This is the behavior directed against another person that is intended to cause harm or pain towards another. Aggression may be distinguished into kinds namely.

a. Hostile aggression

b. Instrumental aggression

Hostile aggression is generally provoked by pain and is emotional in nature. It occurs when the person is emotionally aroused and the aim is to do harm or revenge. Such an impulse is likely to lead to deadly behavior especially when the person is furious and has access to a weapon. Instrumental aggression is not usually caused by emotions. It is normally aims at gaining some desired rewards such as money but not to harm. This kind of aggression is controlled by rewards and punishment.

THEORIES OF AGGRESSION

In developing theories of aggression, we look at the internal forces to aggression, or we look at the external factors that pull the individual to aggress. Instinct and biological theories take the former or past while frustration aggression and social learning take the later view.

The instinct theory

This is among the oldest and most controversial theories of aggression are those that state that aggression is an instinct. This implies that behavior is inherited rather than learnt. And that the behavior pattern is common to all members of the species. Freud argued that the drive to violence arouses from within people and that humans cannot be eliminated. The instinct to aggression is common to many animal species and the critics of the theory say that if humans are instinctively aggressive, then we would expect to find a great deal of similarity in the style and amount of aggression displayed by people.

Biological theory

These theories locate the seat of aggression inside the individual. These theories differ from the instinct theory because they attempt to identify specific biological mechanisms that excite people to aggressive nature. Properties of one biological approach have attempted to locate specific parts of the brain that trigger or cause aggression. Certain neural centers give rise to violent behavior when they are stimulated. The second line of research has focused on the relationship between aggression and hormones where males are more aggressive than the females because of hormonal differences. Other researchers argue that the gender differences in aggression are due to learning and socialization rather than differences in hormones. Brain damage, tumors and epilepsy have all been related to aggression and alcohol is also a frequent partner. People who are intoxicated or under the influence commit the majority of murders, stabbings and physical child abuse among others.

Frustration theory

This theory prostrates that aggression is a consequence of frustration and that frustration always leads to aggression. According to this theory, the instigation to aggression should increase as the strength of frustration increases.

Social learning theory

This is the basic principle of operant conditioning, and is straight when applied to aggression. The possibility that aggressive behavior will occur is due to the reward system. Studies show that when aggression brings people food, material goods for social approval is more likely to reoccur. Observational learning emphasizes that besides learning aggressive behavior by directly observing others, we learnt it by watching violent shows, videos and movies.

Reducing Aggression

Many techniques have been proposed to reduce aggression and there are six strategies studied by psychologists among which they include;

1. Venting: this involves expressing impulses in an attempt to reduce subsequent aggression. Aggressive venting impulses are referred to as catharsis. The Norton of catharsis seems consistent with common sense. People often say they need to let off steam. Venting can be expressed verbally or through fantasy i.e. by writing aggressive stories.

2. Punishment: this is defined as delivery of aversive stimulus after undesirable behavior. It is one of the most common needs that society, individuals, uses to control instrumental rather than hostile aggression. Punishment may be particularly tricky as a method of controlling aggression because it is sometimes a kind of aggression, and to be effective punishment should be relatively strong, applied quickly and consistent to others.

3. Creating responses incompatible or mismatch with aggression

4. Providing social restraints

5. Counseling.