The Role of Social Factors in Aggression: A Psychology Research Report

This research paper examines the significant role of social factors in influencing aggression. The author argues that social determinants, including exposure to violence within families and communities, are the strongest predictors of aggressive behavior. The paper supports this argument with examples and statistical data, highlighting the increased prevalence and severity of aggression over the past 50 years. It discusses how learned behaviors, environmental influences, and phenomena like deindividuation contribute to aggressive tendencies. The paper also explores the biological predisposition to aggression, such as the higher rates of suicidal activities in men compared to women. The conclusion emphasizes the need for further research to identify ways to reduce aggression and promote peace within society, advocating for a shift from aggressive responses to conflict resolution.

Running head: AGGRESSION
Aggression
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Aggression
Aggression refers to intense feeling of anger which may result into violent behaviour.
Aggression may not always result in violent behaviour (Dinstein, 2017). Although this is the
case, it makes an individual be in a state where they are ready to confront or attack. There are
numerous factors that may cause aggression. Extensive evidence reveals that individuals who
have a history of fighting or engaging in violent behaviour are more likely to be aggressive
than those who have not. Abusing drugs such as alcohol increases the likelihood of
aggression (Chan and La, 2016). People who have a history of controlling others are also
known to be more aggressive than others (Dinstein, 2017). There are several instances where
I have encountered aggression. I will provide a brief history of the factors surrounding the
aggressive behaviour. The aggressive behaviours that I have encountered were mainly from
persons who are under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol interferes with rational judgement
and this tends to make persons who are under the influence of alcohol to be aggressive. The
other forms of aggression I have witnesses are from people who have power and authority.
According to Falkner, Grosenick, Davidson, Deisseroth and Lin, there is a sense in which
most people who are in power cannot condone confrontation or correction from people
through them. I have encountered several people in positions of power who physically abuse
soldiers who request to carry out a security search on them. These may be soldiers at the
entrance of a restaurant or some other place. This paper is going to focus on some statistics
on aggression and explain the social factors of aggression. Social factors of aggression are the
strongest determinants of aggression. This is because most of these cases revolve around
human relations.
Extensive evidence reveals that cases of aggression have greatly increased over the
last 50 years (Chan and La Greca, 2016). It is sad to note that these cases have increased both
in frequency and severity. A report produced by the World Health Organization in the year

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2002 showed that at least 4400 people die every year due to cases of violence and aggression
(Krug, Mercy, Dahlberg and Zwi, 2002). Research shows that there exists no significant
aggression behaviour in a child after the age of 6 years. Therefore, most aggressive
behaviours are developed before the age of 6 and carried forward to later years (Chan and La,
2016). In addition, aggressive behaviour of adolescents is likely to be of a higher magnitude
compared to that of children. This is because aggression in adolescents is likely to involve the
use of weapons. Men are known to be more aggressive than women. This is biological
predisposition to aggression. Let us look at some an example with suicide to show this. Men
are twice as likely to engage in suicidal activities when compared to women (Dinstein, 2017).
Social causes of aggression are the most determinants of aggression since they revolve
around people and their way of life. Let us look at how social factors are the most important
causes of aggression. Suppose an individual grows in a family that is characterized by
aggressive behaviour. This may include a situation where aggression is observed between
parents. Such a person is likely to grow into an aggressive person.
The environment in which an individual is raised or lives in plays a great role in
influencing their social behaviour (Dinstein, 2017). Extensive evidence reveals that people
who have grown up in neighbourhood that is saturated with aggressive behaviour are more
likely to exhibit aggressive behaviours compared to those were raised in calm and peaceful
environments (Falkner, Grosenick, Davidson, Deisseroth and Lin, 2016). Most behaviours
are learnt. Therefore, being in a neighbourhood that is full of aggressive behaviour may make
a person learn how to be aggressive. In fact, such an individual may believe that the only
approach to any problem should be aggressiveness. There also exists evidence to show that
aggression may arise due to a psychosocial situation called deindividuation (Falkner,
Grosenick, Davidson, Deisseroth and Lin, 2016). This refers to the tendency of people
behaving differently when they are in a crowd than when they are alone. Here, individuals are

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likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour when they are in groups rather than when they are
alone. Let us take some two examples. Most of the individuals who have been involved in
murder and other aggressive behaviour have been shown to originate from families or
neighbourhoods that had a lot of aggressive behaviour. Evidence also shows that gangs are
likely to be crueller when the members of the gang are together rather than when they are not
together (Falkner, Grosenick, Davidson, Deisseroth and Lin, D). It is therefore true to
conclude that social factors of aggression are the most important determinant of aggression.
In conclusion, social factors are the most determinants of aggression because they
involve learning by human beings. Human beings learn through different ways. One of the
greatest ways in which human beings learn is through observation. Children who are raised in
families characterized with domestic violence or other forms of aggression are more likely to
grow into aggressive adults compared to children who were raised in an environment free of
aggression. The environment in which an individual life in also plays a role in determining
the level of aggression. Although there have been numerous researches in the area of
aggression, there is need for more research. This research should be geared towards
identifying potential ways of ensuring that the level of aggression in the contemporary
society is reduced. There are so many cases of aggression in the contemporary society that an
individual almost lives in fear of encountering this behaviour. Researchers should carry out
research that is aimed at establishing possible ways of rooting out aggressive behaviour from
the human culture. The aim of research should not be to eliminate anger. Rather, it should be
to eliminate the severe cases of aggression that are being experienced at every corner of the
globe. If such research yielded positive results, the world would most probably become a
better place to live in. Lastly, it is important for societies to embrace peace and work towards
eliminating all forms of aggression.

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References
Chan, S. F., & La Greca, A. M. (2016, February). Cyber victimization and aggression: Are
they linked with adolescent smoking and drinking? In Child & Youth Care Forum,
45(1), 47-63
Dinstein, Y. (2017). War, aggression and self-defence (3rd ed). London: Cambridge
University Press.
Falkner, A. L., Grosenick, L., Davidson, T. J., Deisseroth, K., & Lin, D. (2016).
Hypothalamic control of male aggression-seeking behavior. Nature neuroscience,
19(4), 596.
Krug, E. G., Mercy, J. A., Dahlberg, L. L., & Zwi, A. B. (2002). The world report on
violence and health. The lancet, 360(9339), 1083-1088.