Essay on Human Aggression, Violence, Risk Factors, and Mass Media

This essay delves into the multifaceted nature of human aggression and violence, examining the various risk factors that contribute to these behaviors. It begins by defining aggression and violence, differentiating between the two and highlighting the challenges social psychologists face in defining these terms due to the subjective nature of intent. The essay then explores biological factors, such as the role of the amygdala and hormones like testosterone, as well as psychological factors like negative emotions and frustration. Social factors, including social reinforcement and exposure to violence through media, are also discussed. The General Aggression Model (GAM) is introduced as a framework for understanding the interplay of various influences on aggression. Finally, the essay touches upon the impact of social media, including cyberbullying, and its correlation with aggressive and depressive behaviors. In conclusion, the essay emphasizes the complex interplay of biological, social, environmental, and cultural factors, as well as the role of modern social media, in shaping human aggression and violence.

Running Head: ESSAY ON HUMAN AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE, ITS RISK
FACTORS AND EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA
Essay on Human Aggression, and Violence; its risk factors and effects of Mass Media
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ESSAY ON HUMAN AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE, ITS RISK FACTORS AND
EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA
Introduction
Aggression and violence are words that are used on an everyday basis by human beings
in order to categorize some behaviors of the fellow human beings or even of themselves. It can
be instances when people yell, hit each other try to overtake a vehicle in traffic. Aggression is
also known as banging fists on tables as an outward sign of frustration. However, the
demarcating factor between aggression and harm is the intent behind the actions. In the same
light, it has been a struggle for social psychologists to define the terms of aggression and
violence as it includes the perception of intension. Hence, what might be acts of violence and
aggression for a particular person, might not be for another. Violence, on the other hand, is
referred to aggression that comes with extreme physical harm as consequences. Acts of violence
can lead to the consequences such as injury, or even death. Hence, violence can be defined as a
subset of aggression. Therefore, any kind of violent acts are aggressive but acts that committed
to cause consequences such as murder, assault, abuse, rape, and death are termed as violent.
Discussion
With the current rise in the instances of violence, it is very easy to jump to the conclusion
that human nature is aggressive, that there is an innate tendency in us, an instinct that leads us to
commit various aggressive and violent acts. Many philosophers and social psychologists have
conducted study in this context and have arrived to a variety of conclusions (Jhangiani, Tarry &
Stangor, 2014). Well known among them are Thomas Hobbes who believed that human beings
are naturally evil and it is the responsibility of the society to put a constraint on them. A different
opinion is available from the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud who concluded that human
beings have two tendencies in them- “life instinct” and “death instinct” (Jhangiani, Tarry &

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ESSAY ON HUMAN AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE, ITS RISK FACTORS AND
EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA
Stangor, 2014). The death instinct leads to the impulsive acts of destruction of each other and
other people around them.
As the previous paragraph states that aggression is a part of human nature, in order to
understand the extent to which the biological factor contribute to the aggressive streaks in
humans, it is important to take a few facts into consideration (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor, 2014).
A substantial part of the brain is responsible for controlling the aggression, known as the
amygdala. The regulation of reception, aggression, and fear is done by this part of the brain.
With the connection of many other body parts such as the sympathetic nervous system, that is
directly related to fear. It is also related to the various facial responses, the manner in which we
process smells, along with the release of neurotransmitters that directly related to stress as well
as aggression (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor, 2014). Apart from the amygdala, hormones are also
responsible for creating aggressive situations. The most important among all the hormones,
testosterone is responsible for aggressive streaks. However, it is important to note that
testosterone in men alone are not responsible for aggression. Women too are vulnerable to
various acts of aggression although they are subjected to a very little amount of testosterone the
expression of aggression is different when it comes to women (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor,
2014).
Apart from the biological factors, many emotions are responsible towards an increase in
violent and aggressive behavior of individuals. Negative emotions such as frustration act as a
trigger to various aggressive acts. More specifically, any form of discomfort or negative emotion
leads to aggressive behavior. Hence, any possible threat one’s existing worldview leads to an
increase of aggression, but this nature of behavior is mostly limited to those who have been
contemplating their death. Nonetheless, just as the arousal of negative feelings lead to the

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ESSAY ON HUMAN AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE, ITS RISK FACTORS AND
EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA
increase of the level of aggression, positive emotions are capable of reducing aggressive
behavior (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor, 2014). However, not all negative emotions lead to
aggressive acts. Mostly displaced aggression occurs when one person’s negative emotions lead
to trigger aggression that is directed to another person. With the help of a meta-analysis, clear
evidences have been found that shows people on being provoked but unable to express their
retaliation towards them tend to direct their violence towards innocents (Jhangiani, Tarry &
Stangor, 2014).
Social factors
Apart from the body and mind of individuals that are held responsible for aggressive and
violent behavior, it is observed that a number of social factors are responsible for aggressive acts
and violence. One of the most aspects of social factors is the principles of social reinforcement.
Social reinforcement means being rewarded for being aggressive that acts as a boost for
aggressors to continue with their violent acts (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor, 2014). This situation
is more clearly visible in violent families. Children who are constantly exposed to violent nature
of their parents, they understand the fact that hitting someone is a natural response; it is a
possible solution to many problems. Modeling thus brings in new ideas regarding aggression and
violence. Hence, it also explains why being exposed to violent environment leads to an increase
of aggressive behavior in the longer period (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor, 2014). Prolonged
exposure to violence also leads to aggression. Strong evidence of such instances have been found
in people of all age groups who have been viewing television, or playing video games that
involve killing and other forms of violence. Thus, simply put in words, there is an increase in the
rate of violence and aggression when there is an increase in cognitive accessibility of violence.

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ESSAY ON HUMAN AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE, ITS RISK FACTORS AND
EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA
Desensitizing is process by which one becomes immune to viewing violent content in large
amount but remains barely influenced by the stimulus (Jhangiani, Tarry & Stangor, 2014).
The General Aggression Model (GAM)
GAM is framework that is comprehensive as well as integrative in nature, as it helps to
understand aggression better. It includes various factors that influence aggression such as social,
cognitive, personality, developmental, as well as biological (Allen & Anderson, 2017). The
framework is instrumental in accessing the details of how a person under the influence of various
social factors ends up influencing their cognition, feelings, and arousal. This again affects the
appraisal as well as decision making process, and hence influences the aggressive or non-
aggressive outcomes of behavior.
Social Media and Aggression
With the ever-increasing number of pathological internet users, the rate of cyber bullies
and use of aggression along with depressive behavior of youth has been recorded (Tripathi,
2017). A strong correlation has been found between regular Facebook scrolling, as there has
been a decline in the subjective well-being.
Conclusion
Hence, it is evident that humanity has been confused and baffled by its own nature and
course of actions of violence and aggression. This has led to the development of many
philosophical theories that was followed by the branch of psychology involving itself in
intensive effort in understand the factors that influence violence and aggression. The results have
showed the factors of biology, society, environment, culture, and presently, social media to play
active rules in acting as stimulus for aggression and violence.

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Reference
Allen, J. J., & Anderson, C. A. (2017). General aggression model. The international
encyclopedia of media effects, 1-15.
Gansner, M. E. (2017). The Internet Made Me Do It"-Social Media and Potential for Violence in
Adolescents.
Jhangiani, R., Tarry, H., & Stangor, C. (2014). Principles of social psychology-1st international
edition.
Tripathi, V. (2017). Youth violence and social media. Journal of Social Sciences, 52(1-3), 1-7.