Aggressive behavior

Aggression is a word of Latin origin (“aggredi”) and means “attack, to attack”. The modern pace of life, mental and physical stress, insomnia and regular stressful situations lead to the fact that the population is becoming more and more aggressive.

Some people, throwing out negative energy, calm down and move on, while others cannot cope with the burden of problems on their own and aggressive behavior becomes a mental illness, and not just a manifestation of a bad character or a reaction to a particular situation. Psychotherapists consider aggression to be destructive human behavior that causes psychological discomfort and physical harm to people. In addition, aggressive behavior without reason can indicate serious hormonal imbalances in the body, as well as the fact that a person suffers from Alzheimer's disease. In any case, aggressive behavior requires a thorough examination, which should not be postponed under any circumstances. It is no secret that aggression is increasing every year. Not only disadvantaged countries suffer from it, but also quite happy ones in terms of the economy and standard of living.

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Causes of aggressive behavior

Psychotherapists and psychiatrists identify several causes of aggressive behavior, among which are the abuse of antidepressants and sleeping pills; mental trauma suffered in childhood; problems in personal life and at work (dismissal); fatigue accumulated from hard work without rest.

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Motives for aggressive behavior

There are a number of motives for aggressive behavior. Let's look at them in more detail.

• Pathological motives are psychoses, delirium, hallucinations, etc. They are the result of mental deviations and diseases.
• Hostile motives - emotional breakdown, rage, hatred, anger.
• Hedonistic motives – here aggression is a tool for obtaining pleasure.
• Authoritarian motives (thirst for power) – a person who displays authoritarian aggression strives to dominate other people at any cost.
• The motives for denial are aggression as a way to violate established norms and rules.
• Motives for mental self-regulation – with the help of aggression, a person tries to balance his emotional state.

There are also protective motives, motives of achievement and acquisition, motives of following.

Theories of aggressive behavior

Among the most popular theories of aggressive behavior are the theories of Sigmund Freud, E. Fromm, and K. Lorenz.

Scientists divide theories of aggression into four categories, which define aggression as an innate drive, a predisposition (the so-called drive theory); a need provoked by external factors (frustration theory); emotional and cognitive processes; aggression as a model of social behavior.

Causes of aggressive behavior in younger students

Teachers and psychologists note that in recent years, primary school students have been increasingly aggressive towards both their peers and teachers. The first reason, according to experts, is the unstable situation in families, where parents themselves treat their child and each other aggressively. As a result, aggression becomes the norm for such a child. In addition, the inconsistency of parental upbringing (today it is possible, and tomorrow it is absolutely forbidden) leads to children feeling confused and embittered.

Conflicts with classmates, academic retardation, excessive demands, and often teacher bias also lead to aggression.

Characteristics of aggressive behavior

Psychologists note that aggressive behavior begins to form at a very early age, when obstacles arise in the path of the child's desires. Three factors are identified that provoke the emergence of aggressive behavior - psychological, biological and social.

Biological factors – heredity, abuse of drugs, alcohol and psychotropic drugs, traumatic brain injury, infectious disease.

Social factor - influence of family, friends, work colleagues, antisocial social circle.

Psychological factor – egocentrism, emotional instability, impulsiveness, anxiety, suspiciousness, dependence.

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Features of aggressive behavior

Aggressive behavior is a type of behavior that intentionally causes harm, both physical and moral, to another person. Aggressive behavior varies by gender. Threatening other people (verbally, with a look, with a gesture). Among the features of aggressive behavior, one can note a tendency to physical impact, up to and including violent fights; damage to property; blackmail; humiliation and insults.

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Psychology of aggressive behavior

Let us recall that aggression is a word of Latin origin (“aggredi”), meaning “attack, to attack”. Psychologists note that there is a difference between aggressiveness and aggression: aggressiveness is a character trait of a person, and aggression is a state. By the way, Sigmund Freud believed that aggressiveness is an innate form of behavior that cannot be cured, only weakened.

Aggressive behavior in children

Psychologists note that aggressive behavior in young children (up to 3 years) is a natural process that should not frighten their parents. The reasons for aggressive behavior in a child may be overexcitement, fatigue, hunger or thirst, poor health. With the right approach of the parents and the absence of a biological factor in aggressive behavior, the child will eventually outgrow aggressive behavior.

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Aggressive behavior in a 2 year old child

Two-year-olds actively explore the world, they are very inquisitive and open. It is at this age that any prohibitions and failure to get what they want cause a violent aggressive reaction in the child. At this age, children cannot assess the consequences of their actions. Pushed a friend in the sandbox, he fell and hurt himself. Psychologists and teachers do not advise scolding a child who has shown aggression. It is better to calmly explain the situation and switch your child's attention to something else. Hysterics often indicate not a bad character, but fatigue, hunger or thirst.

Aggressive behavior in a 3 year old child

Three years is the period of the first age crisis in children. Psychologists believe that at this age, children's anger, rage, hysteria and aggression should not make parents want to punish and re-educate, but only help, understand and explain. A child's cruel attitude towards animals can be a cause for concern. To correct behavior, it is better to contact a child psychologist.

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Aggressive behavior in a 7 year old child

Seven years is a period of another crisis in the development of a child's personality. At the age of 6-7, children go to school, find themselves in a completely unfamiliar world of frameworks and restrictions, thus the crisis becomes deeper. "Seven-year-olds" quarrel with their peers, are rude to their parents and often ignore the authority of the teacher. It's a paradox, but psychologists are sure that it is not worth suppressing aggression in children. Evil breeds evil. When a parent punishes a child for showing aggression, they only worsen the situation. Aggression in a seven-year-old child is provoked by a nervous atmosphere in the family, frequent quarrels between parents; the use of physical punishment against the child; wrestling sections, watching action films and thrillers; the wrong motivation for resolving conflict situations - "and you hit him back."

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Aggressive behavior in preschoolers

The cause of aggression in preschool children may be hereditary-characterological factors, biological factors, as well as brain and somatic diseases.

Psychologists are unanimous - if there is love and trust in the family, a friendly stop, then the child will never show aggression. Family, surrounding children and mass media - these three factors (if the child is physically healthy) influence the level of aggression in a preschooler.

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Aggressive behavior of younger students

Teachers note that the number of aggressive children is steadily growing every year. However, it is the primary school that has the greatest influence and impact on the child. That is, a qualified teacher, of course, with the participation of parents, can cope with aggression shown by students in grades 1-4. At the age of 6-10, the child's personality is formed, his place in the team is determined, often children try to prove their importance through aggression.

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Aggressive behavior of schoolchildren

As is known, schools impose serious restrictions on students' behavior. And if junior school students perceive this as the norm, then senior school students sometimes protest. Often, difficulties arise when a student's financial situation is much higher than his teacher's and the child knows about it. Children from wealthy families feel special and demand such an attitude from both peers and teachers. There are many reasons that provoke aggression in schoolchildren. It is important that parents and teachers do not close their eyes to the problem, but try to solve it by involving psychologists and psychotherapists.

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Aggressive behavior in teenagers

Aggression among teenagers is growing every year. Socioeconomic inequality, unfavorable family situations, problems in studies, mass media, films in which violence prevails - this is far from a complete list of what makes teenagers show aggression.

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Aggressive behavior in teachers

Unfortunately, the professionalism of teachers is declining every year. It is not only about mastering the subject, but also the ability to communicate, influence and impact students; it is much more difficult to become an authority for them than to teach complex mathematical calculations. The prestige of the teaching profession is declining. Often, aggressive behavior of children provokes the same response from teachers. And raising your voice at students is already the norm, not the exception. Pedagogy is a complex science and not every teacher can master it. Aggressive behavior of teachers should not go unnoticed and be covered up by the team; such people have no place in the education system. What can a teacher who regularly raises his voice and insults his students teach?

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Aggressive behavior of a man

Most often, men use open forms of aggression. Psychotherapists name such factors as heredity, socio-cultural factors, and biological factors as the causes of aggression among men. Most often, men show aggression towards their family members, wives, and children. Such aggression can be both physical and moral, including economic. It is quite difficult to correct aggressive behavior in men, since in almost 100% of cases they consider their behavior normal and do not want to communicate with psychologists.

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Aggressive behavior after stroke

Aggression after a stroke is a typical consequence of this disease. A patient who has had a stroke becomes irritable, hot-tempered, and suffers from unmotivated mood swings. Relatives should be patient and help the stroke survivor in every possible way. Since the patient needs complete peace and only positive emotions, the success of rehabilitation depends on this.

Aggression after a stroke is associated with changes in the patient’s psychophysical state.

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Forms of aggressive behavior

Verbal and physical aggression are forms of aggressive behavior.

Verbal form – humiliation and insult of a person with the help of words. This type of aggression can be direct and indirect.

Physical aggression can also be direct (physical humiliation), indirect (causing material damage) and symbolic (threats and intimidation). There is also a real form of aggression, which manifests itself in causing physical injuries.

Psychotherapists define aggression as a type of motivated destructive behavior that contradicts the rules and norms of public morality and causes harm, both moral and physical and material.

Aggressive behavior is a form of reaction to problematic situations that leads to stress, frustration, etc.

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Aggressive-passive behavior

Aggressive-passive behavior or passive aggression is a type of behavior, a reaction to problematic situations, in which a person tries to suppress discontent, hide it deep inside. For example, postponing an important, fateful decision. People who are prone to aggressively passive behavior always consider themselves victims. They often suffer from fear of making decisions and addiction.

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Diagnosis of aggressive behavior

Aggressive behavior is diagnosed by specialists, there are dozens of psychological tests that have been specially developed to diagnose aggressive behavior. The difficulty may be that people suffering from aggression almost always refuse to admit it.

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Research on aggressive behavior

Over the past few decades, psychotherapists have been concerned about the growth of aggression among the world's population, and aggression is growing not only in developing countries, but also in economically prosperous ones, for example, in the United States. Scientists have identified the following areas of aggression research: physiological research, psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive theories, ethological research, and this is far from a complete list.

Gender differences in aggressive behavior

Scientists note that aggressive behavior is much more common among men than among women. Men are also more likely to abuse children and animals. Studies (including on animals) have shown that gender differences in aggressive behavior are primarily associated with different levels of the hormone testosterone in women and men. The higher the concentration of testosterone, the male sex hormone, in the body, the more aggressive a person is. Physical aggression predominates in men, while verbal aggression predominates in women.

Correction of aggressive behavior

Aggressive behavior can be corrected both by specialists and independently by a person suffering from aggression. Correction of aggressive behavior in children, adolescents and adults is different, its selection is carried out by qualified psychologists, fortunately, enough methods have been developed. The main thing is the patient's desire to work on himself. Often, a school psychologist who knows the situation, as they say, from the inside will help to cope with a student's aggression.

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Prevention of aggressive behavior

Prevention of aggressive behavior is carried out by specialists. There are several methods of preventing aggressive behavior, including psychological, medicinal, pedagogical, and physical.

Prevention of aggressive behavior at school

All students, both junior and senior, suffer from aggression to one degree or another. In order to reduce aggression, parents of junior students need to properly organize not only the student's daily routine, but also his leisure time, not forgetting about active sports. It is no secret that the busier a child/teenager is, the less time he has for all sorts of nonsense. However, overwork can also negatively affect the physical and psychological state of the student, everything needs a measure. If aggression is excessive, then you cannot do without consulting a specialist.

Prevention of aggressive behavior in primary school children

Psychologists and teachers have been involved in the prevention of aggressive behavior in younger students for decades. First, it is necessary to identify the cause of the aggressiveness of a child aged 6-10, eliminate it if possible, and if this is impossible for a number of reasons, then carry out psycho-emotional correction. An important aspect of preventing aggressive behavior in younger students is organizing their leisure time within the school.

Games for the prevention of aggressive behavior

Psychologists have developed a number of game techniques that can reduce aggressive behavior for both adults and children.

"Toy in a fist" - the child closes his eyes, a beautiful toy is placed in his palm and he is asked to clench his fist very hard. After that, open your eyes and look at what is in your hand. Psychologists claim that this simple game relieves tension and switches emotions.

"Bag of anger": I pour sand and cereal into a small linen bag, you can hit and kick it when you feel anger and a surge of aggressive behavior.