Aggression vs Violence
Aggression and violence have become a bane of modern societies with kids and adults hurting others and bringing harm to innocent people through violent behavior. Psychologists and law enforcement authorities are worried with unprovoked violent behavior exhibited by individuals and trying to find reasons for their aggression. The words violence and aggression are used so commonly and interchangeably that many think them to be synonymous. However, there are differences between aggression and violence that will be talked about in this article.
Aggression
Like anger, aggression is a human behavior that is found in all human beings and shown through abusive language, damage to objects and property, assault on self and others and violent threats to others. In general, all behavior that can potentially harm others is included in aggression. This harm can take place at either physical or psychological levels and can even be harm to property. Intended behavior to harm others is the point to remember in a definition of aggression which means that aggression is more in intention than in action. When an angry dog bares his teeth, he is not indulging in violence. He is rather taking help of aggression to scare the dog away that shows his intent to harm another dog.
Aggression is found in all cultures, but in some, it is an accepted way of life while, in others, it is looked upon down. While the emotion is treated as normal in some cultures, it is not approved in other cultures. Aggression is normally a result of anger, and this anger can arise because of several feelings such as distrust, hopelessness, injustice, superiority, and vulnerability. While aggression is the common result of all these feelings, hopelessness often results in aggression towards oneself.
Aggression is linked with brain chemicals like serotonin and testosterone. Low levels of serotonin have been linked with violent behavior, and higher secretion of testosterone has been shown to be correlated with violent behavior. There is also the frustration aggression theory that suggests that building up of frustration often leads to aggressive behavior.
Violence
Violence is aggression in action. It is defined as physical assault with intent to harm or injure others. However, all aggression does not lead to violence, but intent to harm others remains at the root of violence. Predators hunting their preys show violence that is not a result of anger. Child abuse is the most destructive form of violent behavior shown by parents and other care givers. This is a phenomenon that has given birth to another related problem that is increased violent behavior by youth. Psychologists have been trying to unearth the reasons for increased violent behaviors, but they say that it is a result of a number of factors laying together rather than simple child abuse.
What is the difference between Aggression and Violence?
• While psychologists and scientists agree that aggression is a result of anger, not all violence is a result of anger.
• In aggression, it is the intention to harm or injure others that is most important. A dog baring his teeth is showing aggression though he may not become violent towards another dog.
• Aggression can also lead to self destruction or inflicting harm to oneself. Mostly it results from a feeling of hopelessness.
• There is a multitude of factors at play resulting in violence.