Aggression: Hurting Others Heredity influences the neural system’s sensitivity to
Cyberbullying aggressive cues.
Bullying, harassing, or threatening someone using • A 3-year-old who exhibits little
electronic communication such as texting, online conscientiousness and self-control is more
social networks, or email. Cyberbullying is defined as vulnerable to substance abuse and arrest
intentional and repeated aggression via email, texts, by age 32 (Moffitt et al., 2011).
social networking sites, and other electronic media • A child who is nonaggressive at age 8 will
(Katzer et al., 2009). likely still be nonaggressive at age 48
What is Aggression? (Huesmann et al., 2003).
Terms • Identical twins are more likely than fraternal
• Aggression – Physical or verbal behavior twins to agree on whether they have “a
intended to hurt someone. violent temper” or have gotten into fights
• Physical Aggression – Hurting someone (Rowe et al., 1999; Rushton et al., 1986).
else’s body. • Of convicted criminals who are twins, fully
• Social Aggression – Hurting someone else’s half of their identical twins (but only one in
feelings or threatening their relationships. five fraternal twins) also have criminal records
Sometimes called relational aggression, it (Raine, 1993, 2008).
includes cyberbullying and some forms of in- Biochemical Influences
person bullying. • Alcohol – Experiments and police data
• Hostile Aggression – Aggression that indicate that alcohol unleashes
springs from anger; its goal is to injure. aggression when people are provoked
• Instrumental Aggression – Aggression that (Bushman, 1993; Taylor & Chermack, 1993;
aims to injure, but only as a means to some Testa, 2002).
other end. • Testosterone –
What are Some Theories of Aggression? o Testosterone levels are higher
Aggression as a Biological Phenomenon among prisoners convicted of
French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau violent crimes compared to those
(1712–1778) blamed society, not human nature, for convicted of nonviolent crimes
social evils. The English philosopher Thomas (Dabbs, 1992; Dabbs et al., 1995,
Hobbes (1588–1679) credited society for restraining 1997, 2001).
the human brute. o College students with higher levels
In the twentieth century, the “brutish” view—that of anger after being ostracized had
aggressive drive is inborn and inevitable—was higher levels of testosterone in their
argued by Sigmund Freud, the founder of saliva (Peterson & Harmon-Jones,
psychoanalysis, and Konrad Lorenz, an animal 2012).
behavior expert. o Handling a gun increases
Instinctive Behavior and Evolutionary testosterone, making individuals
Psychology more aggressive (Klinesmith et al.,
The idea that aggression is an instinct collapsed as 2006).
the list of supposed human instincts grew to include Poor Diet
nearly every conceivable human behavior. • Research found that men and women who
• Aggression often occurs when males consumed more trans fats (hydrogenated
compete with other males. oils) were more aggressive (Golomb et al.,
• Men may also become aggressive when 2012).
their social status is challenged. Biology-Behavior Interaction
• “Violence committed against the right The traffic between biology and behavior flows
people at the right time was a ticket to both ways.
social success.” • Higher testosterone may cause dominant
Genetic Influences and aggressive behavior, but aggressive
Cyberbullying aggressive cues.
Bullying, harassing, or threatening someone using • A 3-year-old who exhibits little
electronic communication such as texting, online conscientiousness and self-control is more
social networks, or email. Cyberbullying is defined as vulnerable to substance abuse and arrest
intentional and repeated aggression via email, texts, by age 32 (Moffitt et al., 2011).
social networking sites, and other electronic media • A child who is nonaggressive at age 8 will
(Katzer et al., 2009). likely still be nonaggressive at age 48
What is Aggression? (Huesmann et al., 2003).
Terms • Identical twins are more likely than fraternal
• Aggression – Physical or verbal behavior twins to agree on whether they have “a
intended to hurt someone. violent temper” or have gotten into fights
• Physical Aggression – Hurting someone (Rowe et al., 1999; Rushton et al., 1986).
else’s body. • Of convicted criminals who are twins, fully
• Social Aggression – Hurting someone else’s half of their identical twins (but only one in
feelings or threatening their relationships. five fraternal twins) also have criminal records
Sometimes called relational aggression, it (Raine, 1993, 2008).
includes cyberbullying and some forms of in- Biochemical Influences
person bullying. • Alcohol – Experiments and police data
• Hostile Aggression – Aggression that indicate that alcohol unleashes
springs from anger; its goal is to injure. aggression when people are provoked
• Instrumental Aggression – Aggression that (Bushman, 1993; Taylor & Chermack, 1993;
aims to injure, but only as a means to some Testa, 2002).
other end. • Testosterone –
What are Some Theories of Aggression? o Testosterone levels are higher
Aggression as a Biological Phenomenon among prisoners convicted of
French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau violent crimes compared to those
(1712–1778) blamed society, not human nature, for convicted of nonviolent crimes
social evils. The English philosopher Thomas (Dabbs, 1992; Dabbs et al., 1995,
Hobbes (1588–1679) credited society for restraining 1997, 2001).
the human brute. o College students with higher levels
In the twentieth century, the “brutish” view—that of anger after being ostracized had
aggressive drive is inborn and inevitable—was higher levels of testosterone in their
argued by Sigmund Freud, the founder of saliva (Peterson & Harmon-Jones,
psychoanalysis, and Konrad Lorenz, an animal 2012).
behavior expert. o Handling a gun increases
Instinctive Behavior and Evolutionary testosterone, making individuals
Psychology more aggressive (Klinesmith et al.,
The idea that aggression is an instinct collapsed as 2006).
the list of supposed human instincts grew to include Poor Diet
nearly every conceivable human behavior. • Research found that men and women who
• Aggression often occurs when males consumed more trans fats (hydrogenated
compete with other males. oils) were more aggressive (Golomb et al.,
• Men may also become aggressive when 2012).
their social status is challenged. Biology-Behavior Interaction
• “Violence committed against the right The traffic between biology and behavior flows
people at the right time was a ticket to both ways.
social success.” • Higher testosterone may cause dominant
Genetic Influences and aggressive behavior, but aggressive
