calm, calculating

TypesPhysical Violence/Hostility- Often involves acts of violence taken with the intention of causing harm to the recipient, including death, by using weapons or even someone's bare hands.

TypesVerbal Hostility- includes behavior such as bullying, threats or yelling.

TypesNonverbal Intimidation- Often implies the threat of violence, at least in the perception of the person at the receiving end.

TypesPassive AggressionAn indirect way of expressing displeasure or anger.Often generated by resentment on the part of someone who is unable or unwilling to express this resentment directly.

What happens to our body when we are Aggressive or showing an Aggressive Behavior?The response varies from person to person, but some symptoms include;

Teeth Grinding Fists Clenching Flushing Paling Prickly Sensations Numbness Sweating Muscle TensionsTemperature Changes The amygdala, the part of the brain that deals with emotion, is going crazy. It wants to do something, and the time between a trigger event and a response from the amygdala can be a quarter of a second. But at the same time, blood flow is increasing to the frontal lobe, specifically the part of the brain that's over the left eye. Some diseases you can get when youre always angry or expressing aggressive behavior:

Weakened Heart Stiffer Arteries Liver and Kidney damage.High Cholesterol. Depression or Anxiety .Why Are People So Aggressive?Instinct Theories- Freud - Psychoanalytic theory - Death instinct vs. Life instinct - Aggression death instinct is turned outward at others

Freud Evolutionary Theories- Darwin - Genetic survival - Genetic selection for aggression

Social Learning TheoryBandura - Modeling - Learn how to behave prosocially - Learn how to behave aggressively

Social Learning Theory

When Do People Aggress?Situational Factors Frustration-Aggression Theory- Frustration always leads to aggression Closeness of goal as a factor of frustration-aggression linkAggression increases when frustration is unexpected

Displaced aggression Aggression not directed at source of the frustration, but at a different, lower status target

Berkowitzs modification of frustration-aggression theory- frustration leads to angeranger with an aggressive cue leads to aggression

Alcohol myopia (Steele & Josephs, 1990)- Intoxication facilitates aggression by impairing cognitive processing, narrows attention

Heat- More violent crimes (rape, murder, riots, assaults) In summer months In hot years In hot cities- Heat increases Hit by pitch incidents Horn-honking Interpret ambiguous event in hostile terms

How Can Aggression Be Reduced?Catharsis: Doesnt work

Punishment: Not a simple solution Deterrence Theory: Punishment has to be severe, certain, and swift Corporal punishment increases aggression (Eron et al., 1991; Straus et al., 1997; Gershoff, 2002)

Remove Cues to Aggression (Berkowitz)

Provide Better Role Models (Bandura)