Learn AboutAggression
When you act out with the intent to cause physical or emotional harm to another person or object, this behavior is known as aggression. Aggressive behavior can be a knee-jerk reaction to a trigger, or it can be planned in advance.
Aggression typically falls into two categories:
- Physical or hostile aggression
- Emotional or relational aggression
Hostile aggression happens when you attempt to injure an individual by way of hitting, pinching, biting, pushing, or inflicting any other type of physical harm. Destroying property is also considered hostile aggression. Relational aggression can involve spreading rumors, teasing someone, or intentionally excluding a person so that he or she feels badly.
However, regardless of the type of aggression that you display, it is likely that this kind of behavior can cause problems within your own life and in the lives of those you care about.
For many people, aggressive behaviors are learned early in life. Some people behave aggressively while under the influence of drugs, or due to the presence of an untreated mental health disorder.
What is most important to know is that aggression, no matter the cause, can be treated with proper care. With the support of professionals, you can learn to manage your aggression so that you can live a happy and productive life.
FAQs
Intermittent explosive disorder involves repeated, sudden bouts of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts. The reactions are too extreme for the situation. Road rage, domestic abuse, throwing or breaking objects, or other temper tantrums may be symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder.
What are the symptoms of aggressive behavior disorder? ›
Intermittent explosive disorder involves repeated, sudden bouts of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts. The reactions are too extreme for the situation. Road rage, domestic abuse, throwing or breaking objects, or other temper tantrums may be symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder.
What are the signs and symptoms displayed by a hostile potentially aggressive patient? ›
Non-verbal or Behavioral Cues
- Physical appearance (clothing and hygiene neglected)
- Arms held tight across chest.
- Clenched fists.
- Heavy breathing.
- Pacing or agitation.
- A terrified look signifying fear and high anxiety.
- A fixed stare.
- Aggressive or threatening posture.
There are four types of aggressive behavior: accidental, expressive, instrumental, and hostile. It is important to un- derstand these behaviors that children may display so your responses are effective. Accidental aggression is just that, an accident.
What are examples of aggressive behavior? ›
Aggression can be direct behaviors such as hitting, kicking, biting, and pushing to name a few. Additionally, aggression can take on an indirect form like teasing, bullying, spreading rumors, name-calling, or ignoring someone.
What are the symptoms of aggression and violence? ›
The following are examples of the signs and symptoms that a person may exhibit before or during acts of aggression:
- Agitation.
- Hyperarousal and hypervigilance.
- Paranoia.
- Dramatic mood swings.
- Argumentativeness.
- Delusions.
- Poor judgment.
- Impaired coping skills.
Examples of Precipitating Factors
The causes behind aggressive behavior can include (but are not limited to): Fear, anxiety, stress. Unmet physical needs (hunger, silence) or emotional needs (recognition, love) Traumatic experiences.
What are the five signs of escalating behavior? ›
- Five Warning Signs of Escalating Behavior. Warning Signs. ...
- Frustration. Behavior characterized by reaction or resistance to information. ...
- Blame. Placing responsibility for problems on everyone. ...
- Anger - Judgment Call Required. Characterized by a visible change in body posture and disposition. ...
- Hostility – Judgment Call Required.
Violent and aggressive patients have the intention to dominate another person; as such, they express anger, defensive behaviour, verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, threats or non-verbal gestures.
What is aggression in mental health? ›
Aggression, according to social psychology, describes any behavior or act aimed at harming a person or animal or damaging physical property. A few examples of aggressive acts: acts of physical violence. shouting, swearing, and harsh language. gossiping or spreading rumors about a classmate.
An aggressive personality trait or trait aggressiveness has been defined as “a general propensity to engage in acts of physical and verbal aggression, a proneness to anger, and a proneness to hold hostile beliefs about other people across situations” (Buss & Perry, 1992; Baron & Richardson, 1994; Berkowitz, 1993; ...
What are 3 aggressive behaviors? ›
Physical, verbal, impulsive and instrumental aggression can all be considered types of aggressive behaviour.
What are the 5 categories of aggressive behavior? ›
Types of aggression:
Social/relational and cyberbullying, Instrumental/cognitive and physical, Verbal and emotional/impulsive, Instrumental/cognitive and social/relational.
What is the difference between anger and aggression? ›
While anger is a feeling/emotion, aggression is the behaviour or action taken that is hostile, destructive and/or violent. It can be physical assault, throwing objects, property damage, self-harming behaviours or verbal threats or insults.
What are the signs and symptoms of Behavioural disorder? ›
Understanding Behavioral Health Symptoms
- Confusion or lack of focus.
- Fretfulness, anxiety, and/or intense feelings of guilt.
- Sudden mood swings.
- Antisocial behavior or emotional withdrawal.
- Feeling lethargic and depressed.
- Difficulty handling stress.
- Strong sense of alienation from people or life situations.
Conduct disorder
- frequent refusal to obey parents or other authority figures.
- repeated truancy.
- tendency to use drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, at a very early age.
- lack of empathy for others.
- being aggressive to animals and other people or showing sad*stic behaviours including bullying and physical or sexual abuse.
Aside from these formal diagnoses, when people are afraid, overwhelmed, feel threatened, or feel out of control, perplexed, disorientated, or frustrated, they often respond aggressively.
