Diseases associated with aggression. Causes of aggression in humans: what is the root of evil? Forms of aggressive behavior

Aggression: types, causes and methods of manifestation

22.04.2015

Snezhana Ivanova

Aggression is a special form of human behavior, which is characterized by the intention to cause harm or damage...

Unfortunately, the modern world not only does not contribute to making a person feel as comfortable and safe as possible, but also constantly provokes him to various negative reactions, such as aggression and open attack. But here it should be noted that man inherited aggressiveness, as well as the tendency to display violent and aggressive behavior, from his ancient ancestors, who could survive in difficult conditions only thanks to the forceful seizure of territories and resources.

With the advent of civilization, people have become less aggressive, but when a certain danger hangs over a person or his loved ones, as well as in a situation of loss of stability of his position (there is no confidence in economic and social well-being), the tendency to display aggression is gaining momentum again. Also, the level of aggressiveness can increase significantly during restructuring old system personal values and changing established stereotypes that regulated a person’s relationship with society.

Today all over the world there is both partial and complete destabilization of all spheres of life, and in this situation, many mass media further aggravate the situation by promoting violence in its various manifestations. Naturally, all this has a negative impact on the human psyche, generating tension, negativism, anxiety, anger, cruelty and violence, which necessarily finds its manifestation in the behavior and actions of people, forming in them a persistent personality characteristic - aggressiveness. But it is also worth remembering that a person’s aggression and aggressiveness should not be understood only as negative phenomena that have a destructive effect on his life. Quite often, a certain level of aggressiveness is necessary for every person, being an essential component of his instinct of self-preservation and protection (both physical and psychological).

Human aggressiveness: definition and essence

In order to understand what aggressiveness is, it is necessary to analyze the concepts of aggression and aggressive actions. In psychology, aggression (from the Latin aggredi - attack, attack) is understood as a specific form of destructive (destructive) human actions, which involve the use of force and the infliction of various types of harm on other people, as well as living beings or objects (this includes physical harm , and psychological). Such behavior is perceived by others as one that does not meet certain standards, norms and rules approved in a particular society.

It should be emphasized that various authors who were interested in the problem of aggressiveness from a scientific point of view, considered aggression both as behavior, and as a state, and as a property of the psyche, that is, this phenomenon was reflected in all forms of manifestation of the human psyche. For example, some argued that aggression should mean a specific event, and aggressive behavior should mean concrete actions that are done by man.

According to the views of the Austrian psychotherapist, the founder of the psychoanalytic direction in psychology Sigmund Freud (Freud) the tendency towards aggression and aggressive forms of behavior is the initial instinctive predisposition of every person as a representative of a specific biological species of living beings. Therefore, aggression can be considered a natural form of human response to stress, frustration of his needs (relevant in this moment), the manifestation of which is accompanied by a series of various negative emotional states such as hostility, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc. Aggression can be either a destructive form of a person’s response or a constructive one, when it plays the role of one of the ways to preserve the individual’s individuality, a condition for increasing self-esteem and self-affirmation, a means of achieving a goal and a way to relieve emotional stress.

Aggression is understood not only as behavioral and emotional manifestations, but is also analyzed from the point of view of the form of human social behavior. Aggression is any human behavior that is distinguished by the fact that it contains an obvious or hidden threat, as well as causing harm. Thus, this is a certain action directed by the aggressor at his victim (this can be either another person or any object) with the aim of committing violence against him or causing harm. If aggression can be considered as the intention to cause harm, then aggressive behavior is already aimed at committing an action. Among the main signs of this behavior are the following manifestations:

tendency to dominate others;
using other people according to your goals and desires;
desire for destruction;
causing damage to surrounding people, living beings and things;
tendency to show violence and cruelty.

So, aggression is a destructive form of behavior that is in confrontation with existing norms and rules in society, and also brings physical harm to a person or creates psychological discomfort for his personality. Moreover, aggression finds its manifestation both in real action and in fantasies or intentions. When aggressiveness occurs as a situational reaction of a person, it is customary to talk not about aggression, but about aggressive actions. If such reactions and actions are repeated periodically, this is already aggressive behavior.

As for aggressiveness, it is a special form of human behavior, which finds its manifestation in relation to other people and is characterized by the intention to cause harm or damage, as well as create various kinds of troubles for them. R. Nemov considers human aggressiveness to be a necessary response, unprovoked hostility, which is directed both towards individuals and the surrounding world. Also, aggressiveness in psychology is considered as a property and personality trait, which manifests itself in the following:

tendencies to attack other people and animals;
cause trouble to people around you and dominate them;
harm people, animals and the environment.

Most psychologists classify aggressiveness as a personality trait, but despite the fact that it ranks alongside cruelty, a person’s aggressiveness can safely be considered a more moral category, since not every action backed by aggression will be characterized as cruel. In principle, aggressiveness can be defined as a personality trait that manifests itself in the readiness to commit any aggressive actions within the framework of one’s interests and in order to achieve certain results.

The reasons for aggressiveness lie both in the characteristics of the individual himself and in the influence of the surrounding reality, therefore this property is often defined as a bipolar phenomenon - as a negative manifestation of a person and as central function personality, aimed at adapting to living conditions (this is described in more detail in the table).

Bipolarity of aggressiveness

Thus, in psychology, aggressiveness is considered both as a negative personality trait and as a necessary condition for self-development and realization of a person, because in order to achieve a goal and desired results it is necessary to demonstrate many different leadership qualities (perseverance, strength, tenacity and even pressure on others). That is why every manager simply needs a certain level of aggressiveness in his actions and actions, otherwise he simply will not be able to control and direct other people.

The main reasons for human aggressiveness

Aggressiveness of a person, as noted above, should be considered in two aspects - as an intention to harm a friend and as a necessity for the harmonious development of a person, a condition for his successful social adaptation and the ability to overcome obstacles along the way (that is, what contributes to the formation of persistence, initiative and leadership). Therefore, more and more often in the scientific psychological literature one can find data that indicates that in the absence of a certain level of aggressiveness in a person, it can lead to passivity and comfort in his behavior, and as a result, the erasure of his individuality and a significant decrease in social status and position in society .

It should be noted that, despite the fact that aggressiveness finds its manifestation in all people, in each individual it is characterized by a different level and has its own characteristics. The strength of aggressive reactions, as well as the direction and duration of aggressive actions depends on many various reasons. Therefore, the problem of aggressiveness should be analyzed from the point of view of the impact on a person of physiological, psychological, social and situational factors. But here it should be noted that whatever the physiological and psychological characteristics of a person, the main causes of aggressiveness are conflicts and conflict situations, be they short-term or long-term, conscious or unconscious, forced or specially created. Thus, any manifestation of aggressiveness is a consequence of a person’s dissatisfaction with the surrounding reality, his standard of living, other people, or himself.

Aggressiveness, like aggression, can have:

explicit or hidden nature, that is, a person can clearly demonstrate dissatisfaction and commit aggressive actions, or, conversely, do nothing (complete inaction with the aim of causing similar behavior harm);
manifest themselves physically (harm and injury) or verbally (verbal abuse and threats);
be direct and indirect, active and passive.

The most successful classification of human manifestations of aggressiveness was proposed by D. Dmitrova, which includes 5 forms of aggressive reactions (they are presented in the table).

Forms of aggressive reactions (according to D. Dmitrova)

Forms	Characteristic
Physical aggression (or attack)	the use of force (or other various aggressive influences) on another person or animal
Indirect aggression	aggressiveness is directed not at a direct object, which is the cause of the manifestation of aggressiveness, but at another person, an object, or at no one at all (often stomping his feet, hitting the table, wall and other surface with his fists, slamming (and trying to wish it louder) doors and etc.)
Verbal (verbal) aggression	manifestation of aggression through certain forms, naturally negative (screaming and quarrels), through verbal (speech) expression (use of threats, curses, obscene words and swearing)
A person's tendency to be irritable	a person is ready to show aggressiveness even with the least degree of excitement (hot temper, rudeness, harshness, etc.)
Negativism	such behavior is considered to be oppositional, which is often directed against elders both in age and in social status or position (against parents, management, superiors, etc.), that is, against any authority

Any manifestation of aggressiveness has a certain basis, that is, there are certain factors that contribute to such human reactions. So, the main reasons for aggressiveness are as follows:

hatred, which can take the form of moral convictions, aggressive assertion of one's own ideals and power, or become a psychopathology of a person's character;
situational factors;
personal characteristics (personal factors), type of temperament and character traits;
situational, social, socio-psychological and behavioral factors.

The listed causes of aggressiveness (or rather, the factors that contribute to its manifestation) are described in more detail in the table below.

Factors contributing to increased levels of aggressiveness

Factors	Components
Situational	climatic and temperature conditions, influence of culture and exposure to noise; pain, stressful situations, observing patterns of aggressive actions in the media; anticipating possible retaliation or aggression from others, large cluster people in one place, unpleasant odor or pressure (crowded conditions in transport, premises) and disturbance; exposure to alcohol and narcotic substances, sexual arousal, feeling of discomfort, etc.
Personal (or personal)	increased levels of hostility and anxiety; irritability and depression; , inadequate level of self-esteem and aspiration; instability emotional sphere and reactivity in the expression of emotions, as well as increased readiness to take risks; features of personality orientation (motivation, needs, goals and attitudes); low level of intellectual development; gender roles and sexual differences; antisocial tendencies, various addictions, difficulties in building social contacts, and a tendency to project aggressiveness
Social	the level of social, economic and political development in a particular state, as well as the relations existing in it; the impact of stress factors, the formation of a cult of violence and hostility in a given society, propaganda negative reactions in the media; deviant behavior significant people, low socio-economic status in society, dependence on various types social help, education system, influence of surrounding people (relatives and friends), etc.
Behavioral	Actions that create difficulties for other people, vandalism, aimlessness of life, lack of desire for self-development.

Manifestation of aggressiveness and conditions for its formation

The manifestation of aggressiveness depends on many different determinants, among which the following should be noted: features individual development person, his age, life experience, characteristics nervous system, as well as the impact of external social and physical conditions his existence. As for the peculiarities of the formation of a certain level of aggressiveness, a special role is given to the social environment and the characteristics of the individual’s education system.

A person’s aggressiveness and the ways in which it is expressed have significant differences depending on age, namely:

at an early age, children show aggression (if their needs and desires are not met) through crying, screaming, lack of smiling and refusal to contact their parents (cruelty towards other, younger children can also be observed);
manifestation of aggression in preschool age become more diverse (children no longer only cry and scream, but also use offensive and obscene words in their speech, bite, pinch, spit and fight), of course, all these reactions are mainly impulsive in nature;
younger schoolchildren often direct their aggressiveness towards weaker children (they choose a “victim”) and it manifests itself in the form of pressure, bullying, ridicule, fights and swearing;
Aggression in adolescence most often depends on the influence and evaluation of peers or older comrades, and here this form of behavior is a way of establishing oneself in a team and the desire to take one’s place in the reference group. It should be noted that it is at this age that the active formation of aggressiveness occurs not only as a situational manifestation, but also as a persistent characteristic of the individual;

The manifestation of aggressiveness upon reaching adulthood is characterized by great diversity, because it is influenced by many factors, including the individual characteristics of his personality that have already been formed in a person. Among individual psychological characteristics, which determine aggressiveness, it is necessary to highlight:

presence of fear of the possibility of non-recognition and disapproval from society;
increased irritability, suspicion and impulsiveness;
dependence on signs and conventions (especially ethnic, religious, linguistic);
the tendency to experience not a feeling of guilt and responsibility, but shame and resentment;
low ability to adapt and lack of skills to cope with frustrations.

A person’s aggressiveness is formed and transformed throughout a person’s life, therefore, its level, as well as the forms and methods of its manifestation, are influenced by various factors and conditions. Among the most significant conditions for the formation of aggressiveness, the following should be highlighted:

age, gender and individual characteristics;
examples aggressive behavior significant environment;
influence of mass media and mass media;
family factors (one-parent or incomplete family, domestic violence, isolation and low contact, lack of attention, conflict and inadequate parenting style).

As for the impact of the mass media on the formation of aggressiveness, this is the most controversial issue in psychology. The greatest contribution to the study of this problem was made by the American scientist Leonard Berkowitz, who identified factors in which demonstrated violence in the media can cause the formation of aggressiveness, namely:

if what is demonstrated is accepted by the person as a manifestation of aggressiveness and aggressiveness;
a person identifies with the aggressor hero;
there is an identification of oneself as an object of aggression with a victim who is shown in a film, program or talk show;
the events and scenes shown look most real and exciting, which has a significant impact on the emotional and cognitive spheres of a person (the observer becomes, as it were, a participant in what he sees on the screen).

Diagnosis of aggressiveness: descriptions of the most well-known techniques

Each person’s aggression has both its own level and various forms of manifestation, therefore, if there is a need for its correction, it is initially necessary to study all its features as accurately and deeply as possible. Here, of course, ordinary observation of human behavior is not enough, since a whole series of various techniques(diagnostics of aggressiveness), which will help not only to see the subjective picture of the manifestation of aggressiveness, but to objectively confirm the results obtained.

A person’s internal aggressiveness as a personality trait is quite difficult to study, so most diagnostic techniques are aimed at analyzing its external manifestations (aggressive actions and behavior). Among the various methods existing today aimed at studying human aggression, the diagnosis of aggressiveness is often carried out using the Bass-Darki questionnaire, the Assinger test, and the “Self-Assessment” technique. mental states personality" (G. Eysenck). The purpose and features of these techniques are described in the table.

Methods that allow you to study the characteristics of aggressiveness

Methodology	Purpose	Peculiarities
Questionnaire by A. Bass-A.Darki	studying the characteristics and types of aggression	has 8 scales that allow you to understand what type of aggression dominates (physical, verbal and indirect aggression, irritability, negativism, resentment, guilt complex or suspicion); It is also possible to diagnose aggressiveness (direct or motivational) and hostility, thanks to the calculation of their index
A. Assinger's test	Diagnosis of aggression in relationships	allows you to determine the level of specificity of a person in relationships with others (how easy it is to communicate and build contacts with others)
Self-assessment of mental states of the individual according to G. Eysenck	mental state research	the presence of 4 scales help describe the levels of manifestation various conditions human psyche (anxiety, frustration, aggression and rigidity)

It should be noted that no matter how universal a certain technique is, which allows one to study the causes of aggressiveness and the methods of its manifestation, it is impossible to draw any conclusions based on the results of it alone and make recommendations for its correction. Diagnosis of aggressiveness should always be carried out using a whole complex various methods and methods, only then can we talk about the real results of research into human reactions and behavior.

Correction of aggressiveness: features and effective methods

A person’s aggressiveness, as a personality trait, can be enhanced and suppressed depending on individual characteristics, volitional self-regulation and the level of self-awareness. Many researchers do not deny the influence of genetic and physiological factors in human aggression, but along with this opinion, they emphasize the more significant impact on the specificity of the manifestation of aggressiveness of a set of unique social behavior skills acquired by a person throughout his life. Also influenced by the characteristics of the cognitive and emotional sphere, environmental, social and psychological factors. Therefore, if psychocorrectional work is directed correctly, the level of aggressiveness and hostility of an individual can be significantly reduced.

It should be noted that human aggression is not an inevitable form of his response to various difficulties and inconveniences of the surrounding reality. Scientists have proven that with proper work on oneself, as well as creating more comfortable living conditions, one can not only control the manifestation of aggression, but also prevent its various psychopathological forms. And here the most effective is the correction of aggressiveness, which can be carried out by a psychotherapist or a practicing psychologist-consultant (sometimes it becomes necessary to turn to more to a specialist- a psychiatrist, but this is only when aggression begins to take pathological forms - a serious threat to the life and health of both other people and oneself).

Among the main methods and methods of combating high level aggressiveness should be noted:

autogenic training, psychoregulation methods and relaxation;
hypnosis and autosuggestion;
psychodrama, art therapy, Gestalt therapeutic methods, Jungian psychoanalysis and holotropic breathing;
various training programs (for example, training in social skills, self-knowledge and self-development).

Particularly interesting is the training aimed at developing social skills. It includes the following procedures:

modeling situations where examples of adequate behavior are demonstrated, even if provoked to enter into conflict and show aggressiveness;
role-playing games (the use of social skills in situations close to real ones, but with maximum safety for the human psyche, that is, under the control of a trainer);
feedback and reflection (there is an exchange of reactions between participants and their analysis);
transfer of skills and abilities developed during training sessions to life situations.

Mental abnormalities include increased aggressiveness.

Aggressiveness- a persistent desire of an individual to cause physical or psychological harm or damage to another.

Types of aggression

Aggression can be frustrating(aggression against those who interfere with the achievement of significant goals), impulsive And affective. She might as well deliberate And instrumental(when aggression is used only as a means to achieve a goal). Aggression as a stable trait is formed in unfavorable conditions mental development personality, is an indicator of her unformed social identification.

The lower the level of socialization, the higher individual's level of aggressiveness. We can say that the degree of aggressiveness of an individual is an indicator of the level of his desocialization.

Causes of aggression

The aggressiveness of an individual is associated with defects in socialization, negative influence and general defects in the mental self-regulation of the individual. However, both genetic abnormalities and the characteristics of the endocrine-humoral organization of the individual (norepinephrine type) play a significant role here.

The aggressiveness of an individual has complex multifactorial conditionality. In addition to some biological prerequisites, the learning of aggression, “aggressive training,” is essential in its formation. The aggressiveness of the subject depends on. what environmental stimuli he classifies as threshold influences requiring a general emotional aggressive reaction. Individuals react with aggression to situations that threaten their basic values.

As a manifestation of a defect in mental self-regulation, aggressiveness is associated with weakness in an individual anti-stress protection, impulsiveness, increased level anxiety. In the formation of aggressive types, their early emotional deprivation (lack of positive emotions in early childhood), cruelty, harsh attitude of parents and immediate environment. Aggression often develops as resistance to authoritarian power in the family, small groups, when the individual remains only chance to assert oneself through aggressive actions.

So, a common feature of the behavior of mentally abnormal individuals is inadequate reactions, instability to psychotraumatic influences, impaired psychological defense mechanisms, readiness for a mental breakdown, and uncontrollability of certain types of reactions. Mental disorganization in personally difficult situations leads to a general emotional takeover of all conscious activity of the individual—a narrowing of consciousness. These conditions are accompanied by a disorder of logical thinking, increased suggestibility and self-hypnosis, obsessive states, conflict interaction with the environment.

Aggression refers to physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone. Aggression can manifest itself in direct form, when a person with aggressive behavior is not inclined to hide it from others. He directly and openly enters into confrontation with someone from the environment, expresses threats towards him or shows aggressive actions. In indirect form, aggression is hidden under the guise of hostility, malice, sarcasm or irony, thus putting pressure on the victim.

There are the following types of aggressive actions (Base, Darki): 1) physical aggression (attack); 2) indirect aggression (vicious gossip, jokes, outbursts of rage, manifested in shouting, stomping, etc.); 3) tendency to irritation (readiness to develop negative feelings at the slightest excitement); 4) negativism (oppositional behavior from passive resistance to active struggle); 5) resentment (envy and hatred of others for real and fictitious information); 6) suspicion, ranging from mistrust and caution to the belief that all other people are causing or planning harm; 7) verbal aggression (expression of negative feelings both through form - quarrel, screaming, screeching, and through the content of verbal responses - threat, curses, swearing).

Different types of aggressive actions can be caused by different factors and be part of the structure of different types of deviant behavior. The most striking type - physical aggression in the form of an attack on the victim - usually reflects criminal behavior, although it can also occur with a delinquent type of deviant behavior. The aggressiveness of mentally ill people and persons with mental pathology in the form of psychopathological and pathological types of deviant behavior differs only in the characteristics of motivation and symptoms of diseases. The criminogenic significance of mental abnormalities lies in the fact that, with the dominant role of socially acquired personality characteristics, interacting with them, they facilitate the commission of a crime, acting not as a cause, but as an internal condition (Yu.M. Antonyan, S.V. Borodin).

Conventionally, we can talk about constructive and non-constructive forms aggression (according to E. Fromm’s terminology - benign and malignant). The difference between the listed forms lies in the intentions preceding the manifestation of aggressiveness. With constructive evil, there is no criminal intent to cause harm to anyone around, whereas with non-constructive it is the basis for choosing this particular method of interaction with people.

The constructive form of aggression can also be called pseudo-aggression. E. Fromm describes in the framework of pseudo-aggressive behavior unintentional, playful, defensive, instrumental aggression, aggression as self-affirmation. Unintentional aggression may be a sign of a psychopathological type of deviant behavior, in particular in mental retardation or other syndromes accompanied by a decrease in intelligence. Its essence lies in the impairment of the ability of a patient with mental retardation or dementia to correctly assess the actions of others and their own reactions, the inability to calculate and plan the consequences of their own actions. As a result, for example, a friendly handshake can end in a broken hand, and a sincere hug can result in painful suffocation. Signs of infantilism and intellectual deficiency can lead to serious consequences within the framework of play aggression, when a person seems to be “playing” in the heat of emotional involvement and does not commensurate the strength and severity of movements in relation to a partner in a game or joint activity. Aggression as satisfaction of the need for self-affirmation and self-esteem, as a rule, occurs in the pathocharacterological type of deviant behavior. It is an integral part of emotionally unstable and hysterical personality disorders, in which often outbursts of anger, irritation and physical aggression do not have deliberate malice, but are formed as responses through the mechanisms of “short circuit” or “displaced affect”.

Mostly the so-called constructive aggressiveness occurs in such psychopathological syndromes as asthenic (cerebrosthenic, neurasthenic) and hysterical. Within the framework of asthenic and hysterical symptom complexes, aggression is manifested by irritability, resentment, outbursts of anger, as well as verbal aggression. Verbal aggression and irritability are especially common in hysterical syndrome within the framework of hysterical personality disorder. A person with similar races

structures, reacts emotionally negatively to attempts by others to convict him of lying, pretense, breaking the hysterical mask, holding him accountable for his own actions, i.e. on situations in which there is a blockade of satisfying the basic need of hysteria - to be the center of attention and to be significant to others. Actions that lead to the inability of an individual with hysterical character traits to be “noticeable”, “to be in sight”, “to manage the attention of others” contribute to violent affective reactions with elements of aggression. The verbal manifestations of the hysteric’s aggressiveness seem especially colorful. Due to his well-developed ability to speak, he is inclined to display virtuoso speech abilities in situations of conflict, use colorful comparisons with negative literary images or animal behavior, put this in the form of profanity and use threats and blackmail, resort to overgeneralizations and extreme degrees of insults. As a rule, aggression during hysterical syndrome does not go beyond verbal. We only see breaking dishes, throwing out and destroying things, damaging furniture, but not direct aggression with violence.

Unconstructive aggressiveness is a sign of either criminal behavior or psychopathology. In the first case, a person’s aggressiveness is mediated by his perceived destructive attitude towards reality and the people around him, oppositional strategy and tactics of interaction with reality, which is regarded as hostile. In the second, it is caused by psychopathological symptoms and syndromes, most often affecting the sphere of perception, thinking, consciousness and will.

Most often, aggressiveness of a significant degree of severity (often not amenable to volitional correction) is included in the structure of such psychopathological syndromes as: explosive, psychoorganic, demental, catatonic, hebephrenic, paranoid (hallucinatory-paranoid), paranoid, paraphrenic, mental automatism, delirious, twilight disorder of consciousness.

With explosive and psychoorganic syndromes occurring with emotionally unstable personality disorder, epileptic personality changes or in long term organic brain damage (due to traumatic brain injury, atherosclerosis, alcoholism, etc.) aggression is, in

difference from aggression in hysterical and asthenic symptom complexes, the nature is physical and often delinquent. The patient is inclined to react aggressively to the slightest offensive situation, which in reality may be objectively harmless. It is explosive and flares up instantly like a “short circuit”. He loses control over his actions following the appearance of stormy negative emotions that disrupt the process of meaningful understanding of the situation. Aggression in psychoorganic syndrome is protracted due to the rigidity of affect and being stuck on the same emotions. Rancor, vindictiveness, and hostility become typical. Crimes committed by patients with epilepsy with personality changes are the most cruel and bloody, especially if the patient has a tendency towards twilight disorder of consciousness. At the same time, aggressive actions are directed against imaginary pursuers. The patient “notices” that they are preparing an assassination attempt on him and tries to forestall them. Twilight disorder of consciousness begins and ends acutely. After it, the patient may not remember that he committed aggression against others.

With dementia of various origins (atherosclerotic, traumatic, neuroinfectious, atrophic, and others), the patient commits aggressive actions due to an incorrect understanding of the behavior and statements of others. Often the patient perceives offensive words hurled at him, a gaze, actions aimed at infringing on his rights. Often the patient is aggressive, convinced that close relatives or neighbors are deliberately putting him out of his state of mental balance. They seem to steal or spoil his things, food, deliberately create noise, a “bad atmosphere,” and find fault with little things. Aggressiveness is often combined with grumpiness, grumbling, dissatisfaction with everything and everyone, and suspicion.

Aggression in catatonic and hebephrenic syndromes, which usually occur in schizophrenia, is clearly unconstructive in nature due to the fact that it is unmotivated, unpredictable, unfocused and destructive. Its basis is a symptom of impulsive actions - episodes of physical aggression that are unexpected for others and the person himself, accompanied by sullenness, lack of contact, uncontrollability, persistence and determination. Such a patient can suddenly hit a random passerby, throw a stone, bite a person nearby and go back to his business. Inadequacy and instability of affect are noted: from gloominess, silence to foolishness, inappropriate grimacing and pretentious laughter. Negativism is a frequent accompaniment of aggression in catatonic and hebephrenic syndromes. It manifests itself in active and passive forms: the patient, on the one hand, can actively refuse what is offered by others; on the other hand, to do things when he is not asked to do them.

Within the framework of psychopathological syndromes in which the main manifestation is delusional ideas (paranoid, paranoid, paraphrenic, mental automatism syndrome), aggressiveness is caused by a false interpretation of reality. In delusional syndromes characterized by the patient’s false belief that he is being persecuted, watched, manipulated, robbed, or physically harmed, aggressive reactions have a defensive and proactive connotation. The phenomenon of “persecution of persecutors” is known, when the patient himself begins to prepare reprisals against the offenders, without waiting for their aggressive actions. In paraphrenic syndrome, accompanied by delusions of grandeur, aggressiveness is caused by non-recognition by the public or specific people of the patient's merits. With the syndrome of mental automatism, a kinesthetic form of it may appear, characterized by the patient’s conviction that his actions are controlled from the outside. At the same time, he views aggression as an unintentional, forced measure that he is unable to resist.

Syndromes of disturbed consciousness (delirium and twilight stupefaction) are accompanied by aggressive behavior of patients due to the fact that mental disorders include vivid visual hallucinatory images that tend to threaten the patient. Aggression is retaliatory and defensive in nature.

The word “aggression” has Latin roots (“attack”). Statistics show that children and adults are becoming more and more aggressive every year. This is mainly due to the increasing pace of life, psychological stress and poor sleep and rest schedules. Aggressive behavior can arise both due to the characteristics of a person’s character and upbringing, and due to mental illness.

- destructive actions and statements that lead to psychological and physical damage to the person or group of people to whom it is directed. Unreasonable aggression may indicate that the body is disturbed hormonal balance, in some cases this is a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. There can be a lot of reasons, so you need to be examined by qualified specialists. The earlier the diagnosis is carried out, the higher the chance of eliminating the causes without consequences for the person himself and for others, including those closest to him.

Causes

Mental and psychological reasons aggressive behavior in adults and adolescents:

abuse of drugs from the group of antidepressants
problems at work
problems in personal life
lack of rest during intense workload

Motives for aggression may be like this:

hostile (anger, hatred, rage, emotional breakdown)
pathological (these are consequences mental disorders: hallucinations, delusions, psychoses)
authoritarian (associated with the desire for power, a person strives to be superior to others, control them and subjugate them)
hedonistic (aggression brings a person satisfaction: moral or physical)
mental self-regulation (aggression helps a person find psychological comfort and inner harmony)
denial (aggressive behavior in such cases is a way of violating existing rules, norms, laws)

Separately, some researchers consider the motives of following, acquisition and achievement, and defensive motives of aggression.

Theories of aggressive behavior

There are many such theories. The most widespread theories are those of Erich Fromm, Sigmund Freud and Konrad Lorenz. Aggression is divided into 4 categories:

need that is caused external factors(this mechanism is explained by frustration theory)
congenital feature (explained by the theory of attraction)
form of behavior in society
cognitive and emotional processes

Aggression in children

Statistics show that in recent years, schoolchildren, especially junior schoolchildren, are becoming more and more aggressive. They develop aggressive behavior, directed both at classmates and friends, and at teachers and parents. Among the most current reasons are called:

being in an unstable psychological climate in the family (parents don’t get along with each other, show aggression towards their son or daughter)
bad upbringing (when one day a child is allowed to do something, and on the second day they flatly refuse the same for no reason; this causes misunderstanding of the child and anger)
poor performance at school
quarrels and absence common language with classmates
biased attitude of the teacher, educator
excessive demands of teachers, curators, parents

Aggressive behavior in a 2 year old child may be triggered by a ban on something. When they don't get what they want, hysterics or aggression may begin. Children of this age do not yet understand that their behavior has a certain result, which can significantly affect others. For example, they may push another child without realizing that the child could hit their head or even break something. It is better not to scold aggressive children aged 2 years. Explain to him what he was wrong about, what consequences his actions have. When hysterical, try to switch his attention to something.

Also, aggression in 2-year-old children may indicate that they are experiencing basic physical needs that they cannot yet talk about (or cannot even recognize). For example, a child may want to drink, eat, sleep, or rest.

At three years old The child experiences his first age-related crisis. You cannot show retaliatory aggression; you need to act with calm conversations and explanations of the situation. If this does not help, you should definitely consult a qualified child psychologist.

Aggressive behavior in preschoolers may have the following possible causes:

biological
hereditary, character traits
somatic diseases
brain pathologies

At 7 years old The child experiences another crisis of personality development. Entering first grade, they face new restrictions. This can lead to rudeness towards parents, quarrels with friends and comrades, ignoring the requests and orders of the teacher. If parents, in response to such behavior, yell at the child and punish him, this will lead to a worsening crisis.

Aggression in a 7 year old child can provoke an unhealthy psychological climate in the family, physical punishment for misconduct and poor performance, violent computer games, constant viewing of films where characters show aggression (mostly thrillers and action films), upbringing attitudes (when a child is taught in response to aggression from another child act aggressively yourself, resorting to physical methods).

Aggressive behavior of schoolchildren may be due to the imposition of a sense of elitism by parents. Children from wealthy families require increased attention from teachers, honor and even worship from classmates. They feel chosen and consider themselves “above others.” When others violate their illusion and do not confirm existing attitudes, the child begins to behave aggressively.

Forms of aggressive behavior

There are two forms of aggressive behavior based on the method of manifestation:

verbal (statements)
physical

Verbal aggression is behavior when a person, being in normal mental health or with a pathology, insults, humiliates and threatens others with words. This type of aggression, in turn, can be direct or indirect.

Physical aggression is divided into three subtypes:

symbolic (threats and intimidation)
indirect (material damage)
direct (actions that cause physical harm to a person or group of people)

The actual form of aggressive behavior is considered separately. This is the infliction of physical injury to people or animals. Any aggression always contradicts the norms and rules of morality in society. Aggression is in most cases a form of reaction to a problem. It causes frustration and other negative consequences.

Aggressive-passive behavior

Aggressive-passive behavior is a reaction to an existing or imagined problem, which is characterized by a person’s attempt not to show negativity or dissatisfaction, but to hide it from others. This behavior includes postponing an important decision for one’s life. Aggressive-passive people see themselves as victims. They often have addictions and a fear of making any decisions, especially important ones.

Passive-aggressive (or aggressive-passive) behavior can be indicated by such phrases from a person:

as you say; Ok
I am not angry
I didn't know you meant do it right now
Yes, I'm on my way already!; well now!
I thought/thought you know
you just want everything to be perfect (when he doesn't do the assigned task well enough and gets reprimanded)
You did it well for a person with your education/level of intelligence/work experience, etc.
well of course I would be happy
why are you so upset?
I was just joking!

Aggression of men and women

Researchers say that boys and men are more prone to aggressive behavior than girls and women. Men often abuse animals and children. This is due to the fact that in male body higher levels of a hormone called testosterone. The more of it in the body, the more prone a person is to anger and aggression. Men show mainly physical aggression, while women are limited to the verbal form of aggressive behavior.

Gender differences in aggressive behavior have been studied by the following researchers:

Bjorkvist
Lagerspets
Harris
Gentry, etc.

The difference between the aggression of the two sexes lies in the attitudes regarding such behavior. Men generally experience little guilt and have low levels of anxiety. Women, on the contrary, think about how the victim will react to their behavior, whether she will show retaliatory aggression, whether she will be too depressed and upset, etc.

Aggression, in the understanding of men, is a means to achieve goals. For women, aggressive behavior is a way to relieve stress and calm down. These are in most cases short-term outbursts of anger. Differences in aggressive behavior between men and women are due to several reasons. The first is a genetic factor. Aggressive men in ancient times had a greater chance of dominance and reproduction. Using aggression, they defeated other contenders for the chosen woman. Scientists Verschoor, Kenrick and Sadallah, after conducting research, concluded that a man’s desire for dominance is positively assessed by women and is considered an attractive feature.

Differences in aggression of both sexes are also dictated by cultural and social factors. Women are considered more social creatures; they tend to empathize and make friends. And men show their self-confidence and tend to demonstrate strength. Women evaluate most actions as harmful and leading to anxiety or guilt.

Objects of aggression

The first type of aggressive behavior to consider is “chivalry.” Experiments by scientists Mukherjee, Kolsawalla, Nanji and Kanekara demonstrated that aggression directed at a woman, especially from a man, is considered unacceptable. Men who acted aggressively in this experiment were perceived by women as more immoral than those who showed aggression directed at men.

Women cause less aggression in men because males perceive them as non-threatening objects. Studies have shown that when revenge is needed, a man will take revenge on another man more cruelly than on a woman.

“Anti-knighthood” is the second form of male aggression. Researchers Thompson, Richardson, Romanowski and Golin show that men are most likely to show aggression towards women when they have specific fears. These fears include, first of all, men’s self-esteem. When a woman demonstrates that she considers them weak or unmanly, it causes the most high level aggression.

Characteristics of aggressive behavior

Aggressive behavior can occur even in very young children when the child does not get something he wants. Aggression can be provoked by 3 factors:

biological
psychological
social

Biological factor:

infectious disease
receiving
use of psychotropic substances
alcohol
narcotic substances
hereditary characteristics

Psychological factor:

addiction
suspiciousness
anxiety
impulsiveness
emotional instability
egocentrism

Social factor:

antisocial social circle
peer influence
influence of friends
family influence

There are such features of aggressive behavior:

insults
humiliation of the honor and dignity of another person
blackmail
damage to property
tendency to physical abuse
assault/fighting

Aggressive behavior of the teacher

The reasons for the aggressive behavior of teachers, educators, curators, and coaches may be:

low level of professionalism
professional burnout
decline in the prestige of the teaching profession
aggressive behavior of several/many students in the class, etc.

The aggression of the teacher negatively affects children, who, in principle, do not encounter anger, shouting and insults anywhere else except at school. Such children are likely to receive psychological trauma or, at a minimum, negative life experiences. This will affect their perception of all teachers and coaches in the future, their perception of people of the same gender as their teachers, their moral attitudes, etc.

If you find that your child's teacher is prone to aggressive behavior (including verbal aggression), you need to talk with him one on one, or by involving one or two other parents in this matter. Do not make a scandal under any circumstances, and do not try to sort things out with the teacher in public. If after the conversation the teacher does not draw conclusions and shows aggression, you need to inform the school principal about this. Aggressive people have no place in the pedagogical system.

Aggression after stroke

Aggressive behavior is characteristic consequence suffered a stroke. The reason lies in changes in the psychophysical state. Patients are characterized by causeless mood changes, short temper, and irritability. Relatives must have patience to communicate with him. An important condition recovery is peace and positive emotions.

Correction of aggressive behavior

In some cases, aggressive behavior can be corrected on your own, but sometimes you need to resort to face-to-face help from specialists. There are different methods for correcting aggression in children, adolescents and adults. To reduce aggression in children, the following actions are relevant:

proper organization of the child’s daily routine and leisure time
active physical education, sports, dancing
prevention
normalization of sleep and wakefulness

As for psychological methods for correcting aggressive behavior in children, a number of them are relevant. The first technique is called “fist toy”. The baby is asked to close his eyes, a toy is placed in his hand and he is asked to squeeze it tightly. After which the baby is asked to open his eyes and check what is held in his palm. The second current technique is called the “bag of anger.” Grains or sand with small pebbles are poured into a small fabric bag. A child can be kicked, hit, thrown when he feels a surge of anger, anger, irritation within himself.

Factors to reduce aggressiveness

The following strategies can be used to correct aggressive behavior in children:

orientation to the experiences and emotions of others
to stimulate and demonstrate humane feelings in an aggressive child and victim
experiencing a feeling of joy and pride when the child has mastered himself and does not show aggressiveness
switching the child from experiencing feelings of failure and aggressive behavior
response to feelings of resentment in an aggressive child and the one towards whom his aggressive behavior is directed
modeling a situation of failure in order to overcome the feeling of failure, etc.

To correct aggression in adults, you can use special psychological techniques if the aggressor himself has a desire to change. If the desire is small, intermittent or non-existent, it is worth motivating the person to contact face-to-face consultation see a psychologist or psychotherapist. Only regular practice will help you adjust your behavior for the benefit of yourself and others.