An eight-page paper discussing the cause of aggressiveness in humans - nature or nurture

Authors Avatar

Summary: An eight-page paper discussing the cause of aggressiveness in humans – nature or nurture.

“AGGRESSIVENESS AND VIOLENCE IN HUMANS IS DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY ARE BROUGHT UP AND

THEIR INNATE NATURE PLAYS A SECONDARY ROLE

IN DECIDING THEIR PERSONALITY”

Table of Contents

Abstract

Statement of Study

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Defining Aggressiveness

Purpose of the Study

Importance of the Study

Rationale of the Study

Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

The Nurture Theory

Frustration – Aggression Hypothesis

Social Learning Theory

Self-hatred and Understanding

Aggression due to Mental Processes in Social Interactions – Prejudice, Pride, Powerlessness and Boredom

Anger Generating Fantasies

Child Rearing Practices

The Nature Theory

Freudian Theories

Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH

Research Methods

Case Study

Chapter 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Analysis

Conclusion

Abstract

Aggression is a common behavior in humans. It is not necessary to regard aggressiveness in a person as a bad quality for it has been found to be necessary in animals and is a part of nature. The more aggressive animal in a species is generally more successful, powerful and gains control over food, territory and mates. Aggression is also a means of maintaining social order. Aggressiveness in this case becomes a necessity for Darwin’s survival of the fittest.

In the highly developed human, there is a negative form of aggressiveness called as malignant aggression where man causes harm or injury to another for the sole purpose of sadistic pleasure or revenge. These acts are generally premeditated or planned and it is this form of aggressiveness that should be discouraged in children. This form of aggressiveness is more often than not due to nurture and not nature. It results from negative emotions like frustration, hatred, prejudice, and fear or from depression or mental imbalance.

Children are exposed to violence from a very early age thanks to television, news and cases of domestic violence at home and quarrels in the school. Children have been found to learn from these experiences and behave in an aggressive manner because of this sort of exposure. But it has been found that the aggressiveness is an innate trait and is as much biological and genetical as it is environmental. Children who are aggressive and violent have been found to have parents and relatives who are violent and aggressive. There are two ways of looking at this. The child could be aggressive by nature as the gene of aggressiveness is prevalent in the family or the child can be violent by nurture as he sees violence on a daily basis and believes it to be a part of life. But the fact remains that a child, genes or otherwise, would not be prone to violent behavior unless he was brought up in a violent environment.

Statement of Study

Aggression can be useful in some cases but when it becomes violent can be destructive. While many biologists claim that the genes precondition aggressive behavior in a person, psychiatrists and sociologists believe that man’s behavior is a reflection and result of the environment and society that he is brought up in. Various studies and observations prove that man’s aggression is neither solely because of nature or solely because of nurture. It is because of a combination of the two. Both heredity and environment are responsible for man’s intricate personality, including the areas of violence and aggression but environment has more influence on the person and the environment and method of bringing up the child can help control and discourage the aggressiveness in the child.

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

The news everyday is full of reports about rape, murders, wars and other forms of violence. But that is at a larger scale. Even in day to day life we come across acts of violence and aggression. Children’s fights among themselves, couples’ fights and arguments at the work place are all common happenings.

Each year in the United States alone, over 5 million children are directly exposed to violence of some sort or the other whether it is domestic violence, physical abuse or movies on television.

Defining Aggressiveness

It is necessary to first understand what we mean by aggression and how it is similar to violence and yet different.

Aggression is a desire or intent to hurt or harm someone, not necessarily physically, and follow it up with an action with intent to harm that person. It is a noxious stimulus, which attempts to show authority, superiority and make a stand. It can be verbal, such as, insults, threats, accusations or sarcasm or physical in nature such as punishment, restrictions or physical abuse.

There are two main types of aggression – Affective aggression and Instrumental aggression. Affective aggression is simply anger and its goal is to injure and harm. Instrumental aggression is self – protection and defense and is seen in situations such as wars or by a victim against the perpetrator. Most violent behavior is a defensive response to perceived aggression. It is a reaction to an expected action.

Benign aggression is another name for instrumental aggression while the term malignant aggression is used to describe aggression whose aim is to hurt other for sadistic pleasure. Malignant aggression is a form of affective aggression.

Aggression is also a means of maintaining social order among many species. It is present in many animals, especially mammals, with animals competing with each other for food, dwelling spaces and mates. The stronger and more aggressive competitor is generally successful. Aggression therefore can be self – protective and useful but can also be destructive and violent. However, if aggression is an effective method among animals in maintaining social order and self – defense, reckless violence appears to be a poor survival mechanism. 

Violence is heterogeneous and is generally impulsive, reactive or defensive and carried out in a moment of anger or fear. At other times it can be predatory and remorseless aggression. Violent behaviors can also be related to intoxication from alcohol or due to neuropsychiatric conditions. Violent acts may be the result of personal or cultural belief systems (political or religious terrorism) and can be directed against a specific victim (domestic violence) or a specific group (racism and bigotry against African  - Americans, Jews or Homosexuals). Violence can also be sexualized as in the case of rape.

It is evident that the emotion of aggression does not exist alone. It is generally combined with other negative emotions such as fear, anger, and depression and in cases of planned violence, even prejudice and hatred.

Purpose of the Study

Humans exhibit aggressiveness on a regular basis. The question to be asked is why are some people more aggressive than others are and what are the factors responsible for this aggressiveness. Are violent children conceived or created? Do genes and chemical metabolic activities of the body control aggressiveness or is aggressiveness a result of maternal neglect, physical abuse, experiencing domestic violence (father beating mother), peer pressure and viewing of violence on television?

It is important to remember that not all forms of violence are the same, as seen earlier. A certain amount of aggressiveness is present in all animals showing that it is an important trait that is present in nature. At the same time premeditated violence and unprovoked aggression which is commonly seen in present times is not natural and is a result of the aggressor’s psychological state and experiences in society. This study attempts to find out the main cause if not the only cause of aggressive behavior in humans.

Join now!

Importance of the Study

Aggressiveness is one of the most harmful and destructive of human behavioral traits. It is harmful not only to the aggressor but also to people around him and also the victim of this aggression. The best way to deal with aggression is to control it or better still not to cultivate such a trait. And to do this, understanding of why and how aggressive behavior in a person is stimulated must be understood. This study hopes to show the impact of biology and genetics on emotional and mental state of mind, whether it is aggressiveness ...

This is a preview of the whole essay