Examples Of Instinct Theory Of Aggression

Sigmund Freud(1915), also developed a theory of aggression asserted that aggression arose when the ego-instincts, or the ego’s struggle for self-preservation, are impeded. He said: “The ego hates, abhors and pursues with the intent to destroy all objects which is a source of pain” (Freud, 1915).

Research has identified different types of aggression to include instrumental, reactive, relational, bullying aggression (Berger, 2008; Merrell, Buchanan, & Tran, 2006; Cappella & Weinstein, 2006) and social aggression [ (Merrell, Buchanan, & Tran, 2006; Cappella & Weinstein, 2006) ].

Freud primarily subscribed to the idea that there are two energies that drive human behavior. These two energies are sex – the pleasure principle and aggression. The human mind is comprised of the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. Within the realms of the mind, the human personality is controlled by the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is driven by the pleasure principle. The superego is the instinctual moral good, which aims to please the ego ideal, or the magnified moral values. The ego interacts with both the id and the superego and aims to please both components (Connors).

Social Psychological Theories of Aggression Social learning theorists propose that behaviour, such as aggression is learnt through observation, imitation and behaviour shaping. This behaviour is learnt automatically through observation of male and female role models, for example parents, peers and media characters. Whether or not this behaviour is imitated depends on the type of reinforcement that the role model receives. Vicarious reinforcement involves the outcome of a role models behaviour, for example if a child observes a parent acting aggressively and receiving positive rewards for they are more like to be imitate this behaviour in the future, than they would be if the role model

Aggressions can be broadly divided in to two types: Reactive/ Impulsive aggression (RA) refers to aggression that is impulsive, emotionally charged, affective and uncontrolled. It has its theoretical roots in the frustration-tolerance theory. It is most often observed in response to a perceived threatening stimulus and is frequently accompanied by negative affect, facial expressions described as hostile, temper tantrums,

The deindividuation theory and the social learning theory compliment each other as they both agree that if an individual witnesses aggressive behaviour the individual could change their personality to match role models which could in turn, change their aggression levels.

Is aggression an innate and deterministic quality from birth, or is it something that one that all can control, as a matter of free will and choice, to be used when we need it in a calculated manner? At birth all people are born with aggression as a survival trait. As we educate ourselves as we have seen in the video “The Truth About Violence” even in an educated culture such as the United States we still have violence. Violent people and we are drawn to violent sports such as cage fighting and football. Even the most mild manner people who don’t like violence in movies, sports or anywhere else can find enjoyment from participating in violence. When a person results to violence I don’t believe they can control the amount of aggression

In the article by Jones, the research presented demonstrates that humans are not genetically programmed to be destructive--instead, our goals, culture, and society create motivations that cause violence to manifest. Two evolutionary

Aggression is defined as behaviour directed towards another living being with the intent of harming or injuring them in someway, and can be defined as either

Based on the theories of self-identity, aggression plays a major role where individuals seek to establish their identity. In order for individuals to identify themselves they sometimes require a form of opposition that can be manifested through aggression. In general, most of our activities as human beings are a mixture of negative and positive forms of aggression

Aggression is distinguished in two forms, affective aggression and instrumental aggression. Affective aggression is aggression that is caused by emotions such as anger and frustration whereas instrumental aggression is aggression that is used as a means to some other goal. In the below, I will discuss both using the example of a child bullying another as instrumental aggression and a recent fatal stabbing of a young girl as both instrumental and affective aggression.

The cognitive-neoassociation theory of aggression, otherwise known as the negative affect theory, was proposed by the American social psychologist Leonard Berkowitz. The theory suggests that certain experiences, or affects, can contribute toward the onset of aggressive feelings or behaviour. These affects can range from weather conditions (e.g. high temperatures) to unpleasant external stimuli (e.g. odours and sounds). Concurrently, the theory advocates that merely observing different types of aggressive behaviour can prompt aggression within the viewer. Given these points, an intriguing question comes to mind: might the implications of this theory be that repetitive exposure to catalysts of aggression increases a person’s inclination to be confrontational?

Sigmund Freud proposed that aggression was an inborn instinct or drive, as compared to later theorists who felt aggression was a reaction or a response to a situation (Meyer, 1996). Freud postulated that all human beings have two basic drives: aggressive and libidinal. The two drives were thought to appear in human behavior in a fused state. The aggressive drive was seen basically as destructive. Thus, it was referred to as thanatos, or the death instinct. This destructive aggression could be directed toward others or could be turned in on the self. If the latter occurred, a person would engage in self-punitive behaviors or suicide. The aggressive drive, Freud felt, could also be diverted into positive channels. Social psychologists disagree with the instinctual theory of aggression primarily on the basis that there is no empirical evidence to substantiate aggression as a drive. The instinctual theory of aggression is also criticized on the basis that if this were a universal trait in all human beings, then all humans would display aggression (Meyer, 1996).

These theories of aggression are the most plausible because they account for both types of aggression, reactive and instrumental. People learn how to act from society, and use what is believed to be the most efficient way to achieve desired results. This can be a reaction to coerce someone into stopping an action, or instrumental, to force one to do something. Cues from the past, such as seeing a weapon that has been seen countless times on T.V. instead of a badminton racket, increases the aggressive reactions from people (Anderson).

Freud interpreted these theories, and came up with his own theory that “intrapsychic conflicts (conflicts with in the individual) between basic biological urges and societal standards lead to abnormal behavior” (Bruce 2).