Theories of Aggressive Behavior

¶ … Aggression

There are a number of theories of aggression, which is a serious issue for a significant percentage of the population. While some people are much more aggressive than others, the reasons why they have become this way and what can be done to help them have less aggression toward themselves and others is very important to consider. There are Drive Theories, along with the General Aggression Model (GAM) and the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis that all have to be addressed in order to have a complete understanding of aggression and its many related issues. While it may be easier to simply tell the person to "get over it," that is really not the way to handle any kind of aggressive behavior. Depending on the particular, specific issue the person is facing, he or she may not be able to "get over" whatever the problem is.

The Drive Theories

The Drive Theories of Aggression suggest that external conditions are the cause of aggression (Anderson, Buckley, & Carnagey, 2008). These conditions create a motive that makes a person want to injure or harm other people. When that occurs, people look for ways in which they can do bodily or emotional harm to individuals around them. There are many reasons why a person would want to do this, and there are several different types of Drive Theories that are worthy of note. When external conditions become too much of an issue and a person tries to harm others, it is because he or she has too much pent-up, overt aggression that has to go somewhere (Feenstra, 2013). This can be why a person "snaps," because so much aggression has built up over time that the person finally simply cannot take it any longer. At that point, he or she loses control, and has to do something to make sure he or she is able to reduce the pain, anger, or frustration that is being felt. Lashing out at another person is one of the ways in which those problems can be reduced, so as to make the person who is struggling feel better.

The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

Among the most famous Drive Theories is the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis. This states that frustration does not always lead to aggression, and aggression does not always come about because of frustration, but that the two are strongly linked to one another, and often intertwined (Dill & Anderson, 1995). In short, many times when a person is aggressive, it is because he or she is frustrated to the point of not feeling as though it is possible to react in any other way. That frustration can become too much to handle, and lashing out at another person in an aggressive way can come from that. This does not mean that being aggressive as a response to frustration is a good idea, of course, or that there are not many other, healthier ways to react, but only that people can struggle with the idea of how they respond to others when they are already frustrated by people or events (Anderson, Buckley, & Carnagey, 2008). By doing this, they can take their frustrations out on people who do not deserve that taking place.

Whether a person reacts poorly to frustrations and becomes aggressive to others depends on a number of factors. His or her personality is one factor, of course, because everyone has different personality types (Anderson & Bushman, 2002). Some people are naturally much more prone to aggression and negative reactions than other people are, so they end up causing trouble for themselves and others with the way they fight and argue quickly. Other people are much calmer, and far less likely to cause a problem with other people they come into contact with. These people are generally considered to be "nicer," but it may simply be that they are not as aggressive. That can be good in situations when they become frustrated, but being aggressive is not always a bad thing. In some cases, such as defending oneself or protecting one's property, being aggressive is very important. People who are aggressive in those types of situations are far more likely to remain safe than their more passive counterparts (Dill & Anderson, 1995).

The General Aggression Model (GAM)

The General Aggression Model (GAM) is different in what it states are the causes of aggression in individuals. This model suggests that there is a wide range of inputs that can cause people to become aggressive, and that it is not possible to pin that aggression on one particular thing, such as frustration (Anderson, Buckley, & Carnagey, 2008). Affective stages, cognitions, and arousal are all affected by many variables, leading people to become aggressive in different situations for a multitude of reasons (Feenstra, 2013). Both personal and situational factors affect aggression, in other words, and those factors can and should all be considered. By choosing only one factor and stating that it is the cause for aggression, it can be very difficult to truly find a reason for the problem. When the mind is open to numerous ideas for the cause of aggression, it is much easier for the person who is exhibiting the aggressive behavior to find ways to become mentally and emotionally healthier (Dill & Anderson, 1995). That can lead to lower levels of aggression, but only if the trigger is removed or adjusted in order to ensure a calming effect.