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The secret behind aggression: Why do we feel so angry?
Anger and aggressive behavior are ubiquitous in our daily lives. Whether in social situations, at work, or in virtual spaces, these emotions often affect our behavior in unexpected ways. But why is there such intense anger? What is the reason behind this?
Aggressive behavior is not just out of anger, it can come from a range of emotional and social environmental influences.
First, aggressive behavior can be viewed as a reaction, usually resulting from frustration or the inability to achieve certain goals. For example, perceived disrespect or provocation are common anger triggers. Social psychologist Dollard et al. (1939) proposed the "frustration-aggression hypothesis". They believed that aggressive behavior is an emotional reaction caused by frustration.
Whenever we set a goal and encounter obstacles, this feeling of loss often turns into anger, which in turn prompts aggressive behavior.
In addition, according to Berkowitz's research, he believes that this kind of frustration is not so much the frustration itself, but rather the negative emotions that accompany the frustration. In this case, any aversive event triggers aggressive tendencies, so we may show significant agitation over small things.
It is worth noting that aggression is not just direct violence, it can also manifest in indirect ways. For example, social manipulation and covert bullying also fall into this category, and these behaviors can also cause harm to individuals or communities.
Aggression in adaptive behavior is not limited to harming others, but may also be a means to safeguard one's own interests.
In their research on aggressive behavior, they extended the classification of control-instrumental aggression and reactive-impulsive aggression. These classifications help us understand patterns of aggressive behavior in different contexts. Controlling-instrumental aggression is usually purposeful, whereas reactive-impulsive aggression is often sudden and uncontrolled. This causes aggressive behavior to manifest itself differently in different situations.
From a biological perspective, some studies believe that aggressive behavior is part of evolution and is driven by the need for survival and reproduction. Additionally, gender plays a key role in the expression of aggressive behavior. Research has found that men are more likely to display direct aggression, while women may be more likely to use indirect forms of social aggression. The roots of these differences can be traced to the background of human evolution and the formation of social roles.
In some cases, aggressive behavior can be viewed as a means to gain resources, status, or reproductive opportunities.
Looking further, the intensity and performance of human aggressive behavior are affected by cultural, social and psychological factors. Our family background, social environment, and experiences all influence our response patterns. Under the influence of stress or social provocation, we may feel an urge to fight back, often triggered by our basic need for dignity and rights.
However, the consequences of aggressive behavior may not only cause substantial harm to others, but also affect the perpetrator's own mental health. Long-term aggressive behavior can lead to consequences such as social alienation and mental illness, which we should think deeply about when expressing anger.
Finally, although defense and counterattack are instinctive reactions, learning to properly manage these emotions is a major challenge faced by modern people. Have we ever thought about whether we could choose a more peaceful way to express our emotions and needs before we react?
