Difference Between Aggression And Violence

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Video games have a large foothold in present American culture. Todays children and adolescence are immersed in a world of electronics and technology that is rapidly changing and evolving. A vast majority of video games contain a violence component. One could see that the exposure to violent video games can be correlated to increased aggression in adolescence but, it’s more complex then that. We live in a culture that has an insatiable appetite for destruction. From watching a action movie to watching news broadcasts of a disaster to riding a rollercoaster there is an evident thrill seeking component as well as a general fascination with anything that pertains to death and disaster. If a child or adolescent is not exposed to …show more content…

These two terms are often used interchangeably but there is a distinct difference. Someone who perpetrates an act of violence may be acting with aggression but an aggressive person might not commit a violent act.
Aggression is any form of angry or violent emotions or behaviors. This can be expressed in varying degrees. Accidental aggression is typically unintentional and is the result of carelessness. An example of this is someone running into another person while in a hurry to catch a bus. Expressive aggression is intentional but it does not have violent intent. An example of this is a child kicking sand or throwing toys. Although the behavior can be frustrating or harmful to another person, the child did not intend to cause harm. Then there is instrumental aggression. Instrumental aggression results from conflict over objects or what is assumed to be one’s rights. For instance a student that wants to sit at a desk that has been taken might retaliate by knocking the occupants belongings off the desk. This is also be a form of passive aggression. Finally there is hostile aggression which is intended to cause physical or psychological distress. Forms of hostile aggression include bullying, malicious gossiping as well as reactive aggression or reacting to a provoking

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