Aggression is usually defined as behaviour intended to harm another individual. There are different types of aggression including, instrumental aggression which is often pre meditated, hostile aggression which is often impulsive and intent to hurt and relational aggression which includes social exclusion, harmful rumours and will often inflict psychological damage rather than physical. Children, particularly girls, often exhibit this kind of aggression. (Lagerspetz et al, 1988).
Aggression is an innate response in humans refers to the biological approach and there have been many studies that have provided compelling evidence for biological influences in aggression. Konrad Lorenz (1950) argued that aggressive energy is in constant production …show more content…
Many studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between gender and aggression and that males are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour than females. (Maccoby & Jacklin, 1980). Evolution suggests that males are aggressive in order to protect their genes, they establish dominance over other males and if they have paternal uncertainty they will have a jealous motivation to be aggressive. Evolutionary theorists see aggression as having social and economic advantages and therefore it is an innate response in order to survive. Social dominance in males will give them access to more females due to their status and therefore they can reproduce and this is why aggressive behaviour to other males is exhibited. This is supported by crime statistics that show males are most likely to commit violent crime during their peak reproductive years. Victims of crime are also likely to be in their peak reproductive years, those aged 16-24 are more than twice as likely to be the victim of a violent crime as any other age band. Also, 3.2% of males experienced violent crime in comparison to 1.9% of females, which supports the evolutionary theory that males exhibit aggression over other males in order to gain dominance. Not only that but single people were far more likely to be victims than those who are married which suggests that jealous motivation for aggression is in fact true …show more content…
This theory suggests that an increase in testosterone during puberty is linked to an increase in aggression. Evidence shows that mice with high levels of administered testosterone show more aggressive behaviour (Bruer et al, 2001). However, this is not applicable to humans so studies carried out on humans have shown that boys show a positive correlation between high levels of testosterone and social aggression but girls do not (Sanchez-Martin et al, 2000). Although most studies show that aggression due to testosterone is mainly linked to males, Cashdan (2003) has shown that women who show competitive aggression have higher levels of testosterone. Further studies carried out on testosterone and cortisol levels have shown that individuals with high testosterone levels were only positively correlated with aggression if they had low cortisol levels (Mehta & Joseph, 2010). There are also studies that show that genes have a role in aggression. Caspi et al (2002) demonstrated that the gene responsible for encoding the enzyme Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) could moderate the effects of childhood maltreatment, which often turns into aggression in adulthood. Individuals with low MAOA activity will show more violence. These studies therefore suggest that testosterone level, cortisol levels and genes can affect aggression in both male and females and is evidence for aggression being an
Aggression is an innate response in humans refers to the biological approach and there have been many studies that have provided compelling evidence for biological influences in aggression. Konrad Lorenz (1950) argued that aggressive energy is in constant production …show more content…
Many studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between gender and aggression and that males are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour than females. (Maccoby & Jacklin, 1980). Evolution suggests that males are aggressive in order to protect their genes, they establish dominance over other males and if they have paternal uncertainty they will have a jealous motivation to be aggressive. Evolutionary theorists see aggression as having social and economic advantages and therefore it is an innate response in order to survive. Social dominance in males will give them access to more females due to their status and therefore they can reproduce and this is why aggressive behaviour to other males is exhibited. This is supported by crime statistics that show males are most likely to commit violent crime during their peak reproductive years. Victims of crime are also likely to be in their peak reproductive years, those aged 16-24 are more than twice as likely to be the victim of a violent crime as any other age band. Also, 3.2% of males experienced violent crime in comparison to 1.9% of females, which supports the evolutionary theory that males exhibit aggression over other males in order to gain dominance. Not only that but single people were far more likely to be victims than those who are married which suggests that jealous motivation for aggression is in fact true …show more content…
This theory suggests that an increase in testosterone during puberty is linked to an increase in aggression. Evidence shows that mice with high levels of administered testosterone show more aggressive behaviour (Bruer et al, 2001). However, this is not applicable to humans so studies carried out on humans have shown that boys show a positive correlation between high levels of testosterone and social aggression but girls do not (Sanchez-Martin et al, 2000). Although most studies show that aggression due to testosterone is mainly linked to males, Cashdan (2003) has shown that women who show competitive aggression have higher levels of testosterone. Further studies carried out on testosterone and cortisol levels have shown that individuals with high testosterone levels were only positively correlated with aggression if they had low cortisol levels (Mehta & Joseph, 2010). There are also studies that show that genes have a role in aggression. Caspi et al (2002) demonstrated that the gene responsible for encoding the enzyme Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) could moderate the effects of childhood maltreatment, which often turns into aggression in adulthood. Individuals with low MAOA activity will show more violence. These studies therefore suggest that testosterone level, cortisol levels and genes can affect aggression in both male and females and is evidence for aggression being an