Sociology Psych 2400: Age, Gender, Culture in Aggression Responses

This sociology essay delves into the multifaceted determinants of aggression, focusing on the influences of age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. The paper begins by defining aggression and exploring its various forms, highlighting its roots in both personal and situational variables. A literature review examines gender differences, noting the tendency for men to exhibit more physical aggression and women to engage in non-physical forms. The essay explores hormonal and evolutionary factors contributing to these differences, as well as the role of social learning. Age is also analyzed, with different age groups displaying varying patterns of aggression, from toddlers to older adults. The discussion then shifts to cultural influences, contrasting Eastern and Western cultures and their differing norms regarding aggression, particularly in relation to honor and social expectations. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding these determinants to address and mitigate aggressive behaviors, acknowledging both biological and psychological factors and advocating for further research. This essay, contributed by a student, is available on Desklib, a platform providing AI-based study tools.

SOCIOLOGY
Psych 2400
Student Name
Student Id
Affiliation
Date

SOCIOLOGY
Age and gender vs Eastern and Western cultures as determinants of response to aggression
Introduction
Aggression refers to a range of behaviors that often result in either psychological or physical
harm or both to oneself, others, and even objects in the immediate environment. Aggression
takes various forms, including mental, emotional, physical, and verbal. Aggression an antisocial
behavior that is meant to express anger or hostility, to assert dominance, a response to fear, a
reaction to pain, and to intimidate or threaten. The occurrence of aggression is a typical example
of the interaction between personal variables and situations variables. Evidence shows that even
though the social situation is crucial, not everyone is influenced equally. Aggression varies from
one individual to another, and some of the determinants of these differences are gender and
cultural differences. This paper will focus on age, gender cultural differences as determinants of
aggression.
Literature Review
Gender differences contribute so much to people's tendencies for aggression. Evidence shows
there is a universal tendency of men to be more and easily aggravated than women. Besides,
women and girls tend to use more nonphysical aggression, including intentionally excluding
others from events and activities, shouting, insulting, and spreading rumors. On the other hand,
men are attributed to more to violent and physical aggression (Berke et al 2012). This is often
demonstrated by actions that comprise pushing, hitting, tripping, and kicking. Gender differences
in aggression have been found in almost every culture studied. For instance, evidence shows that
99% and 90% of the world's rape and robbery cases, respectively, are committed by men. In
children, statistics are not any different because boys show a higher rate of aggression as

SOCIOLOGY
compared to their girl's counterparts. In infants, the same case applies. Infant boys often show
more anger as well as imperfect emotional regulation in comparison to infant girls (Chen,
Wilhelm, & Joeckel, 2019).
However, it is essential to note that even though these gender differences exist, it does not imply
that men and women are different. Both genders respond to provocation with aggression only
that their extent and means of responding differ significantly. Hormones often cause gender
differences in aggression. In men, testosterone, a hormone responsible for aggression, occurs at a
higher level (Björkqvist, 2018). Apart from hormones, evolutionary factors also feature as a
cause of gender differences in aggression. During evolution, women stayed behind to take care
of homesteads and children while men were engaged in more aggressive tasks such as hunting
and fighting enemies. As a result, men naturally learned to aggress because in fulfilling their
roles and duties, it is a requirement that they are somewhat aggressive (Farnicka, &
Grzegorzewska, 2016). Also, it is a natural evolutionary tendency of men to be competitive to
gain both status and recognition. Evidence shows that men with a higher social status attract
more women, something that every man desire; this is often attributed to aggression.
Evolution and hormones do not entirely determine gender differences in aggression; social
learning a very crucial variable is also attributed to the significant gender differences. Unlike
evolution and hormones, social learning contributes to about 69% of gender differences in
aggression (Goodnight et al 2014). Take an example of a ten-year old's; a boy and a girl get
involved in a fight, and both report their parents. The parent's responses in each of these cases
will be different. There is a high probability of boys being reinforced to be more aggressive than
girls. Studies indicate that more aggressive young boys are often popular in elementary school
because they use their aggression to gain as well as maintain their social status. The opposite is

SOCIOLOGY
true for girls. Girls who use nonphysical means of expressing aggression often gain more social
benefits.
Age is a significant aspect that determines the difference in aggression response as well as
manifestation. Different age groups respond to and manifest aggression if in different ways.
These age groups comprise toddlers and preschoolers, school-age children, adolescents, adults,
and older adults. For toddlers and preschoolers' aggression is considered a part of healthy
growth and development (Neuman, 2012). Before developing verbal skills, aggression in
toddlers is often manifested physically. With time, verbal skills developed, and this substitutes
aggression and communication of needs that could not be expressed physically.
Theoretical explanation
Regarding age toddlers display aggressive behavior through acts such as screaming, crying,
breaking, and throwing objects. In school-age children, more social interactions often drive them
towards developing more aggressive actions and patterns of response, including bullying,
teasing, and fighting. Evidence shows that form the ages of two- and eleven-years’ aggressive
behaviors and patterns tend to increase. The increase is often attributed to enhanced development
of verbal skills as well as increased social interactions. In adolescents, more severe and violent
aggression develops, which results in injuries or death in worse cases because of the use of
weapons. Evidence shows that the increase in body strength and the use of weapons influences
adolescents to be more aggressive than any other age group (Younan et al 2016). It is as well
essential to note that most cases of aggression among adolescents are usually directed to people
in authority. Besides, most aggression occurs in groups, especially gang activities and
substantive rioting.

SOCIOLOGY
Furthermore, peer relationships have been a significant factor that has empowered violent
aggression among adolescents. This is often brought by the fear of isolation or a total loss of
social standings among peers. Most peers also develop aggressive behaviors as a result of earlier
domestic or sexual abuse. A study by the World health organization shows a prevalence of
fighting in adolescent boys to be between 37%-69% while that of women to be between 13%-
32% (Pauletti, Cooper & Perry, 2014). There is an abnormal rise in aggression levels of children
during adolescence. However, this often disappears in early adulthood. In adults, aggression
escalates into more intense violent acts, including child abuse, homicide, and sexual abuse. The
aggression is often directed towards caregivers and other residents. Evidence shows a higher rate
of homicide and suicide among older adults, especially those above 55 years (Smith et al 2019).
Just like for age and gender, culture is also a very significant determinant of aggression patterns
and behavior among people. In Eastern culture, for instance, society not only rewards aggression
but also demands it under certain circumstances. Most of the countries in the East, including
Pakistan and India, live by the honor system (Stockermans & Hardy, 2013). According to this, if
a family or a family member's honor has been tarnished, the aggressive action must be adapted to
reinstate the honor. Honor killings take place when another kills a person responsible for
tarnishing other's reputations to maintain their status and honor. In Eastern culture as well, boys
are expected to be strong and brave. Here, strength and bravely is demonstrated by taking what
they want and when they want it (Tsorbatzoudis, Travlos & Rodafinos, 2013). For instance,
when a boy in the Eastern culture demonstrates aggression to gain a leadership position in a
group, they are rewarded with respect. Where they display non-aggression, they are ridiculed. A
recent study shows that most Easterners that display aggressive behaviors are more readily
accepted in the society that lacks them (Van Lange, Rinderu & Bushman, 2017).

SOCIOLOGY
Discussion
Age and gender as well as cultural differences contribute so much towards aggression patterns
and response. Apart from this social norms and expectations on the roles of men and women
contribute so much towards differences in aggression among different genders. In most societies
and countries, women are expected to be other-oriented (Loeber, Capaldi & Costello, 2013).
Various attributed are naturally expected from them, including emotional expressivity and
friendliness. In cases where women aggress, they use their aggression as a means of reducing
stress and expressing anger. On the other hand, men are expected to portray more self-oriented
characteristics such as assertiveness and independence; they are as such expected to be
aggressive to gain higher social status and rewords (Van, Rinderu & Bushman, 2017). Society
naturally justifies aggression in men than in women. It is right for men to be bold while it is rude
for women to be. It is therefore clear that these differences can be learned and are highly
determined by social learning, something we see, hear, and do (Gallardo-Pujol et al 2019).
Different Western countries show different patterns and modes of aggression. The United States,
for instance, is considered a more violent country in comparison to those similar to it, such as
Australia and the United Kingdom. These differences show that different cultures vary in how
their members aggress against each other (Cihangir, 2013). A study indicates that when children
from a diverse cultural background enter a more violent culture like that of the United States,
they are often socialized to be more violent. Children born in Western cultures also tend to be
less aggressive than those in Eastern culture. This is so because of the lifestyle aspect and values
that Condon certain aggressiveness in the Eastern that is rarely present in the West.
Conclusion

SOCIOLOGY
It is conclusive that in understanding determinants of aggression various situations are
considered. Among these issues comprise of cultural differences, age and gender. These
variables play a very significant role in understanding aggression. As depicted above, aggression
patterns change depending on age, gender and cultural back ground. Aggressive behaviors pose
critical individual as well as public risks. It is therefore that people understand these differences
and how to address this aggression amongst people of different ages, gender and culture.
Aggressive behavior is linked to both biological and psychological factors, despite this
understanding, there is need to embark on more research to address this issue because it is a very
significant variable in human interactions and social co-existence.

SOCIOLOGY
References
Berke, D. S., Sloan, C. A., Parrott, D., & Zeichner, A. (2012). Effects of female gender role and
gender norm conformity on aggression in men: Does positive masculinity reduce the
risk? Psychology of men & masculinity, 13(4), 367.
Björkqvist, K. (2018). Gender differences in aggression. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 39-
42.
Cihangir, S. (2013). Gender specific honor codes and cultural change. Group Processes &
Intergroup Relations, 16(3), 319-333.
Chen, V. H. H., Wilhelm, C., & Joeckel, S. (2019). Relating video game exposure, sensation
seeking, aggression and socioeconomic factors to school performance. Behaviour &
Information Technology, 1-13.
Farnicka, M., & Grzegorzewska, I. (2016). Intrapersonal correlates of aggression in adolescents:
determinants of undertaking the role of the perpetrator and the victim. Current Issues in
Personality Psychology, 3(1), 25-35.
Goodnight, B. L., Cook, S. L., Parrott, D. J., & Peterson, J. L. (2014). Effects of masculinity,
authoritarianism, and prejudice on antigay aggression: A path analysis of gender-role
enforcement. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 15(4), 437.

SOCIOLOGY
Gallardo-Pujol, D., Penelo, E., Sit, C., Jornet-Gibert, M., Suso, C., Buades-Rotger, M., ... &
Bryant, F. B. (2019). The meaning of aggression varies across culture: testing the
measurement invariance of the refined aggression questionnaire in samples from Spain,
the United States, and Hong Kong. Journal of personality assessment, 101(5), 515-520.
Loeber, R., Capaldi, D. M., & Costello, E. (2013). Gender and the development of aggression,
disruptive behavior, and delinquency from childhood to early adulthood. In Disruptive
behavior disorders (pp. 137-160). Springer, New York, NY.
Neuman, J. H. (2012). Gender and sex differences in the forms of workplace aggression. Gender
and the dysfunctional workplace, 14-28.
Pauletti, R. E., Cooper, P. J., & Perry, D. G. (2014). Influences of gender identity on children’s
maltreatment of gender-nonconforming peers: A person× target analysis of
aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(5), 843.
Stockermans, B. C., & Hardy, I. C. (2013). Subjective and objective components of resource
value additively increase aggression in parasitoid contests. Biology letters, 9(4),
20130391.
Smith, P. K., López-Castro, L., Robinson, S., & Görzig, A. (2019). Consistency of gender
differences in bullying in cross-cultural surveys. Aggression and violent behavior, 45, 33-
40.
Tsorbatzoudis, H., Travlos, A. K., & Rodafinos, A. (2013). Gender and age differences in self-
reported aggression of high school students. Journal of interpersonal violence, 28(8),
1709-1725.

SOCIOLOGY
Van Lange, P. A., Rinderu, M. I., & Bushman, B. J. (2017). Aggression and violence around the
world: A model of CLimate, Aggression, and Self-control in Humans
(CLASH). Behavioral and brain sciences, 40.
Younan, D., Tuvblad, C., Li, L., Wu, J., Lurmann, F., Franklin, M., ... & Chen, J. C. (2016).
Environmental determinants of aggression in adolescents: Role of urban neighborhood
greenspace. Journal of the American academy of child & adolescent psychiatry, 55(7),
591-601.