www.chitraltimes.com

 
Aggression

Zehra Parvani

American Psychological Association (2007) quotes that:
Anger is completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems- problem at work, in your personal relationships, and in the over all quality of your life. And it can make you feel as though you’re at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion.

From the time we are born our minds are analyzing the world around us and giving us understanding to respond people. But once our response is defensive, destructive, criticizing and furious people mark us as fussy, violent and aggressive. What is that which makes us such horrible? Is this the culture, X factor or some thing else? Leonard, Quigley & Collins (2003) in their research in United States found that 40% female and 50% males around their surrounding exhibit different forms of aggression. In addition, world wide terrorism has caught the attention of public health care professionals towards it. Thus the aim of this paper is to create awareness of public and health care workers to recognize the factors of aggression and propose solutions to convert it into constructive ways.

Aggression is an emotional state that is used to describe the behavior adapted to cause harm or pain to others. It varies from mild irritation to complete rage. Different authors have different theories of aggression. Although there are diverse arguments but the two main factors are grouped according to the social and biological explanations. Huesmann (1998) believes that “the imitation and observation is important to learn the aggressive behavior” (p.78). In the light of the literature, it has been observed that children who are exposed to violence in the family are more likely to become violent and aggressive. Similarly, it is also found that the violent anti socialists have the history of child abuse. Another social observational aggression is leant by watching violent programs on televisions like wrestling, boxing and antisocial dramas. Besides that, other studies claim that alcohol, drug addiction, pain, discomfort, frustration and unmet needs are some factors that predispose aggression.

Although aggression is originated and directed by external stimuli but it has some significance from the body. The five specific internal stimuli predispose aggression are brain dysfunction, neurotransmitters, hormones, birth complications and nutritional deficiency. The prefrontal region of the brain regulates the emotions like aggression but its malfunctioning can lead to uncontrollable aggressive behaviors. Likewise, Raine, Buchsbaum & LaCasse (1997) mention that “aggressive prisoners have been shown to have reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal region of the brain” (498). In addition, neurotransmitters, special chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin have significant role for aggressive behaviors. If these chemicals increase the person becomes out of control. Therefore, the people with the mental illnesses are prone to become violent and involve in antisocial acts. Besides that, birth complications have also been found to have direct link with aggression and violence. When these complications combine with psychosocial risk factors such as disadvantaged family environment and poor parenting, the risk of person to be aggressive is increase. Liu (2004) summarizes that “… specific birth complications (e.g., anoxia, forceps delivery etc.) are believed to result in central nervous system damage, which in turn impairs brain function, which then predisposes to aggression” (p. 8). Along with these nutritional deficiencies like malnutrition, iron and zinc deficiencies are directly associated with aggressive behavior and conduct disorders. Moreover, sex hormone such as testosterone is also responsible for shaping aggressive behavior. Therefore, males get irritated and angry soon especially during adulthood when their sex hormone is at peak. Even now estrogen, the female sex hormone is also thought to be increase during aggression.
It is important to be aware about different forms of aggression that carry consequences. There are two distinct ways in which aggression exists. First is overt or direct mean of aggression that is towards an individual in physical manner. This form of aggression can lead to social problems such as cruelty, assaults, domestic violence and rapes. In contrast, the other form is covert or indirect way of aggression, which includes unhealthy actions like rumor spreading, gossiping and social isolation. It was initially thought that the aggression is fixed with the male’s personality. How ever, recent studies have clarified that the males display overt aggression while females show aggression through indirect means. It is quite possible that due to cultural values women express their anger in covert ways. Jack (1999) mentions that “women might mask their aggression through manipulation, silence and exaggerated sweetness.” However, over time, such coping mechanisms can lead to psychological problems such as depression. In addition, aggression can also lead to physiological problems like hypertension and heart disease. Therefore it is important not to ignore even mild attacks of aggression as they can worsen the life of self and others.

People use variety of ways to deal with the aggression but three main constructive approaches to deal with this emotional out burst are expressing, suppressing and calming. Expression of anger through assertive mean is the best and healthiest approach to cope with anger. To be assertive, person need to learn about the ways to get his needs without hurting others. Suppression is the other strategy to hold the anger by focusing on the positive aspects. Other suggested techniques to dealt with anger are based on finding out the reason that triggers anger and then to develop strategies to keep it away from self. Besides that, relaxation, using humor, changing environment, problem solving, better communication and cognitive restructuring are some good strategies to manage the anger.
In conclusion, over all phenomenon of aggression summarizes that the biological and psychosocial learning are the factors that incline aggression. As an aggression carries many physiological, psychological and social problems therefore, one should need to use constructive ways to manage anger. Besides that, health professionals should conduct awareness session for the public on anger management. As one cannot avoid the situations that supplement the aggression but can learn ways to control it.