The Science behind Anger and Aggression
Aggression can be
either physical or
verbal, and behavior
is classified as
aggression even if
it does not actually
succeed in causing
harm or pain.
Behavior that
accidentally causes
harm or pain is not
aggression.
Property damage and
other destructive
behavior may also
fall under the
definition of
aggression.
Aggression is not
the same thing as
assertiveness.
Aggression is a
perplexing
phenomenon.
Why are people
motivated to hurt
each other? How does
violence help
organisms to survive
and reproduce? After
two centuries of
theories and
technological
advances,
psychologists and
other scientists
have been able to
look deeply into
aggression's
biological and
evolutionary roots,
as well as its
consequences in
society. The area
from which all
emotion originates
is the brain.
While scientists
continue to test
various areas of the
brain for their
effects on
aggression, two
areas that directly
regulate or affect
aggression have been
found.
The amygdale has
been shown to be an
area that causes
aggression.
Stimulation of the
amygdale results in
augmented aggressive
behavior, while
lesions of this area
greatly reduce one's
competitive drive
and aggression.
Another area, the
hypothalamus, is
believed to serve a
regulatory role in
aggression.
The hypothalamus has
been shown to cause
aggressive behavior
when electrically
stimulated but more
importantly has
receptors that help
determine aggression
levels based on
their interactions
with the
neurotransmitters
serotonin and
vasopressin.
Science Daily