Aggression is a very complex and destructive emotion that causes harm not only to the person showing it, but also, of course, to those towards whom it is directed. In psychology, there are several types of aggression, and almost all of us have encountered it in one way or another. You will learn how to control this condition and how to respond to its manifestations in this article.
Concept of aggression and aggressive behavior
Aggression is a persistent feature in a person, expressed in a readiness for sudden outbursts of anger, and a tendency to perceive the behavior of other people as hostility. The concept refers to any form of behavior that is aimed at humiliating or causing physical harm to another creature (including animals). Aggressors behave destructively, with pronounced negative emotions.
Aggression does not always manifest itself in physical actions and causing bodily harm. The verbal form also includes the expression of negativity through verbal form (threatening hints, curses, offensive statements, swearing, screaming, etc.).
Treatment
Aggression should not be considered as an inevitable form of human response to conflicts, life difficulties and inconveniences. With timely, correct work on your personal qualities, you can learn to control manifestations of anger and hostility, preventing the development of their pathological forms. Symptomatic medical and psychological assistance consists of psychotherapeutic sessions, group trainings, and medication correction.
Individual psychotherapy
Conversations with a psychotherapist allow patients to understand the reasons for anger, irritability and hostility towards others. Methods of psychoanalysis, psychodrama, and cognitive psychotherapy are used. The result is an awareness of the problem, an understanding of how aggressiveness manifests itself in everyday life, how it affects the quality of relationships, and what methods will be used to correct it. The second stage of psychotherapy is aimed at mastering the skills of self-control, switching attention, and relaxation. Autogenic training, hypnosis, Gestalt therapy and art therapy techniques are used.
Group trainings
Social skills training is effective. Situations are modeled in which examples of adequate behavior are demonstrated, even if the other side provokes a conflict. In the form of role-playing games, methods of interpersonal interaction are practiced in various situations: everyday, professional, official. After each practical lesson, a process of reflection and feedback occurs, in which participants share opinions, experiences, and evaluate the result.
Drug therapy
Selection of drug treatment is necessary for severe forms of aggressiveness, when the patient’s behavior poses a threat to himself or others. Taking medications allows you to achieve compensation for your general condition, reduce the number of aggressive behavioral acts, and prevent their development in the future. The combined use of fast-acting benzodiazepines with antipsychotics is common. Pharmacological effects are explained by the ability of drugs to influence the level and ratio of neurotransmitters. In addition to the above medications, atypical neuroleptics, lithium salts, beta-blockers, and SSRIs can be prescribed.
Types of aggression
In psychology, there are several types of aggression:
- Direct . Aimed directly at a person or a specific group of people.
- Indirect . Words or actions are directed towards the enemy in an intermediary manner, for example, through false gossip or throwing things, breaking dishes, etc.
- Physical . The aggressor uses physical actions towards the opponent.
- Verbal . An aggressive person provokes another person using abusive language, shouting, screaming, etc.
- Protective . It is a defensive maneuver against the raging one.
- Provocative . Unlike the previous type, the aggressor is the first to launch an “attack”.
- External . Directed towards surrounding people.
- Auto aggression . Unhealthy self-flagellation that can end in suicide.
- Hostile . The basis is angry emotions, and the goal is considered to cause harm.
- Instrumental . The end result may not amount to causing harm, since the main goal is a means of obtaining some benefits.
- Reasonable . There are reasons for aggressive behavior, for example, protection of the weak or self-defense.
- Destructive . An attempt to assert oneself through humiliation and harm to others.
general characteristics
From a practical point of view, aggressiveness is considered as a person’s increased readiness for aggressive behavior, which is not innate, but acquired in the process of social interaction.
According to qualitative characteristics, aggression is distinguished between constructive and destructive. The first is implemented in defensive actions, causing unintentional harm, allows you to adapt socially, overcome obstacles, and show leadership. The second is represented by unconstructive aggressive actions based on the intent to cause physical or psychological suffering to another. In terms of direction, aggressiveness can be oriented towards others and towards oneself. In accordance with this, heteroaggressive reactions are distinguished - insults, beatings, swearing and self-harming or auto-aggressive reactions. An extreme variant of self-aggression is suicide attempts. The most obvious hostile action is the use of physical force against another person. Other possible options are hostility, malice, negativism, irritation, touchiness, suspicion, and uttering threats. Aggression directed at oneself is accompanied by a feeling of guilt and self-deprecation.
What contributes to aggressive behavior?
Common causes of aggression include maladjustment. When a person fails to realize himself through socially acceptable methods, he tries to stand out from the “gray crowd” by abuse of power and humiliation of other people. Conditions of impunity (anonymity of actions or a position of power) contribute to increased aggressiveness.
Hostile behavior is formed gradually under the influence of family, the media, and surrounding people. In psychology, the causes of aggression are divided into several types.
Psychosocial factors
The severity and frequency of angry outbursts depends on the individual personality, character and other conditions. Psychosocial factors are:
- Situational . Aggression is caused by irritating external conditions and physiological states. Self-control weakens in stressful situations, in noisy rooms, with fatigue, pain and other provoking factors.
- Behavioral . A negative defensive reaction to others’ condemnation of certain actions.
- Personal . The risk group includes people with sanguine and choleric temperament. Aggressive behavior appears due to emotional instability and increased nervous tension.
- Microsocial . People who see constant scenes of violence, hostility or experience humiliation in their microenvironment (family, school, work team) are prone to aggression. There is a high level of risk in children growing up in dysfunctional families and in law enforcement officers.
- Macrosocial . Constant outbursts of anger are formed by the propaganda of negativity from the media, the construction of a cult of violence, and the demonstration of aggressive behavior of officials.
Aggression also occurs due to mental disorders. Sick people often commit dangerous actions directed at themselves, their relatives or strangers. Constant monitoring by a psychiatrist is required to eliminate risks for the following diseases:
- depression;
- dementia;
- schizophrenia;
- explosive psychopathy;
- antisocial psychopathy.
Taking narcotic and alcohol-containing substances can provoke aggression, leading to a serious danger to the lives of others and the person dependent on addictions. Intoxication with sedatives and hypnotics also leads to increased excitability of the nervous system. A drowsy state and a feeling of euphoria are replaced by anger, increased physical activity and lack of self-control.
How do you feel about aggressive people?
They can be understood. I am often aggressive myself
45.45%
I don't like aggressive people. I always try to avoid such people
45.45%
I do not pay attention to it. I'm just passing by
9.09%
Voted: 11
External factors influencing the occurrence of aggression
Manifestations of aggression are not always based on the prerequisites for mental health problems and negative processes of social interaction. Outbursts of anger can be provoked by external factors that characterize the environment. For example, traveling by public transport in the summer heat is not very pleasant. Especially when the bus is crowded and passengers are forced to stand huddled together, balancing between their sweaty backs. In such a situation, even a balanced person can lose self-control and respond to aggression accordingly, so the likelihood of trouble increases sharply.
Psychologists have conducted studies in which it was found that natural factors (temperature and air pollution, crowded conditions, noise) have a significant impact on human behavior.
The model of aggression is adopted from the media as early as adolescence. First of all, television and the Internet are the “culprits”. According to statistics, programs broadcast about 9 episodes of physical aggression and 8 verbal ones every hour, and even in seemingly innocent advertising and children's cartoons there are many such situations. Already upon reaching the age of 12, a person has time to see about 100 thousand scenes of rudeness, fights, swearing and other negative aspects.
Thanks to research, it has been proven that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between watching programs containing negative behavior of participants and an increase in behavioral aggression in people of any age. A similar phenomenon is observed even among those who are not characterized by inappropriate behavior. For people with obvious aggressive traits, watching television and Internet content increases the negative impact several times.
Even if there are no explicit scenes of violence in programs and videos, in almost all content the leading values of the characters are material wealth and unabashed consumerism. Communication with others is built on a competitive basis, which allows the use of any means to achieve a goal.
Do you think you are an aggressive person?
I can be an aggressive person sometimes, but it happens for a good reason.
55.56%
Due to my nature, yes. I'm an aggressive person
22.22%
No. I am a completely balanced person
22.22%
Voted: 9
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of aggression and its causes is carried out by a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or clinical psychologist. Of particular interest are cases of determining the tendency to aggression during examinations, when the patient may have a desire to hide undesirable qualities. In such situations, in addition to standard diagnostic procedures, experimental methods are used, during which influences that provoke hostility are carried out. The following procedures are used as part of the baseline study:
- Survey.
During the conversation, the doctor finds out the reasons for the aggressiveness, its duration, severity, and justification. Patients are not always critical of changes in their behavior, therefore, to obtain more objective information, a survey of relatives (accompanying persons) is carried out, and characteristics from school and place of work are requested. - Observation.
A tendency to aggressive reactions manifests itself during a medical consultation: patients are irritable, quick-tempered, and rude. They answer unpleasant questions with abuse, and easily move on to accusations, quarrels, and scandals. Observation in a hospital setting provides a more complete picture of patient behavior. As a rule, they show verbal and physical aggression and become instigators of quarrels with medical staff and other patients. - Psychodiagnostic testing.
Personality questionnaires make it possible to quantify the severity of aggressiveness, determine its position in the structure of character, and its combination with other qualities, for example, impulsiveness. The Bass-Darki test (Diagnostics of the state of aggression), A. Assinger test (assessment of aggressiveness in relationships) is used. Projective techniques are effective for identifying hidden aggression: the hand test, the Rosenzweig test.
How dangerous is an aggressive state?
In many cases, an aggressive person causes significant damage to the mental and physical health of others. In 5%, attacks of anger lead to criminal punishment (beatings and murders).
On the other hand, the aggressor also suffers from an inability to cope with anger. As a rule, after attacks of anger a person feels:
- loss of energy;
- guilt;
- decreased self-esteem;
- depressive state.
Such phenomena are typical only for fully healthy people who are normally able to communicate in society. Chronic manifestations of aggression gradually destroy the body. Subsequently, the following health problems caused by psychosomatic reasons are possible:
- cardiovascular diseases;
- gallbladder dysfunction;
- chronic stomach diseases;
- migraine.
How to react to aggressive people?
The most optimal tactic is to minimize negative emotions.
Negativity in communication upsets, especially receptive, sensitive people. To maintain normal self-esteem, it is necessary to correctly perceive critical situations. Not being insulted even once in your life is within the realm of the impossible. To prevent negativity from causing harm, you need to not let it pass through yourself.
Aggressors often cause inexplicable feelings of guilt in normal people. Psychologists advise not to take unfounded criticism personally. As a rule, when throwing out negativity, aggressors never think about the meaning of their phrases, so do not try to find a logical justification for curses.
Experts are confident that people in the victim position face aggression much more often. If such situations recur, you should think about how to prevent negativity and raise your own self-esteem.
Preventing Aggressive Behavior
If you think that a conflict may break out with an aggressive person, follow these rules:
- if possible, find a compromise solution;
- calmly listen to your opponent, and then clearly and calmly express your opinion;
- When discussing problems, do not get personal;
- maintain your comfort zone and do not react to manipulation.
A study was conducted that found that just a spoonful of sugar can suppress aggression. For the experiment, a stranger was seated next to the person being tested, who began provocations. People who drank the sweet drink practically did not react to the “hooligan plant.” Subjects who did not consume sugar behaved more aggressively.
Aggression in men
Passive aggressiveness in men is characterized by procrastination and indecisiveness before making important decisions. Such men are not responsible, are extremely dismissive of deadlines and do not keep promises. This type is looking for any excuse for a quarrel with family, while keeping a distance and not allowing them into personal space. The reason is the fear of dependence, so a man, coping with fear on his own, tries to manage and command others. Such a man does not admit his mistakes, but blames only the circumstances around him, demanding to find the culprits.
The reason for this behavior is the social and family atmosphere, where they remain silent about their desires and needs, considering this a manifestation of selfishness. On a subconscious level, such upbringing instills the idea that wanting something for oneself is wrong and unacceptable in principle.
Passive aggressiveness in men can be corrected only by a calm, gentle attitude and gradual pushing towards the desired model of behavior.
Aggressiveness in men differs in its attitudes from female aggressiveness. Men often resort to open forms of aggressiveness
They are not bothered by anxiety or guilt, it is important for them to achieve their goal, so aggressiveness acts as a kind of behavior model
Increased aggressiveness in men is marked by a lack of culture of behavior, a demonstration of confidence, strength, and independence.
Aggression associated with sexual arousal is an attack or series of violent acts between sexual partners. Aggression is the opposite of love-erotic relationships. Individuals experience erotic pleasure from sexual aggressiveness (masochism, sadism, sadomasochism).
Psychological concepts provide the following explanation for the appearance of sexual aggressiveness: it arises as a result of experienced frustration, i.e., disappointed expectations in obtaining satisfaction. This does not apply only to intimate desires or needs. Aggression is explained by its compensatory nature. For example, repetition or continuation of violence experienced, or experiencing violence that is practiced in other areas.
Research in this area confirms that gross sexual violence, as well as beating of women by men, often occurs among those strata where women are discriminated against and oppressed and are in a dependent position. At the same time, the majority of clients of prostitutes who are fond of sadomasochism are men from the upper classes, who thus realize staged aggression.
