PERSPECTIVES ON AGGRESSION

Theoretical Perspectives on Aggression

Theoretical Perspectives on Aggression

Psychology traditionally has defined aggression as behaviour against another that intentionally inflicts harm. Such behaviour can be in the form of physical attack against one another, or verbal abuse, such as spreading malicious gossip. Although this definition seems adequate for many applications, it is not precise enough for the comprehensive understanding of aggressive behaviour.

Feshbach first portrays two distinct types of aggression, hostile and instrumental. They are distinguished by their goals, or rewards they offer the perpetrator. Hostile aggression is driven by anger (e.g. real or perceived insults, physical attacks or one's own failure) and performed as an end in itself. The goal of the aggressor is to make a victim suffer(Bandura, 2006). Most criminal homicides, rapes and other violent crimes directed at harming the victim are precipitated by hostile aggression.

In contrast, instrumental aggression is driven by the desire or competition for rewards, which can be object or status, possessed by another person (e.g. jewelry, money, territory). This may also be motivated by non-injurious goals, such as coercion and the maintenance of self-esteem. In the case of coercion, injury may be delivered in order to influence another person to do what they want. Some children use various aversive behaviours, for instance, hitting and teasing, in order to control family members. They are reinforced when the victims do what they want(Berkowitz, 2007). Moreover, aggression can strengthen or maintain self-esteem if they receive favorable response after performing such behaviour.

Theoretical Perspectives on Aggression

In studying these types of aggression, a number of theoretical perspectives which have sharply contrasting views concerning the nature of aggression, the factors influencing its occurrence, and the forces from which it stems have been proposed.

Aggression as Instinctive Behaviour

According to this idea, aggression occurs because human beings are genetically or constitutionally "programmed" for such ...