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Psychology of Aggression & Violence

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Psychology of Aggression & Violence:
Aggression: Behavior perpetrated or attempted with the intention of harming another individual physically or psychologically or to destroy an object.
Violence: Actual, attempted, or threatened physical harm that is deliberate and non-consenting: * Includes violence against victims who cannot give full, informed consent * Includes fear-inducing behavior, where threats may be implicit or directed at third parties Types of Aggression:
Hostile (or expressive) aggression: Occurs in response to anger-inducing conditions, such as real or perceived insults, physical attacks, or one’s own failures. (Goal = to make victim suffer. Intense and disorganized emotion)
Instrumental aggression: Begins with competition or the desire for some object or status possessed by another person. Goal = obtain desired object. No intent to harm, although indifferent.
Violence as a Choice:
The proximal cause of violence is a decision to act violently .The decision is influenced by a host of biological, psychological, and social factors .Neurological insult, hormonal abnormality, psychosis, personality disorder, exposure to violent models, attitudes that condone violence.
Cognitive Models of Aggression:
Most research supports the notion that human aggression is primarily learned (early learning and socialization).
Hostile attribution bias: Individual’s prone to violence are more likely to interpret ambiguous actions as hostile and threatening
Cognitive Self-Regulation and Violence:
Self-regulatory mechanisms - (Social learning and social cognition theory).Weak cognitive control can facilitate impulsive actions, thus in certain circumstances our actions are directed by external situation instead of cognitive.
Theoretical Perspectives on Aggression:
Frustration-aggression hypothesis: 1) The person is blocked from obtaining an

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