Aggression, in whatever form, scares people. It has many faces and can turn against the person, things, objects and things of all kinds. Deliberately causing harm to someone or something is aggression. The countless reports and news give the appearance and suggest that aggression is steadily increasing in our society.
What are aggressions
Causes of aggression can be stress and social stimuli. Actions of any kind, which are done intentionally and purposefully to hurt or destroy, are called aggression. Aggression can be physical or verbal. There are many approaches and theories on how to define aggression. The learning theory approach to psychology explains aggression as a learned, acquired behavior in humans throughout their lives. This model learning is especially common in children. Children are decisively influenced by adults, by the consumption of television, by the Internet and by video games. Aggression is therefore predominantly characterized as a behavioral or emotional disposition. Violence, in contrast to it, is a form to express aggression. It is also to be considered as a subset of aggression.
Causes
Aggression can be especially familial in nature. Thus, its causes may be found in the mother’s mental illness or the alcoholic father’s propensity to violence. In this context, there are a variety of unfavorable conditions in families and in the environment that can be triggers of aggression. These include, for example, family tensions, lack of positive role models, no recognition, physical violence and sexual abuse. The study “Zur Entwicklung der Gewalt in Deutschland” (On the Development of Violence in Germany) conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) shows that adolescents experience violence decisively in two areas. These are school on the one hand and the family on the other. In which of the two areas children and adolescents are more confronted with violence could not be determined. This study shows that the majority of adolescents exposed to aggression at home reported mild forms of violence. Severe aggression, such as being kicked, beaten, or beaten up, towards children and adolescents in families is described by 15% of adolescents. Psychology plausibly explains aggression with the learning theory approach. According to this, aggression as a certain category of behavior is learned by humans. This basically happens in the same way as learning to swim, read or write. Three types of learning are distinguished here:
Classical conditioning
Stimuli can trigger a certain behavior in humans. This behavior is called an unconditioned response. This stimulus-response learning is a linkage of stimulus and response that occurs independently of consciousness. The operant conditioning
Here, the behavior represents the instrument that elicits the corresponding consequence. Here, positive and negative reinforcement, punishment and extinction are distinguished. This learning process takes place under certain conditions and in certain situations. Accordingly, the behavior appears later exclusively in similar situations. Learning from the model
Learning from the model is also called observational learning. A previously observed action of the model is imitated or imitated. When observing, the reinforcing consequences of the model’s behavior are also perceived. The imitated response does not have to be shown in a timely manner. It is learned primarily from witnessing the harm or benefit of others. Because the influence of adult role models and media is particularly great in childhood, this model can be observed frequently here.
Diseases with this symptom
- Anxiety disorder
- Burnout syndrome
- Psychoses
- Drug Psychosis
- Rabies
- Dissocial personality disorder
- Hypertension
- Alcoholism
- Alcohol addiction
Complications
Aggression is a distinct behavioral disorder and can occur at any age.These behaviors, such as lashing out, destroying objects, rioting and self-mutilation, can endanger oneself or others. Aggressive people largely meet with rejection as a result of their behavior. They are ostracized. However, the more contact with the social environment is broken, the higher the risk of aggression.
When should you go to the doctor?
Aggression can also be due to organic disease. There is a cohort of people who exhibit aggressive behavior patterns due to metabolic disorders and intellectual disabilities. Neurogenerative changes, such as dementia, also show symptoms of pronounced aggressive behaviors. If the aggression leads to behavior that is dangerous to others or to oneself, medical treatment becomes necessary. After initial clarification by the family doctor, the specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy or the neurologist are then specifically responsible.
Diagnosis
Aggression or aggressive behavior in an individual requires, in order for a diagnosis to be made, that it be a disorder characterized by a consistent pattern of dissocial behavior. The specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy or neurologist will conduct the examinations with the help of interviews, exploration of close relatives and special survey instruments for behavioral and psychodiagnosis. It is certainly clarified since when the aggressive abnormalities exist and whether causes are to be found in the development or in relation to a special clinical picture. A differential diagnosis must take place. Aggressive behavior can also occur in mental disorders. Examples would be psychoses, developmental disorder]s, etc. However, the following diseases with a possible aggression potential should be clarified particularly carefully:
- Organic personality disorder, due to brain damage after an accident.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, caused by a stressful, impactful life event.
- Adjustment disorder, as a result of drastic life changes (separation from partner, escape).
- Unstable personality disorders, with a tendency to quarrels and conflicts with others, which may include outbursts of anger and acts of violence.
Treatment and therapy
Therapy should be as early as possible. Thus, the earliest possible diagnosis and consistent care is also necessary. Actually, prevention begins before the child is born. Thus, pregnant women from a problematic social environment can receive targeted counseling. Here the consequences are pointed out, which could cause the unfavorable behaviors and consequentially severe upbringing methods. In the case of acute, aggressive behavior that endangers others or oneself, hospitalization is often unavoidable. Here, appropriate measures are then taken to achieve an improvement in the symptoms. Then the use of psychotropic drugs and especially neuroleptics is often unavoidable in acute states of agitation. Recurrent aggressions can be very protracted to chronic. They depend on the particular personality. Recurrent aggression patterns are generated by similar situations. In this case, placement in a special facility is inevitable. For the protection of the affected person and his environment, safety aspects have to be considered. Isolation rooms are also necessary for some situations. Treatment must be approved by the court. Permanent employment opportunities must then be provided. Sufficient, qualified staff for care is necessary. A key to accessing the individual is regression. Persons who regress leave the field to the affected person. This can be quite helpful in protecting others. The regressive person remains passive and waits for the time being. He refrains from bringing in any impulses of his own. Thus, the affected person does not encounter external obstacles with his aggressive behavior. The regressive avoids conflict and the risk of escalation of the situation.
Outlook and prognosis
Aggression is treated primarily through discussions with the attending physician, the skilled therapist, and with the use of medication. The duration and outcome of treatments depend on the extent of the present aggressive behavior and potential for aggression. Therefore, there are no clear guidelines for the prognosis.All negative influencing factors that can cause or intensify aggression should be eliminated as far as possible. In the case of aggression, behavioral regulation should take place. This is done in the form of training. The more pronounced the aggression disorder is, the longer the treatment by means of intensive training will take. The great difficulty here is to permanently promote and maintain the motivation for this training in the affected person. Unfortunately, training discontinuations are not uncommon in this case.
Prevention
At the first signs, conversations should already be held by trusting, close people. Persons or things that could promote the behaviors should be removed. Understanding of the situation at hand should be raised and shown openly. The limits and consequences to the aggressive behavior should be pointed out. A dismissive attitude should be avoided. Offers should be made to calm down, for example by going to a quiet room or offering tea. The more calm and balanced the handling of the situation, the better the patient can be directed and guided. As with other mental illnesses, belonging to an intact and stable social environment has a preventive effect. This minimizes the possibility of falling ill. In addition, abstaining from drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances has a positive effect. A well-filled daily life that brings satisfaction provides a good basis for a life without aggression.
This is what you can do yourself
Affected individuals with aggression disorders can take action and develop strategies, but these will vary widely and depend on the nature of the disorder. It should be made clear that inevitable, holistic therapy for aggression disorder must distinguish between self-harming and other-harming behavior. As a rule, the primary goal is not to eliminate a pronounced aggression disorder. This is often hardly possible. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to create valves for the affected person that he or she can use to keep aggression under control with self-discipline. Since the issue in this context is the release of the aggressive urge, it is at the therapist’s discretion to find suitable options together with the affected person. These should be suitable for everyday life and be part of the ongoing course of therapy. People with aggression that goes as far as endangering others or themselves should avoid situations, things or people that could cause this behavior. In addition to medical and psychotherapeutic treatment, relaxation exercises are very suitable. Sports are always a good way to do something good for body and mind and, if necessary, to reduce aggression potentials. Self-help groups offer the opportunity to regularly exchange ideas with those affected in a protected environment. Here, people can share their own experiences with aggression. Those affected learn from each other how to cope better with problems in the future. New perspectives on living with aggression are developed.
