Aggression is a stable personality characteristic, in the presence of which a person is inclined to cause harm to objects around him. Aggression also manifests itself through the expression of negative emotions: anger, rage, anger, directed at external objects and objects. Not everyone understands why a person cannot restrain his rage, or why child abuse and family violence occur. The culprit is aggression, which is manifested by a stable characterological personality trait called aggressiveness.

Aggression manifests itself in different ways, it all depends on the degree of irritation of a person, his character traits and the situation. There are several manifestations of this behavior, which we will consider in detail.

All types are based on several motives of human behavior: aggression arises as a result of the desire to achieve one’s goal (and someone or something interferes with this), the need to psychologically unload, the need to assert oneself.

Reasons for this behavior

Aggression in a person does not develop immediately. There are theories that say that this character trait is inherent in all living beings. In some ways this is true. When a person has to defend himself from danger, he begins to behave aggressively.

But what is important here is the difference between a personality trait and aggression, as a defensive, unintentional action. But many scientists agree that from birth a person does not have aggression; he learns a model of such behavior over the course of his life, depending on the social situation around him.

There are several reasons for aggression:

Aggression in psychology is understood as a socio-psychological phenomenon and does not relate to mental pathologies. According to the results of the study, this behavior occurs subjectively in healthy people in the presence of psychological problems. For example, someone wants to take revenge, someone grew up in this and does not know other models of behavior, others are participants in some extremist movements, some are instilled with the cult of aggression as strength and courage.

Patients with mental illness do not always show aggression. There is evidence that only about 10% of people who cause mental or physical harm to others have mental illness. In other cases, such actions are dictated by psychosis, an exaggerated reaction to current events. In most cases, aggressive behavior is a desire to dominate.

Risk factors for aggression

Not every person will show aggression at the slightest traumatic situation. There are some features of the external situation and its internal perception that lead to damaging and destructive behavior.

Rather, a destructive model of behavior is formed in people prone to impulsiveness, who perceive everything very emotionally, as a result of which they develop a feeling of discomfort and dissatisfaction. When absent-minded, there is a possibility of emotional aggressiveness. If a person is thoughtful, he can make plans on how to show instrumental aggression.

Psychologists have proven that when a person’s basic values ​​are threatened, he becomes aggressive. Thus, it can be argued that any acutely unmet need in any person can lead to this destructive pattern of behavior.

Aggression often occurs when moral defense against stress is weak. With an increased level of anxiety, the likelihood of aggression is also high. An excess of negative emotions in early childhood leads to such patterns. Trying to free himself from the authoritarianism of significant people (parents, leaders of small groups of which the individual is a member), the child has only one choice - to behave aggressively. Success after such behavior consolidates in his mind as a positive moment, the skill of self-affirmation through aggression is formed.

The reasons for the desire to cause moral or physical harm to another, or to oneself, may be irritation of the nerve centers located in the area of ​​the diencephalon.

How to see the manifestation of aggressive behavior?

Some scientists divide aggression into benign and malignant. Benign is a manifestation of courage, perseverance, and ambition. In general, in order to achieve good results in work and career, manifestations of such aggression are even encouraged. But unconstructive, malignant aggressiveness represents a conscious intent to cause harm. This can be seen through the manifestation of such traits as rudeness, cruelty, and violence. Passions, negative emotions and feelings rage within a person.

The manifestations of aggression in men and women are slightly different. Men are characterized by a bright emotional outburst with a physical impact on an object, not necessarily the same one that caused the reaction. This is hitting the table, hitting the wall, waving your arms, stomping. In women, aggression manifests itself through discontent and periodic complaints about life. In this state, women are characterized by constant “nagling” of their husband, gossip, and any unfounded conclusions that carry negative consequences.

Often a person does not realize that he is showing aggression. In this case, we are talking about indirect aggression; he is prone to being picky towards an individual or family. After nagging and realizing that some needs are not met, he moves on to manifestations of verbal aggression: raising his voice, shouting, humiliation and insults, causing psychological harm to the interlocutor.

Ignoring is also considered a manifestation of aggression. Boycott has long been considered one of the effective tortures of a person, since he could not enter into dialogue and felt lonely, flawed and unwanted. Ignoring causes self-flagellation, guilt, that is, auto-aggression. A person punishes himself in this way.

Manifestation of childhood aggressiveness

The manifestation of aggressiveness is much more noticeable in children. They do not know how to hide their emotions. Of course, it is good that negative emotions do not accumulate, but in such a state it is difficult for little aggressors to control themselves. Aggression in such children manifests itself through biting, pushing, hitting, threats, and negative actions. We can say that in children there are two main types of manifestation of the desire to cause harm to someone: physical and verbal aggression.

In adolescents, aggressive behavior is expressed somewhat differently and the mechanisms of its occurrence change slightly. Adolescents are more prone to verbal aggression; when aggressive, physical actions are more cruel, cause more damage, and border on criminality.

The psychological reasons for the manifestation of this condition are the transition from childhood to adulthood, dissatisfaction with the need for acceptance and love, and the unknown of independent life. Physiological changes also occur, which at the hormonal level can cause aggression.

Treatment, correction of aggressive behavior

As you know, non-physiological reasons for the appearance of aggression lie in the environment, family situation, and upbringing. In the case of preclinical aggression, that is, arising for psychological reasons, methods of psychological correction of the behavior of children, parents and adults are used.

In cases of damage to brain structures, hypertrophied psychological aggression, and complex cases of emotional and volitional disorders, drug treatment is necessary.

Psychotherapy to overcome aggression

Aggression develops in a child at a young age, and this behavior, if uncorrected, accompanies a person into adulthood. It is important for parents to know in what cases their child will repress negative emotions, which will become the beginning of aggressive behavior:

Depending on the listed factors, psychotherapeutic methods for correcting aggression are used. A cognitive-behavioral, rational approach to problem solving is often used. The doctor helps a person, a child, learn constructive dialogue with interlocutors, socially adapted behavior, and discharging negative emotions in socially acceptable ways.

Aggression in its brightest manifestations is dangerous for society; the task of a psychotherapist is to teach a person to cope with emotions and work through internal problems - the reasons for such behavior. Psychoanalysis or its variations are also used for this. Methods for analyzing psychological trauma in childhood, removing blocks from the subconscious and developing psychological defense mechanisms help a person solve a problem that has been nurturing for years. Aggression does not disappear immediately after such an analysis. There should be someone nearby who will pay attention to unacceptable emotional reactions. He and the patient’s entourage must show their attention and love for the patient.

Drug treatment

Aggression provoked by physiological reasons can be treated with medications. Pharmacotherapy depends on the underlying clinical disease; especially long-term medications should only be prescribed by a doctor.

Benzodiazepines and antipsychotics are effective in treating manifestations of this behavior; second-generation antipsychotic drugs are also used. Some drugs are used sublingually, while others work more effectively through intramuscular or intravenous injections.

» Theories of Aggression

© S. Wittmann

Why do people behave aggressively? Theories of aggression

The question of why people behave aggressively in general cannot be answered unambiguously. To explain aggressive behavior, very often a number of reasons, conditions and motives are cited that are somehow connected. Anger or pent-up anger, childhood neglect, violent films and computer games, as well as peer pressure or the desire to be seen as "cool" can all obviously explain people's aggressive behavior.

There are also a variety of scientific methods and ways to explain aggressive behavior.

Drive theory: aggression is a “gut instinct”

The concept of “aggression” became popular thanks to psychoanalysis. Joy is the main feeling that governs human behavior. Equally important feelings or drives are the desire for pleasure (libido) and the instinct of destruction or death (destrudo). Suppressing the death instinct, just like suppressing libido, can lead to serious mental disorders. If a person cannot throw out aggression, then it turns against him. From the point of view of psychoanalysis, the forms of such suppressed aggressive (auto-aggressive) actions are diverse. Some people nervously bite their nails, others lose weight before their eyes. There are also cases of suicide. From this theory we can draw the following conclusions: if the instinct of destruction is inherent in a person, then, of course, it should not be suppressed. On the contrary, it must be manifested in its entirety. In addition, a person must learn to control this instinct. Otherwise, it may lead to self-destruction or destruction of the environment.

Instinct theory: aggression for self-preservation

Based on the theory of instincts, which is used in ethology and sociobiology, aggressive behavior can be explained as follows: a person behaves aggressively for the purpose of self-preservation and adaptation to what is happening. One of these theories includes, for example, the “steam boiler theory.” It was first formulated by Konrad Lorenz, who studied human behavior. In his opinion, a person always has free energy that accumulates in his body. If a certain amount of this energy has already accumulated, then it begins to be released in the form of aggression. Thus, for an “explosion to occur”, no special external reason is needed at all. Any trifle is enough to piss a person off. To calm down, many people play sports or chop wood. Of course, one may doubt that such activities actually serve as a release valve and prevent aggressive behavior that causes harm to society. On the contrary: there are many references to the fact that this method of self-soothing (giving vent to emotions) only stimulates aggressive behavior.

The theory of the cause-and-effect relationship between aggression and frustration: aggression as a result of frustration

Other explanations for aggressive behavior involve external factors that are considered secondary in the steam boiler theory. According to the theory of the cause-and-effect relationship between aggression and frustration, aggression is the result of a state of frustration. This condition occurs when a person cannot achieve his goal because he is prevented by a real or imagined obstacle. At the same time, the person feels weak, helpless and exhausted. However, aggression can occur not only as a result of frustration. And, conversely, not every state of frustration entails aggression. Most likely, it occurs if the inhibition of aggression is not strong enough, and there are additional factors that cause aggression.

Learning theory: aggression is learned

According to new research, aggressive behavior can be explained by the fact that a person learns to be aggressive as a child. Children believe that if they behave aggressively, they will be successful. They see that other children and their parents behave aggressively in some situations and because of this they achieve certain results. Therefore, if children think that this way they can achieve the desired results, then they begin to copy this behavior. Based on this theory, it can be argued that the media, especially television, have a great influence on the aggressive behavior of children. However, research shows that this opinion is largely erroneous. Although children tend to imitate certain characters from films, the decisive influence is still the “real people” who surround them and from whom they actually learn something.

Social Cognitive Theory: Aggression is the result of misinformation

Recently, more and more researchers have been working to improve the social-cognitive model that explains the causes of aggressive human behavior. Scientists believe that aggressive behavior is the result of distortions in information processing, which leads to a distorted perception of the situation. In pedagogical and therapeutic practice, the social-cognitive method of analyzing aggressive behavior is the most effective. Using this method, it is possible to specifically diagnose distortions and influence the necessary stimuli in accordance with the stage of human development.

The daily news report constantly frightens the average person with the number of acts of violence in all corners of the world. And everyday life is replete with quarrels, shouting and other manifestations of hostility.

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

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

What is aggression?

There are many approaches in the world to determining the cause, content and types of counteraction to such behavior. Thus, some psychologists believe that aggression is an innate human quality associated with instinctive impulses. Others correlate this concept with the need for an individual to achieve relief (frustration), while others perceive it as a manifestation of a person’s social learning, which arose on the basis of past experience.

Thus, this type of personality manifestation is intentional behavior that is destructive in nature and leads to physical or psychological harm and discomfort in 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, cool 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 must be that it is directed at another individual. That is, punching the wall and breaking dishes are not manifestations of hostile, but expressive behavior. But outbursts of uncontrollable negative emotions can subsequently be redirected to living beings.

Historical approaches

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

1. 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 disastrous for the victim and at the same time the norms of behavior are violated.
2. Depth psychological approach. The instinctive nature of aggression is affirmed. It is an integral innate feature of the behavior of any person.
3. Targeted approach. Explores hostile behavior in terms of its intended purpose. According to this direction, aggression is a tool of self-affirmation, evolution, adaptation and appropriation of vital resources and territories.
4. Effective approach. Focuses on the consequences of such behavior.
5. An intentional approach. Evaluates the motivations of the subject of hostility that prompted him to take such actions.
6. Emotional approach. Reveals the psycho-emotional aspect of the behavior and motivation of the aggressor.
7. A multidimensional approach includes an analysis of all factors of aggression with an in-depth study of the most significant, from the point of view of the individual author.

A large number of approaches to defining this psychological phenomenon do not provide an exhaustive definition. The concept of “aggression” is too broad and multifaceted. Types of aggression are very diverse. But it is still necessary to understand and classify them in order to better understand the causes and develop ways to combat 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 they often use its definition according to the method of American psychologists A. Bass and A. Darkie, which includes five components:

1. Physical aggression - physical force is used on another individual.
2. Indirect aggression - occurs in a hidden way (unkind banter, creating gossip) or is not directed at a specific person (gratuitous screaming, stomping, other manifestations of outbursts of rage).
3. Irritation is increased excitability to external stimuli, which often leads to a surge of negative emotions.
4. Verbal aggression is the manifestation of negative feelings through verbal reactions (squealing, screaming, swearing, threats, etc.).
5. Negativism is oppositional behavior that can manifest itself in both passive and active forms 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:

1. Rejection is a reaction that is based on the “go away” type and more crude forms.
2. Hostile remarks are formed according to the principle “your presence annoys me.”
3. Criticism is aggression directed not specifically at a person, but at his personal objects, work, clothes, etc.

Psychologists also identify other forms of hostility. So, according to H. Heckhausen, there is instrumental and hostile aggression. Hostility 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);
• obvious (open aggression) - latent (hidden);
• direct (directed directly to the object) - indirect (influence through other channels);
• ego-syntonic (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 immediate harm) - instrumental (hostility is only 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, avoidance of contact, self-harm, even suicide.

Who can aggression be directed at?

Attacks of aggression can be directed at:

• exclusively close people - only family members (or one member) are attacked, behavior with others is normal;
• people not from the family circle - teachers, classmates, doctors, etc.;
• oneself - both on one’s own body and personality, occurs in the form of refusal to eat, mutilation, nail biting, etc.;
• animals, insects, birds, etc.;
• inanimate physical objects - in the form of eating inedible objects;
• symbolic objects - passion for aggressive computer games, collecting weapons, etc.

Causes of aggressive behavior

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

Adherents of the biological theory are of the opinion that aggression is:

• innate human reaction associated with (attack is the best defense);
• behavior that arises as a result of the struggle for territory and resources (competition in the personal and professional spheres);
• hereditary property obtained together with the type of nervous system (unbalanced);
• a consequence of hormonal imbalances (excess testosterone or adrenaline);
• a consequence of use (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 contain few common genes. This explains 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 (not getting enough sleep, hungry, not satisfied with life), the more hostile he is.

Factors influencing the level of aggressiveness

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

• (frequent quarrels between parents, use of physical force on children, lack of parental attention);
• daily display and propaganda of violence on television and other media.

Psychologists also closely link factors of human aggression with the following personal qualities:

• dominant style of behavior;
• increased anxiety;
• tendency to detect hostility in the actions of other individuals;
• increased or, conversely, decreased self-control;
• decreased 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:

1. If a person is in strong psychological arousal, and the problem is minor, try to move the conversation to another topic, reschedule the discussion, that is, get away from the irritating conversation.
2. 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.
3. It is necessary to try to understand the aggressor. If the cause is up to you, take possible measures to eliminate it.
4. Sometimes it is helpful to show the aggressor empathy and understanding.
5. It also helps to agree with him in those points where he is actually right.

Determine what type the aggressor belongs to

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

1. Type "Tank". Very rude and direct people who go straight ahead in a conflict situation. If the issue is not very important, it is better to give in or adapt, to let the aggressor let off steam. You cannot question his rightness; you should express your opinion without emotion, because calm usually suppresses the rage of such a person.
2. Bomb type. These subjects are not evil by nature, but they can flare up like children. In the event of an outbreak of hostility, it is necessary to allow the emotions of such a person to come out, calm him down and communicate normally further, since this does not happen out of malice and often against the will of the aggressor himself.
3. Sniper type. Due to the lack of actual power, it creates conflicts through intrigue. It is important to present the culprit with evidence of his behind-the-scenes games and then look for a solution to this issue.
4. Horn type. These people criticize everything in the world, from real problems to imaginary ones. They want to be heard. When contacting such an aggressor, it is necessary to let him pour out his soul, agree with his opinion and try to move the conversation in a different direction. When returning to this topic, one should switch his attention from the problem to ways to solve it.
5. “Penknife” type. Such people are often ready to help and give in on many issues. However, this happens only in words, but in practice the opposite is true. When communicating with them, you need to insist on the importance for you of the truth on their part.

How to get rid of discomfort after communication?

In the modern world, people have a fairly high level of aggression. This implies the need to properly respond to other people’s attacks, as well as control one’s own psycho-emotional state.

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

• sports, yoga or active games in the fresh air;
• picnic in nature;
• relaxation in a karaoke bar or disco;
• general cleaning (you can even rearrange it) in the house;
• writing all the negative things on paper and then destroying it (you need to tear it up or burn it);
• you can break dishes or just a pillow (this option is much cheaper);
• conversation with the closest and, most importantly, understanding people;
• crying also provides tangible emotional release;
• in the end, you can just do what you love, it will undoubtedly lift your spirits.

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

Causes of childhood 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 correct the child’s reactions in the future. Children's hostility has similar causes to adults, but it also has some peculiarities. The main ones include:

• desire to get something;
• desire to dominate;
• attracting the attention of other children;
• self-affirmation;
• defensive reaction;
• gaining a sense of superiority by humiliating others;
• revenge.

Aggressive behavior of adolescents in half of the cases is the result of miscalculations in upbringing, insufficient or excessive influence, unwillingness to understand the child, or a simple lack of time. This character is formed under 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 level of intelligence and communication skills;
• primitivism of gaming activities;
• poor self-control skills;
• problems with peers;
• low self-esteem.

Left to chance, aggression on the part of a child can develop into open conflicts in the future, even in adulthood. Child psychology identifies almost the same types of hostility as adults. Therefore, we will dwell in more detail on the issues of combating it, which has some differences from cases with adults.

The child has?

The most important rule in education is following a personal example. A child will never respond to parents’ demands that are at odds with their own actions.

The reaction to aggression should not be immediate and cruel. The child will take his anger out on others, hiding his real emotions from his parents. But there should be no connivance, since children sense uncertainty on the part of their parents very well.

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 make the situation worse; only sincerity and trust will really help.

Specific steps to combat aggression in a child include the following:

1. Teach him self-control.
2. Develop skills to behave in conflict situations.
3. Teach your child to express negative emotions in an appropriate form.
4. Instill in him understanding and empathy for other people.

Aggression does not arise out of nowhere. Often it is interpersonal conflicts that are the cause of aggression. Provocation is the most common factor in outbreaks of aggression.

Aggression can arise even from the mere thought that another person has hostile intentions, regardless of whether there was a real reason for this or not.

Social causes of aggression

Among social reasons, one of the serious reasons for aggression are observers and instigators. Many people willingly obey when they are asked to publicly punish another person, even if the commands are given by persons who are not in authority. Bystanders have a significant influence on aggression if the aggressor thinks that his actions will be approved.

Carrying a weapon can manifest itself not only as a means of protection, but also as a stimulus to aggression.
The media and the demonstration of scenes of violence in the media also serve as a reason and a kind of “call” for violence.

External environment as a cause of aggression

High air temperatures increase the likelihood of irritation and aggressive behavior.

Other environmental influences on aggression include noise and crowding. In addition, in a polluted environment, such as excessive cigarette smoke or foul odors, aggressive reactions are also increased.

Personal qualities and innate tendency to aggression

Among the psychological characteristics that can provoke aggressive behavior are:

• fear of public disapproval;

• irritability;

• tendency to see hostility in others;

• tendency to feel shame rather than guilt in many situations.

Among people prone to aggression, there are often those who are committed to various prejudices, for example, racial prejudices.

Female and male aggression

There are some differences between men and women in the expression of aggression. Women view aggression more as a way to express anger and relieve stress due to the release of aggressive energy.

Men view aggression as a certain model of behavior that they resort to in order to obtain some kind of social or material reward.

Often aggression and irritability in women manifests itself during the menstrual cycle, the so-called premenstrual syndrome. Also, the cause of attacks of aggression in women can be hormonal changes in the body, during the period before and after childbirth, menopause, or taking hormonal medications.

Attacks of aggression in men can also be associated with changes in hormonal levels, for example, with an excess of the male hormone - testosterone, or during the period of male menopause - andropause.

In addition to hormonal causes of aggression in men and women, there are a number of psychological problems, including various addictions - alcoholism, drug addiction and nicotine addiction. It is known that regular use of harmful substances has a destructive effect on the human psyche.

Aggression(from the Latin “attack”) - active or passive behavior aimed at causing physical or moral harm to oneself, another person, an animal, as well as causing damage or destruction to an inanimate object. But the psychology of aggressive behavior is much more subtle than it might seem at first glance.

Aggression seems natural, because it is an indicator animal began in man. Z. Freud, in particular, explained the phenomenon of aggressive behavior by the unconscious attraction of each person to death and destruction. But people are not only biological, but also social beings who are intelligent, cultured and civilized.

Why is reason and will not enough to pacify the impulse of aggression in oneself or in another person? Why is it that the more humane a society is and the more the ideas of “world peace” are preached in it, the more money is spent on armaments and improving the army, instead of improving the education and healthcare systems?

It would be logical to assume that, being born and raised in a cultural society, a person must learn to restrain instinctive aggression and transfer it into a constructive direction. However, everything is completely vice versa! Most scientists agree that aggression- the result of social learning.

Born an innocent and initially peaceful being, the baby studies act aggressively while looking at parents and other people. Not a single person from birth knows offensive words, psychologically painful techniques, or actions that cause suffering to others. People learn all this.

It is impossible to protect a child from learning aggression, because it is everywhere, it is not difficult to see it, you don’t even need to leave the house, just turn on the TV. It is impossible to completely isolate a child from society; this would mean depriving him of his life.

With intelligent parents who set an example of moral behavior, the child can also behave aggressively. After all, even knowing how one should behave, it is easier to choose the path of aggression, even though it is more primitive.

Aggressive behavior, as well as its opposite - passive behavior, is easier to implement than assertive behavior (non-violent, presupposing respect for the other person and oneself), because aggression does not require the application of significant mental energy and time.

Motives for aggressive behavior

The child quickly understands that aggressive behavior allows you to get what you want more efficiently and quickly; aggression helps to manipulate people, makes them fear, respect, and obey. Thus, you can earn respect among your peers by always helping them in difficult times, or you can force yourself to be respected (and in fact, feared) by once having a successful fight with one of them.

And in adults, the motives for aggressive behavior mostly remain the same: goal achievement or satisfaction of needs in power, prestige, respect and the achievement of other benefits.

All motives for aggressive behavior can be divided into groups:

The motives for aggressive behavior are not always understood. For example, one interlocutor asks another too difficult a question, assuming that he may not hear the correct answer, but does not realize that this is humiliating him and does not admit his hidden hostility.

The problem of aggression in society

Unfortunately, if parents show aggression towards a child, and he begins to act also towards others, then he will use the same violent methods towards himself when he grows up.

When external parental control is transformed into internal self-control, the adults begin to say those orders, threats, insults that the child heard to himself, and later to his children. Breaking this “vicious circle” is very, very difficult.

Psychologists predict that with an increase in the number of families where physical or psychological violence is observed (and there are already many), aggression will transform from an immoral phenomenon into norm of behavior.

If they did not believe in a child, did not notice their abilities and talents, he will grow up to be an insecure adult, an unsuccessful person in life; if he was humiliated, an inferiority complex will appear; if he was punished using brute physical force, with a high degree of probability, he will learn self-humiliation and self-flagellation (and not only figuratively, but also in the literal sense of the word).

Auto aggression(aggression directed at oneself) is no less dangerous than that directed outward. TO forms auto-aggressions include:

• food addiction, morbid overeating or starvation,
• chemical dependence (drug addiction, substance abuse, alcoholism),
• victim behavior (behavior of a “victim”, tendency to become a victim),
• autistic behavior (withdrawal, isolation, self-restraint),
• fanaticism (commitment to ideas (religious, national, political, sports) taken to the extreme),
• extreme sports,
• self-harm (cuts, hits, burns, etc.),
• suicide.

Aggression as a personality quality

The habit of acting aggressively forms a special quality in a person – aggressiveness. Aggression and aggressiveness are not the same thing. Aggression is an action aggressiveness is a personality quality. Anyone can behave unknowingly aggressively, but only an aggressive person is capable of intentionally causing harm or pain to another person.

Aggressiveness- this is a readiness for aggression, as well as a tendency to perceive and interpret the actions of other people as hostile. The prerequisites for the development of aggressiveness lie in personality characteristics, attitudes, principles, worldview, but external reasons can also cause it.

It has been proven that situational factors independent of the individual such as noise, heat, stress, polluted air or lack of it increase the level of aggression. Even the kindest person in a stuffy transport crowded with people will feel discomfort, irritation, anger, rage.

The psychology of aggressive behavior is such that if aggressive behavior pattern at least once it turns out to be effective (for example, a person achieved his goal by using physical force), it will gain a foothold.

Aggressive people are usually punished in various ways. A kid who hits another child will be put in a corner on buckwheat, and an adult criminal who kills a person will be imprisoned.

All methods of punishment are aimed at personality change, re-education, correction, but they are rarely effective. A person who has learned to respond blow to blow will not relearn how to act differently, no matter how long the sentence he is given, unless internal work is carried out on himself.

It is not easy to come to your senses on your own, without outside help and support. It is difficult to notice your shortcomings, especially if they help you survive, are useful and are habitual.

However, aggressive people need psychological correction of personality and behavior.

As a rule, all aggressors need formation:

• adequate self-esteem,
• self confidence,
• mature outlook on life,
• new behavior patterns.

The roots of aggressive behavior can be very deep, and psychological correction alone may not be enough. In this case, you need to contact a psychotherapist. If aggressive behavior is due to the development of any mental illness, the help of a psychiatrist will be required.