Aggression is Aggression: types of aggression. Aggressive behavior of teenagers

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The daily roundup of news constantly scares the average layman with the number of acts of violence in all corners of the world. Yes, and everyday life is replete with quarrels, shouting and other manifestations of hostility.

Aggression in modern society is perceived as evil and publicly condemned. However, there are many examples of hostile behavior both by individuals and entire groups of people.

Why do people cause suffering to each other, what are the causes of interpersonal and global conflicts? There are no clear answers to these questions, but studying the phenomenon of aggressiveness in various aspects of human life will help to better understand the problem.

What is aggression?

There are many approaches in the world to determine the cause, content and types of counteraction to such behavior. So, some psychologists believe that aggression is an innate human quality associated with instinctive impulses. Others relate this concept to the need for defusingindividual (frustrations), others perceive it as a manifestation of the social learning of a person that arose on the basis of past experience.

Thus, this type of personality manifestation is intentional behavior that is destructive and results in physical or psychological harm and discomfort to other individuals.

Aggression in psychology, and in everyday life, is often associated with anger, anger, rage, that is, extremely negative emotions. In fact, hostility can also arise in a calm, cold-blooded state. Such behavior may be the result of negative attitudes (the desire to harm or offend) or be unmotivated. According to many experts, a prerequisite for aggressive behavior should be its focus on another individual. That is, punching the wall and beating dishes are manifestations of not hostile, but expressive behavior. But outbursts of uncontrollable negative emotions can later be redirected to living beings.

Historical approaches

Definition of aggression is carried out through various approaches. The main ones are:

Normative approach. Particular attention is paid to the illegality of actions and violation of generally accepted norms. Aggressive behavior is considered to be behavior that includes 2 main conditions: there are consequences that are detrimental to the victim and at the same time the norms of behavior are violated.
Deep psychological approach. The instinctivenature of aggression. It is an inherent innate trait of any person's behavior.
Targeted approach. Explores hostile behavior from the point of view of its intended purpose. According to this direction, aggression is a tool of self-affirmation, evolution, adaptation and appropriation of vital resources and territories.
Productive approach. Emphasizes the consequences of such behavior.
Intentional approach. Evaluates the motivations of the subject of hostility, which prompted him to such actions.
Emotional approach. Reveals the psycho-emotional aspect of the behavior and motivation of the aggressor.
A multidimensional approach includes an analysis of all factors of aggression with a deep study of the most significant, from the point of view of an individual author.

A large number of approaches to the definition of this psychological phenomenon does not give an exhaustive definition of it. Too extensive and multifaceted is the concept of "aggression". The types of aggression are very diverse. But still, you should understand and classify them in order to better understand the causes and develop ways to deal with this serious problem of our time.

Aggression. Types of aggression

It is quite difficult to create a unified classification of types of aggression and its causes. However, in world practice, its definition is often used according to the method of American psychologists A. Bass and A. Darki, which includes five components:

Physical aggression - another individual is physically attacked.
Indirect aggression - occurs in a hidden way (unkind banter, gossip) or is not directed at a specific person (unreasonable screams, stamping of feet, other manifestations of outbursts of rage).
Irritation - increased excitability to external stimuli, which often leads to a surge of negative emotions.
Verbal aggression is the manifestation of negative feelings through verbal reactions (screeching, screaming, swearing, threats, etc.).
Negativism is oppositional behavior that can manifest itself both in passive and active form of struggle against established laws and traditions.

Types of verbal responses

The manifestation of aggression in verbal form according to A. Bass is divided into three main types:

Rejection is a reaction that is built along the “go away” type and more rude forms.
Hostile remarks - formed according to the principle "your presence annoys me."
Criticism is aggression directed not specifically at a person, but at his personal items, work, clothes, etc.

Psychologists also identify other forms of hostility. So, according to H. Hekhauzen, there is instrumental and hostile aggression. Hostile is an end in itself and brings direct harm to another person. Instrumental is an intermediate phenomenon in achieving a goal (for example, extortion).

Forms of Manifestation

Forms of aggression can be very diverse and are divided into the following types of actions:

negative (destructive) – positive (constructive);
explicit (open aggression) - latent (hidden);
direct (directed directly to the object) - indirect (influence through other channels);
ego-synthonic (accepted by the personality itself) - ego-dystonic (condemned by one's "I");
physical (violence against a physical object) - verbal (attack with words);
hostile (the goal of aggression is direct harm) - instrumental (hostility is just a means to achieve another goal).

The most common manifestations of aggression in everyday life are raising one's voice, slander, insults, coercion, physical force, and the use of weapons. Hidden forms include harmful inaction, withdrawal from contact, self-harm to the point of suicide.

At whom can aggression be directed?

Bouts of aggression can be directed to:

exceptionally close people - only family members (or one member) are attacked, with others the behavior is normal;
people outside the family circle - teachers, classmates, doctors, etc.;
oneself - both on one's own body and on one's own person, in the form of refusing to eat, mutilating, biting nails, etc.;
animals, insects, birds, etc.;
inanimate physical objects - in the form of damage to property, eating inedible objects;
symbolic items - passion for aggressive computer games, collecting weapons, etc.

Reasons for aggressive behavior

The reasons for human hostility are also diverse and cause controversy among professional psychologists.

Biological theorists are of the opinion that aggression is:

an innate human reaction associated with the instinct of self-preservation (attack is the best defense);
behavior resulting from the struggle for territory and resources (competition in personal and professional spheres);
hereditary property obtained along with the type of nervous system (unbalanced);
a consequence of hormonal imbalances (excess testosterone or adrenaline);
consequence of the use of psychotropic substances (alcohol, nicotine, drugs).

According to the sociobiological approach, people with similar genes contribute to each other's survival even through self-sacrifice. At the same time, they show aggression towards individuals who are very different from them and share few common genes. This explains the conflict outbreaks between representatives of social, national, religious and professional groups.

Psychosocial theory links increased aggressiveness to a person's quality of life. The worse his condition (did not sleep, hungry, dissatisfied with life), the more hostile he is.

Factors affecting the level of aggressiveness

According to social theory, aggression is a property of a person acquired during life. Moreover, it develops against the background of the following factors:

dysfunctional families (frequentquarrels between parents, the use of physical force on children, lack of parental attention);
daily display and propaganda of violence on TV and other media.

Psychologists also closely associate the factors of human aggression with such personal qualities:

dominant style of behavior;
increased anxiety;
tendency to detect hostile actions of other individuals;
increased or, conversely, low self-control;
lower self-esteem and frequent infringement of self-esteem;
complete lack of potential, including creativity.

How to deal with an aggressor?

Aggression is an action usually aimed at destruction. Therefore, it is necessary to remember some basic rules of behavior with a negative individual:

If a person is in a strong psychological arousal, and the problem is minor, try to transfer the conversation to another topic, reschedule the discussion, that is, get away from the irritant conversation.
It will have a positive effect on mutual understanding if the parties to the conflict look at the problem from the outside, with an unbiased look.
You need to try to understand the aggressor. If the cause is within your control, take whatever steps you can to correct it.
Sometimes it's good to show sympathy and understanding to the aggressor.
It also helps to agree with him on those points where he is really right.

Determine what type it belongs toaggressor

Specific methods of counteracting hostility depend directly on the type of personality of the aggressor:

Type "Tank". Very rude and direct people who, in a conflict situation, cut right through. If the issue is not very important, it is better to give in or adapt, let the aggressor blow off steam. You can’t question his rightness, your own opinion should be expressed without emotions, because calmness usually suppresses the rage of such a person.
Type "Bomb". These subjects are not inherently evil, but can flare up like children. In the event of an outbreak of hostility, it is necessary to let the emotions of such a person come out, calm him down and continue to communicate normally, since this does not happen out of evil and often against the will of the aggressor himself.
Sniper type. Due to the lack of actual power, it creates conflicts through intrigues. It is important to show the culprit evidence of his behind-the-scenes games and then look for a solution to this issue.
Type "Shout". These people criticize everything in the world, from real problems to imaginary ones. They want to be heard. When contacting such a plan, the aggressor must be allowed to pour out his soul, agree with his opinion and try to move the conversation in a different direction. When returning to this topic, his attention should be switched from the problem to the way to solve it.
Type "Penknife". Such people are often ready to help, inferior in many matters. However, this happens only in words, but in practice the opposite is true. When communicating with them, you must insist on the importance for you of the truth on their part.

How to get rid of discomfort after communication?

In today's world, people have a fairly high level of aggression. This implies the need for a correct response to other people's attacks, as well as control of one's own psycho-emotional state.

At the moment of a hostile reaction, you need to take a deep breath in and out, count to ten, which will allow you to abstract from a momentary outburst of emotions and rationally look at the situation. It is also useful to tell the opponent about your negative feelings. If all this does not help, you can throw out excess anger with the help of one of the following activities:

sport, yoga or outdoor activities;
picnic in nature;
rest in a karaoke bar or at a disco;
general cleaning (even with a rearrangement) in the house;
writing all the negative on paper and then destroying it (you need to tear it or burn it);
you can beat dishes or just a pillow (this option is much cheaper);
conversation with the closest and, most importantly, understanding people;
crying also gives a tangible emotional release;
after all, you can just do what you love, it will certainly cheer you up.

In more severe cases, a person cannot cope with negative emotions on his own. Then you need to contact a psychotherapist or psychologist. The specialist will help to recognize the causes of this condition, define aggression in each case, and also find individualmethods for solving this issue.

Reasons for child aggression

A very important aspect that cannot be ignored is teenage aggression. It is very important for parents to figure out what caused this behavior, because this will make it possible to further correct the child's reactions. Children's hostility has causes similar to those of adults, but it also has some peculiarities. The main ones belong to:

desire to get something;
desire to dominate;
getting the attention of other kids;
self-affirmation;
defensive reaction;
gaining a sense of superiority at the expense of humiliating others;
revenge.

Aggressive behavior of teenagers in half of the cases is the result of miscalculations in education, insufficient or excessive influence, unwillingness to understand the child or a banal lack of time. This character is formed with an authoritarian type of parental influence, as well as in dysfunctional families.

Aggression in adolescents also occurs in the presence of a number of psychological factors:

low intelligence and communication skills;
primitivism of game activity;
poor self-control skills;
peer problems;
low self-esteem.

Aggression left to its own devices on the part of a child in the future can develop into open conflicts and even antisocial behavior in adulthood. Child psychology distinguishes almost the same types of hostility as an adult. Therefore morelet us dwell in detail on the issues of dealing with it, which has some differences from cases with adults.

How to deal with aggression in a child?

The most important rule in education is to follow a personal example. The child will never respond to the demands of the parents, which are at odds with their own actions.

The reaction to aggression should not be momentary and cruel. The child will take out his anger on others, hiding his real emotions from his parents. But there should be no connivance either, as children are very good at sensing parental insecurity.

Aggressive behavior of adolescents requires timely prevention, namely the systematic and controlled formation of trusting and friendly relationships. Strength and weakness on the part of the parent will only aggravate the situation, only sincerity and trust will really help.

Specific steps to deal with aggression in a child include the following: