Psychology and Ways of Expressing Aggression - Essay Example

1. Aggression is generally defined as” behavior aimed at causing harm or pain, psychological harm, or personal distraction “. There are many ways of expressing aggression, the most common of which is physical. Physical aggression has various forms such as hitting, punching, stabbing, mauling, strangling that has grave consequences . Another form is verbal aggression which is manifested by insults, gossips, refusal to speak, and slander. More often than not, verbal aggression progresses into physical aggression. Aggression can be very direct, which is often exhibited by animals defending their territory or protecting their offspring. Humans also commit direct aggression in situations where circumstances are dangerous , thus, aggression can be used as a defense. Most common manifestation of aggression employed by humans are passive ones such as indifference, silence, ignoring, refusal to perform a task, or even spreading malicious gossip. Usually, people who express indirect aggression play subordinate roles such as children, lower rank employees, or someone who does not have any authority whether in a formal or informal setting. For example, young people who resent parental authority become indifferent and ignore their parents when communicating with them. They often stay inside their rooms and pretend to be busy or sleeping. However, once confronted, these young people talk back and say insulting words to their parents. In a societal level, groups who disapprove of a certain person or another group usually spread malicious rumors that damage character or reputation. Thus, the gossip becomes a tool of social control. Consequently, verbal confrontations result to direct, physical aggression. 2. There are many reasons why a person behaves aggressively. Manifestation of aggression is commonly seen in young people. One of the common factor as explained in a study is that a group of people need to perform roles that are expected of them by the society. The research argued that : “many youthful cultures and subcultures extend substantial respect to the bad ass sort of person who transcends the pressure to conform” ( Katz cited in Baumeister, 1999 ). A concrete example of this would be street gangs who try to make an impression to the community or society. Pressure from gang members to prove one’s loyalty can result to displaying aggression in public. As a group, gang members gain reputation by showing direct verbal aggression in the form of insult that would provoke other groups to retaliate. Consequently, the aggression becomes more physical and leads to violent behavior resulting to injury or even death. Another form of direct physical aggression exhibited by gangsters is the act of hazing. Hazing is considered an “initiation” which has symbolic meaning for some groups. A member who survives hazing is proud since he has proven that he is determined to identify himself with a group. Unfortunately, hazing leads to tragic consequences such as impairment, disability, or even death. Ironically, when one examines the reason why initiates would risk undergoing this dangerous ritual is simply because they need to join a notorious group. Indeed, peer pressure can make young people not only behave aggressively, but also subject themselves to direct physical aggression. 3. As early as 1950’s and 1960’s, the general public was already concerned about the aggression shown on national television. This prompted the government to fund extensive scientific research of a study called the National Television Violence Study which revealed empirical evidence about the disturbing effects of violence on children. The conclusion was “ exposure to violent portrayals poses a risk of harmful effects on children” ( Kunkel, 2007 ). Psychologists and other professionals classified the effects into three categories : 1) Children’s learning of aggressive attitudes and behaviors 2) Desensitization ( increased callousness towards victims of violence ) 3) Increased or exaggerated fear of being victimized by violence. The first category establishes the fact that fifty-percent of national television shows illustrates violence with around 25 % of the shows demonstrating the use of a gun. Second, the study also argued that whenever violence is shown on television, it usually becomes “sanitized” or “glamorized”. Shows that are “sanitized” do not portray the real harm or the intensity caused by the violent behavior, thus, children are not conscious of the real effects of violence. This further leads to desensitization of viewers; thus, violence is just considered as a normal occurrence in society. This reduces the ability of a child to show empathy or compassion to a victim of violence. Ironically, incidents of shooting people inside schools shock the public and raise an outcry but the sight of haplessly shooting people in television shows are even applauded. This alone suggests that society is altogether desensitized and it only reacts when people really die. 4. Both men and women are capable of showing behavior. However, the degree of aggression is greater in men than in women. Certain circumstances tone down aggressive behavior such as provocation. The constant gender difference in aggression explains that men are more prone to show aggressive behavior since they have been programmed to protect territory, while women usually strive for nurture and compromise so that peace is achieved. Moreover, men can handle physical aggression due to their biological make-up. Also, the gender difference shows that they both express aggression in a different manner. For example, men resort to direct and physical aggression while women spread gossips or rumors as a form of aggression. Surprisingly, there has been significant studies that report the same level of aggression that male and female exhibit: Only research on marital or intimate aggression has found comparable rates of physical aggression for men and women (Strauss & Gelles, 1990) with a slightly higher frequency of aggression by women, but a higher rate of injury, violent crime, and homicide by men toward their spouses (cited in Graham ,2009 p.3) Ironically, this provides evidence that level of aggression is heightened when the two people involved have a relationship. Regardless if aggression is exhibited within a relationship or towards strangers, psychologists agree that men and women’s experiences in life determine the degree of aggression one can demonstrate. More importantly, women play “sweet roles “ in a relationship as defined by society. Therefore, aggressive women are not viewed positively by the society. Thus, the gender difference has an influence in the expression of aggression. 5. In order to derive the right data for a study, good sampling must always be considered. There are some pitfalls when doing random sampling, for one, there is a possibility of missing out a certain group.The feasible solution would be to make groups among the population and have a sample from each group. The sample is a representative of the group.Thus, there is no need to consider all the answers of the 430 children in the study. A more efficient way would be getting a sample of 30 members from the American group and another 30 representatives from the British group. A more definitive method of sampling can be used such as stratified sampling. The children can be grouped by age and pick a certain age group where the response would come from. One important thing that this method can accomplish is that it can be used in selecing more of one group than another.The case of the British and American children survey fits this method since the result of the survey was quite strange. There are many problems even at the beginning since the sample was simply a group of students sinc they didnt start well. Another problem was the method on how the actual response were collected. The difference in time or feedback time could have affected the research. Aside from using a stratified sampling method for harnessing data, the procedure must also be consistent If these practice persists, then the abundance of Type II errrors would increase thereby conclusins would not be valid. WORKS CITED Baumeister, Roy F.(1999) To societal roles, norms and ideals : Street violence often revolves around competing claims to hold a special elite identity. The self in social psychology. Psychology Press, 1999.ISBN 086377573X, 9780863775734 Graham, Kathryn ( 2009 ) The two worlds of aggression for men and women - Statistical Data Included. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. FindArticles.com. 04 Apr, 2009. Retrieved from http://find articles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/ is_2001_Nov/ ai_87080427 The Effects of Television Violence on Children. Testimony of Dr. Dale Kunkel. APA government Relations :Public Interest Policy. Retrieved from http://www.apa. org/ppo/pi/dale_kunkel.html Read More