Chapter 9: Aggression and antisocial behavior
Contents
Defining aggression and antisocial behavior..........................................................................................1
Is aggression innate or learned?............................................................................................................2
Instinct theories.................................................................................................................................3
Learning theories...............................................................................................................................3
Nature and nurture............................................................................................................................3
Inner causes of aggression.....................................................................................................................3
Frustration.........................................................................................................................................3
Being in a bad mood..........................................................................................................................4
Hostile cognitive biases......................................................................................................................4
Age and aggression............................................................................................................................4
Gender and aggression......................................................................................................................4
Interpersonal causes of aggression........................................................................................................5
Selfishness and influence...................................................................................................................5
Domestic and relationship violence: hurting those we love..............................................................6
Displacement.....................................................................................................................................6
External causes of aggression................................................................................................................6
Weapons effect..................................................................................................................................6
Mass media........................................................................................................................................7
Unpleasant environments.................................................................................................................7
Chemical influences...........................................................................................................................7
Self and culture......................................................................................................................................7
Norms and values..............................................................................................................................7
Self-control........................................................................................................................................8
Wounded pride..................................................................................................................................8
Culture of honor................................................................................................................................8
Other antisocial behavior......................................................................................................................9
Cheating.............................................................................................................................................9
Stealing............................................................................................................................................10
Littering............................................................................................................................................10
Defining aggression and antisocial behavior
Aggression – any behavior intended to harm another person who is motivated to avoid the
harm
, Aggression is defined by three features:
- Aggression is a behavior; not a thought or emotion
- Aggression is intentional, with the intent to harm
- The victim wants to avoid harm
If either one of these features is not confirmed, the behavior is not regarded as aggression.
Within aggression, one can differentiate between hostile and instrumental aggression,
depending on the motives for aggressive acts. Keep in mind that distinction may be unclear, as
motives can be a mix of these types.
In this table, different distinctions within aggression are listed. All combinations of the different
distinction may occur.
Hostile aggression – “hot”, impulsive, angry Instrumental aggression – “cold”
behavior that is motivated by a desire to premeditated, calculated harmful behavior
harm someone that is a means to some practical or material
end
Verbal aggression Physical aggression
Passive aggression – harming others by Active aggression – harming others by
withholding a behavior (e.g., purposely performing a behavior (e.g., spreading
failing to convey an important message) vicious rumors)
Direct aggression Indirect aggression
Violence – aggression that has as its goal extreme physical harm, such as injury or death
- Violence is always aggressive, but not all aggression acts contain violence violence is
just one kind of aggression
Antisocial behavior – behavior that either damages interpersonal relationships or is culturally
undesirable
- Aggression may count as an antisocial behavior (depending on the situation)
Cultures tries to diminish and set rules for aggression. Even in war, there are rules about proper
war conduct. Although culture may be better off without any aggression, this is still impossible,
as aggression is rooted deep in human nature. Selfish impulses makes people acts aggressively,
even though culture restrains aggression and favors other ways of solving disputes.
Is aggression innate or learned?
People have been trying to create the perfect peaceful society, to help eliminate aggression.
However, when aggression is innate, this may never work out.
Contents
Defining aggression and antisocial behavior..........................................................................................1
Is aggression innate or learned?............................................................................................................2
Instinct theories.................................................................................................................................3
Learning theories...............................................................................................................................3
Nature and nurture............................................................................................................................3
Inner causes of aggression.....................................................................................................................3
Frustration.........................................................................................................................................3
Being in a bad mood..........................................................................................................................4
Hostile cognitive biases......................................................................................................................4
Age and aggression............................................................................................................................4
Gender and aggression......................................................................................................................4
Interpersonal causes of aggression........................................................................................................5
Selfishness and influence...................................................................................................................5
Domestic and relationship violence: hurting those we love..............................................................6
Displacement.....................................................................................................................................6
External causes of aggression................................................................................................................6
Weapons effect..................................................................................................................................6
Mass media........................................................................................................................................7
Unpleasant environments.................................................................................................................7
Chemical influences...........................................................................................................................7
Self and culture......................................................................................................................................7
Norms and values..............................................................................................................................7
Self-control........................................................................................................................................8
Wounded pride..................................................................................................................................8
Culture of honor................................................................................................................................8
Other antisocial behavior......................................................................................................................9
Cheating.............................................................................................................................................9
Stealing............................................................................................................................................10
Littering............................................................................................................................................10
Defining aggression and antisocial behavior
Aggression – any behavior intended to harm another person who is motivated to avoid the
harm
, Aggression is defined by three features:
- Aggression is a behavior; not a thought or emotion
- Aggression is intentional, with the intent to harm
- The victim wants to avoid harm
If either one of these features is not confirmed, the behavior is not regarded as aggression.
Within aggression, one can differentiate between hostile and instrumental aggression,
depending on the motives for aggressive acts. Keep in mind that distinction may be unclear, as
motives can be a mix of these types.
In this table, different distinctions within aggression are listed. All combinations of the different
distinction may occur.
Hostile aggression – “hot”, impulsive, angry Instrumental aggression – “cold”
behavior that is motivated by a desire to premeditated, calculated harmful behavior
harm someone that is a means to some practical or material
end
Verbal aggression Physical aggression
Passive aggression – harming others by Active aggression – harming others by
withholding a behavior (e.g., purposely performing a behavior (e.g., spreading
failing to convey an important message) vicious rumors)
Direct aggression Indirect aggression
Violence – aggression that has as its goal extreme physical harm, such as injury or death
- Violence is always aggressive, but not all aggression acts contain violence violence is
just one kind of aggression
Antisocial behavior – behavior that either damages interpersonal relationships or is culturally
undesirable
- Aggression may count as an antisocial behavior (depending on the situation)
Cultures tries to diminish and set rules for aggression. Even in war, there are rules about proper
war conduct. Although culture may be better off without any aggression, this is still impossible,
as aggression is rooted deep in human nature. Selfish impulses makes people acts aggressively,
even though culture restrains aggression and favors other ways of solving disputes.
Is aggression innate or learned?
People have been trying to create the perfect peaceful society, to help eliminate aggression.
However, when aggression is innate, this may never work out.
