What factors can lead a person to behave aggressively? Where
can intervention be made to reduce aggressive behaviour?
Examine the key factors that influence aggressive behavior.
INTRODUCTION:
Human aggression is any behaviour directed toward another individual that is
carried out with the immediate intent to cause harm. In addition, the perpetrator
must believe that the behaviour will harm the target, and that the target is
motivated to avoid the behaviour (Bushman & Anderson 2001). This essay will
describe and evaluate how personal and situational factors influence aggressive
behaviours. Influence in this essay will be interpreted as predict and show of
direction. Both direct and indirect forms of aggression will be analyzed.
MAIN 1:
Person factors include all the characteristics a person brings to the situation,
such as personality traits, attitudes, and childhood history (Anderson & Bush,
2002). Such factors influence a person’s aggressive behaviours in a substantial
way.
Certain personality traits predispose individuals to high levels of aggression.
Jones, Miller and Lynam (2011) studied the relationship between personality
and antisocial behaviour (ASB) and aggression. Using the five-factor model of
personality, they aimed to test presence of these traits in individuals who
display ASB through a meta-analytic review. Their results showed that A and
C had significant negative effects for ASB and aggression. E and O had
negative effects for aggression but not ASB whilst N displayed a small positive
relation with both ASB and aggression. Because this was a meta-analysis the
type I error (increase of false positive results) could have been increased due to
publication bias. But comparable results were obtained by Bartlett and
Anderson (2012), who tested the relations between the Big 5 personality traits
and aggressive behaviour. Overall, results showed that the O and A were both
directly and indirectly negatively related to physical aggression. N was both
directly and indirectly positively related to physical aggression, but not to
violent behaviour. However, their results derived from correlational data and
therefore the results and the traits could have had bi-directional relations.
Gender is another factors that affect aggression. There is general consensus that
males are more violent than females. Fox and Fridel (2017) employ a national
homicide database (the FBI's SHR) from 1976 through 2015 to examine gender
can intervention be made to reduce aggressive behaviour?
Examine the key factors that influence aggressive behavior.
INTRODUCTION:
Human aggression is any behaviour directed toward another individual that is
carried out with the immediate intent to cause harm. In addition, the perpetrator
must believe that the behaviour will harm the target, and that the target is
motivated to avoid the behaviour (Bushman & Anderson 2001). This essay will
describe and evaluate how personal and situational factors influence aggressive
behaviours. Influence in this essay will be interpreted as predict and show of
direction. Both direct and indirect forms of aggression will be analyzed.
MAIN 1:
Person factors include all the characteristics a person brings to the situation,
such as personality traits, attitudes, and childhood history (Anderson & Bush,
2002). Such factors influence a person’s aggressive behaviours in a substantial
way.
Certain personality traits predispose individuals to high levels of aggression.
Jones, Miller and Lynam (2011) studied the relationship between personality
and antisocial behaviour (ASB) and aggression. Using the five-factor model of
personality, they aimed to test presence of these traits in individuals who
display ASB through a meta-analytic review. Their results showed that A and
C had significant negative effects for ASB and aggression. E and O had
negative effects for aggression but not ASB whilst N displayed a small positive
relation with both ASB and aggression. Because this was a meta-analysis the
type I error (increase of false positive results) could have been increased due to
publication bias. But comparable results were obtained by Bartlett and
Anderson (2012), who tested the relations between the Big 5 personality traits
and aggressive behaviour. Overall, results showed that the O and A were both
directly and indirectly negatively related to physical aggression. N was both
directly and indirectly positively related to physical aggression, but not to
violent behaviour. However, their results derived from correlational data and
therefore the results and the traits could have had bi-directional relations.
Gender is another factors that affect aggression. There is general consensus that
males are more violent than females. Fox and Fridel (2017) employ a national
homicide database (the FBI's SHR) from 1976 through 2015 to examine gender
