Position Paper: Aggression

Physical assault and aggression is the second leading cause of death among 14 to 17 year olds, next to vehicular accidents (Loeber). But why are humans so aggressive in the first place? There are two sides of the debate: Nature, and Nurture. Some say that it’s human nature, genetics that cause most behaviors, while others say that we act as we learned during childhood. This argument applies to aggression as well. Aggression is mainly caused by things during childhood and adolescence where people learn from various sources about aggression, although, human psychology plays a slight factor.

But, what is aggression in the first place? Aggression is a behavior that causes or intends to cause harm to others. Accidental harm does not count as aggression, because the perpetrator did not intentionally mean to hurt the victim. Additionally, there are two types: reactive, and instrumental. Reactive aggression is aggression that is a response to an event. Instrumental aggression is used as a means to an end, a planned aggression to achieve a desired result, whether physical, mental, or emotional (Anderson 27-51). The two sides of the cause of aggression comes down to nature versus nurture. Some claim that aggression is learned, while others claim it is genetic (Ferguson). The former is more plausible, though the second should not be discounted.

The “Blank Slate” or tabula rasa theory states that humans are an empty slate to be filled with knowledge and behavior at birth (Locke). Humans are innately peaceful, and only learn how to hate and manipulate through society (Rousseau). Therefore, aggression is learned, not innately present. These theories have been accepted by many people, and influences how we teach children today. Applied to ag...

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...his all leads to the conclusion that aggressive behaviors are learned, and are not something that you are simply born with.

Works Cited

Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002). Human aggression. Annual Review of Psychology, 53(00664308), 27-51. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/205753750?accountid=1946

De Aguirre, María Inés. "Neurobiological Bases of Aggression, Violence, and Cruelty." Behavioral and Brain Sciences 29.3 (2006): 228-. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

Ferguson, Chistopher J. “Natural-born killers: The genetic origins of extreme violence.” Aggression and Violent Behavior. 14(2009): 286-294. ScienceDirect. Web. 7 February 2012.

Loeber, Rolf. “Key issues in the devlipment of aggression and violence from childhood to early adulthood.” Annual Review of Psychology. 48 (1997): 371-410. Proquest. Web. 7 February 2012.