Motivation and emotion/Book/2011/Aggression

Aggression: What is the motivational role of aggression and how can it be effectively managed?

This page is part of the Motivation and emotion book. See also: Guidelines.

Completion status: this resource is ~25% complete.

[link here Multimedia presentation (5 min)]

Introduction

Where has the reader encountered aggression?

• Within him or herself?
• Within others?
  • Friends?
  • Family?
  • In a stranger?

A self-test

---

1 Statement I

	An aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response

2 Statement II

	An aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response

3 Statement III

	An aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response
	Non-aggressive response

---

Why was this chapter written, and why read it?

• To explain or understand aggression
• To to describe how to or to effectively manage aggression
  • The perils of unchecked aggression!

What does one mean by management of aggression

• Management strategies summary

|}

Definition Agression Definition Levels (or perhaps types) of aggression: Violent aggression Verbal aggression Passive aggression Agressive attitude - 'go-getter'? Differences Individual differences Differences in social and cultural understandings and perspectives on aggression Origins From whence does aggression emerge within the individual at any given time? Immediate biological processes Immediate social and environmental processes From whence does aggression come in a more theoretical sense? To understand the theories surrounding this is to understand the possible explanations of the motivational role of aggression

Understanding from whence aggression comes and its purpose Justify explanation Overview Biological Explanations Genes Description Summary Brain structures Brain structure Role Frontal Cortex Amygdala/limbic system Hormones Hormone Role Arginine vasopressin Cortistatin Dehydroepiandrosterone Dopamine Serotonin Testosterone Neurotransmitters Neurotrans. Role Vasopressin Chemical influences Chemical. Role Alcohol Illicit drugs Medication Social and environmental causes Unusual circumstances (e.g. presented with 'justification') The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis Basis (i.e. scapegoating etc.) Problems Contradictions Empirical evidence? Social Learning Theory Script Theory News media Entertainment (music, TV, games etc.) General Aggression Model (GAM) - segue here using games Cultural factors Broad anthropological perspective Across/within cultures Time? 'Aggressionism theory' - the historical perspective (N.B. this may be a waste of space - other page or drop?) Evolutionary Understandings Link together the various biological elements Link together the various social and enviromental theories Is there an answer? What can be said with confidence? Evolutionary purpose Place in society? In past? Today? By culture Summary Purpose Use?

Management What might one/others exhibit or experience? What might one/others ultimately want? Is there a healthy experience or use of Aggression? How can this be achieved through management? In others In self