Aggressive human behaviors can prohibit the aggressor from living a normal life. Aggression is a pervasive condition that is exhibited frequently and affects social, professional and academic actions. Because aggressive behaviors manifest themselves in a number of ways, it is important to recognize the many forms of aggressive behavior and then seek treatment.
Significance
Aggressive human behavior can result in physical or emotional harm to the aggressor or to the person or thing that receives the aggression. More than a one-time outburst, aggression is a persistent behavior pattern, according to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work. Aggression causes harm to others and goes against the average behaviors of society or the aggressor's age group. For example, rough play may be typical of young boys, but fighting as an adult is not appropriate. Aggression also impairs a person's everyday life and activities. Often an aggressive individual is too aggressive to appear in social settings, academics or even in professional life.
Identification
While physically aggressive behaviors such as fighting or taunting are elements of aggression, other more subtle behaviors also are linked with aggression, according to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work. These include lying, stealing, abusing drugs, threatening others, manipulating others or bullying. All these actions are considered aggressive behaviors.
Theories/Speculation
Studies have been conducted over the years to test if a correlation exists between watching violent behaviors and engaging in violent behaviors. According to the American Psychological Association, when children view television programs and movies with violent characters, these children are more likely to be aggressive later in life. This is true for both genders. These aggressive programs can come from unlikely places, such as "Roadrunner" cartoons, according to the study.
Warning
Warning signs that aggressive behavior requires medical or psychiatric intervention include when a person attacks others, causes injury to himself or you fear for your safety when around the person. Those with aggressive behavior problems are prone to frequent outbursts, according to HealthyChildren.org. This means that while a person may be able to control anger for a short time period, inevitably, those with true aggression problems will not be able to contain their anger for a longer period of time than a week to a few weeks.
Prevention/Solution
Aggressive behavior in children and adolescents requires a secure home with discipline, according to HealthyChildren.org. Discipline by this definition means rewarding positive behaviors with praise and positive reinforcement while teaching children alternative behaviors when they react negatively.
For adults who exhibit aggressive behaviors, these behaviors also are the result of deep-seated emotional issues that may require psychiatric therapy or other elements of behavioral therapy, such as rehabilitative therapies.
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