Aggressive Tendencies

A detailed Summary of Aggressive Tendencies

It's difficult to think about why people intentionally harm other individuals, however, several theories attempt to explain human aggression. Some hypothesize that aggressive behaviour is not simply an innate quality but a part of our personality that is learned. The belief that all humans are instinctively aggressive offers little insight into methods of reducing anti-social behaviour. By looking at how aggression is formed through experience, however, we can make inferences into what type of people are more likely to aggress and the factors that perpetuate an aggressive personality. I believe that aggression is most predominant under 3 conditions: (1) under high levels of frustration (2) when there is a payoff in response to acting out and (3) when it is learned through observation. Because the frustration-aggression theory and the social learning theory offer insightful clues into the development of aggression, I will discuss them in detail.

The frustration-aggression theory posits that feelings of aggression are brought on when we are prevented from obtaining a goal. This theory basically claims that the loss of control and lack of power, emotions that typify frustration, lead to aggression. Several factors can increase fru

stration and, accordingly, will increase the probability that some form of aggression will occur. "The closer the goal, the greater the expectation of pleasure that is thwarted; the greater the expectation, the more likely the aggression."

Most individuals would agree that the emotional payoff would have to be very strong to bring on inappropriate behaviour like road rage. It helps to consider the definition of "aggression" and look at how it is generally learned. Aggression is the "intentional behaviour aimed at causing either physical or psychological pain". The word intention is quite different from instinct. Because anti-social behaviour must show intent to be labled aggressive, even the most "random" acts of aggression are assumed to have some kind of reward.

The second method that is covered by the social learning theory is observational learning. This takes place when "one person observes, and the observer thereby acquires the ability to repeat the act." One of the most popular current debates centres around the idea that media violence contributes to increased aggression in viewers. This exemplifies the idea that people are easily influenced by others' behaviour. Sadly, research s

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Instead Bandura, Social Learning, social learning, social learning theory, anti-social behaviour, learning theory, aggressive behaviour, frustration-aggression theory, aggressive act, aggression learned,

Approximate Word count = 813
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science

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Aggressive Tendencies

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