The Theories Behind Aggression

Aggression can come in multiple forms; the most predominant types being verbal and physical.  People of all different age groups and walks of life are exposed to aggression through news casts, movies, TV shows, video games, family members and friends.  Though some groups in society are more prone to aggression and observing aggressive behaviors (such as the lower class who can be ridden with the stresses of finances and harsh life circmstnaces), anyone who is an active member in our society today is unable of fully escaping it.

Though there are many theories supporting many different viewpoints as to why aggression is so wide spread, I happen to agree with Albert Bandura that observational learning is a powerful thing.  Observational learning has 4 important steps: “(1) paying attention and perceiving the most critical features of another person’s behavior, (2) remembering the behavior, (3) repeating the action, and (4) being motivated to learn and carry out the behavior in the future” (209).   Some people argue that aggression is a natural reaction.  I tend to agree with that, but only partially.  I believe that anger is the natural reaction, but the way aggression is exacted is typically replicated.

However I think there is another theory at play here. We learned about Operant Conditioning, which by definition is “Learning in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened, depending on its favorable or unfavorable consequences” (191).   For this theory, aggression is the voluntary response and this aggression is either strengthened or weakened depending on its favorable or unfavorable consequences.  Aggression is typically rewarded… For example: If a child is playing a video game and the goal of the game is to shoot the opposing team, by showing their aggression and winning, their aggressive behavior is rewarded.  Another example is if someone, child or adult, witnesses someone else displaying anger/aggression towards someone else in an effort to make them do what they want, and that person does it, the person viewing this situation has now learned that a favorable response yields from a display of aggression.

But there are ways to teach that aggression is not an appropriate response.  And that is through the use of a positive reinforcer.  The positive reinforcer can be a congratulatory word for choosing something other than aggression to handle anger, or even a tangible reward of some sort.  Either way if there is a reinforcement for taking other avenues other than aggression and if those reinforcers or strong enough or desirable enough, the action of making the choice against aggression will continue.  If the only reinforcement they get is the confirmation that their actions will produce the desired results, the aggression will continue.

Reference source: Feldman, Robert S. (2002). Understanding Psychology. Amherst, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill, Sixth Edition