Aggressive Behavior

Definition and subtypes of Aggressive Behavior

Aggression is defined as a behavior by one person against another that is intended to cause physical or emotional harm when the other person is motivated to avoid or escape this behavior. Aggressive behavior can be distinguished as direct or overt (i.e., physical and verbal) and indirect or covert (i.e., relational aggression; harm is caused through damage to one’s social status or relationships). There is also a distinction between reactive and proactive aggression. Reactive aggression is described as a defensive reaction to a perceived threatening stimulus and is accompanied by some visible form of anger. The reactive aggressor is viewed as short tempered and volatile. Proactive aggression is described as unprovoked aversive means of influencing or coercing another person and is more goal directed than is reactive aggression. Proactive aggressors use aggression for social gain and dominance and think of aggression as a positive behavior leading to a desired goal. Researchers investigating the effects of media violence exposure tend to focus on overt forms of aggression, with a number of correlational and experimental studies suggesting changes in physical and verbal aggression after immediate or prolonged exposure to media violence.

However, different types of aggression are portrayed in the media, which raises the possibility that media violence exposure might indeed result in the engagement of multiple forms of aggressive behaviors. Evidence suggests that after viewing indirect aggression, research participants are more likely to engage in indirect forms of aggression, and after viewing instances of overt aggression, research participants are more likely to engage in overt aggressive behaviors. Additionally, individuals exposed to media violence may perceive the violent behavior they view as appropriate, profitable, or even morally justified, which is likely to increase proactive aggressive behaviors. Furthermore, individuals exposed to media violence might be more likely to attribute hostile intent to another person’s behavior, which has been associated with reactive aggressive behaviors. Importantly, media violence exposure leads to lower empathetic concern toward the victims of violence, and low empathy has been associated with severe and multiple aggressive behaviors within different settings.

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