3. Hurting others: Aggression
We need to look no further than the daily
newspaper or the nightly news to be
bombarded with examples of aggression
both on the societal level ( war , invasion ,
assassination) and on the individual level (
crime ,child abuse ).
Aggression is intentional injury or harm to
another person .
By this definition , the rapist is clearly
acting aggressively , whereas the physician
causing pain during a medical procedure is
not
4.
5. Instinct approaches : aggression as
a release
If u have ever punished on an adversary in
the nose, you have experienced a certain
satisfaction despite your better judgment .
Instinct theories which note the prevalence
of aggression not only in humans but in
animals too , propose that aggression is
primarily the outcome of innate –or inborn
urges
Sigmund freud was one of the first to
suggest , as a part of his theory of
personality that aggression is a primary
instinctual drive .
6. Konrad loranz an ethologist ,expanded
freud notions by arguing that humans
along with the member of other species
have a fighting instinct which in earlier
times ensured protection of food supplies .
Lorenz instinct approach lead to the
controversial notion that aggressive
energy constantly builds up in an individual
until a person finally discharges it is in a
process called catharsis
7. The longer the energy builds up , says lorenz
, the greater the amount of aggression
displayed when it is discharged
Lorenz believed that society should offer
people acceptable ways of permitting
catharsis . For example he suggested that
participation in aggressive sports and games
would prevent the discharge of aggression in
less socially desirable ways
In fact, some studies flatly contradict the
notion of catharsis which leads psychologist
to look for other explanations of aggression
8. Frustration aggression approaches :
aggression as a reaction to frustration
Suppose you have been working on a paper that
is due for a class early the next morning , and your
computer printer runs out of ink just before you
can print out the paper . You rush to the store to
buy more ink only to find sales clerk locking the
door for the day . Even though the clerk can see
you gesturing and begging him to open the door ,
he refuses , shrugs his shoulders , and points to a
sign that indicates when the store will open the
next day. At that moment , the feelings you
experience towards the sales clerk probably place
you on the verge of real aggression and you are
undoubtedly seething inside
9.
10. Frustration aggression theory tries to
explain aggression in terms of events
like this one . It suggests that frustration
( blocking of goal directed behaviour)
produces anger , which leads to
readiness to act aggressively
11. Observational learning approaches :
learning to hurt others
Do we learn to be aggressive ?the
observational learning ( social learning )
approach to aggression says that we do .
Taking an almost opposite view from instinct
theory , which focus on innate explanation of
aggression , observational learning theory
emphasizes that social and environmental
conditions can teach individuals to be
aggressive . The theory sees aggression not
as an inevitable , but rather than a learned
response that can be understood in term of
rewards and punishments
12. Observational learning theory particularly
pays attention not only to direct rewards
and punishments that individuals
themselves receive , but also to rewards
and punishments that models-individuals
who provide guide top appropriate
behaviour – receive for their aggressive
behaviour . According to observational
learning theory , people observe the
behaviour of models as the sub sequent
consequences of that behaviour . If the
consequences are positive ,the behavior is
likely to be imitated when observer find
themselves in a similar situation
13. Suppose , for instance , a girl hits her
younger brother when he damages one of
her new toys . Whereas instinct theory
would suggest that the aggression had
been pent up and was now being
discharged , and frustration aggression
theory would examine girl frustration at no
longer being able to use her new toy ,
observational learning theory would look to
previous situations in which the girl had
viewed others being rewarded for their
aggression
14. For example, perhaps she had watched a
friend get to p-lay with a toy after he painfully
twisted it out of the hand of another child
Observational learning theory had received
wide research support . For example ,
children of nursery school age who have
watched an adult model behave aggressively
and then receive reinforcement for it later
displays similar behaviour themselves if they
have been angered , insulted , or frustrated
after exposure . Further more a significant
amount of research links watching t.v shows
containing voilence with subsequent viewer
aggression
15. Dealing effectively with anger
At one time or another , almost
everyone feels angry .the anger may
result from frustrating situation or it may
be due to another individuals behaviour .
The way we deal with anger may
determine the difference between a
promotion and a lost job or a broken
relationship
16. Social psychologists who have studied the
topic suggests several good strategies
to deal with anger that maximize the
potential for positive consequences
Calm down: take a walk or engage in
some physical activity in order to cool
down your emotional arousal
17. Look again at the anger –provoking
situation from the perspective of others .
By taking others point of view , you may
be able to understand the situation
better , and with increased
understanding you may become more
tolerant of the apparent short comings of
others
18. Minimize the importance of the situation .
Does it really matters that someone is
driving too slowly and that you will be able
to late to an appointment as a result ?
Reinterpret the situation in a way that is
less bothersome
Use language effectively by saying “I” not
“you” . “you did___ wrong “, instead say “I
felt hurt when you did ______”. When you
accuse people for being wrong ,they are
likely to feel the need to fight back
19. Fantasizing about getting even-but don’t
act on it . Fantasy provides a safety value .
In your fantasies , you can yell at their
unfair professor all you want and suffer no
consequences at all, however, don’t spend
too much time brooding: fantasize , but
then move on .
Relax . By teaching yourself the relaxation
techniques used in systematic
desensitization ,you can help reduce your
reactions to anger . In turn, your anger may
dissipate
20. Conclusion
No matter which of these strategies you try
, above all, don’t ignore your anger .
People who always try to suppress their
anger may experience a variety of
consequences such as frustration and
even physical illness
