What is Aggression?
Aggression and violence are major concerns in terms of health, safety, and societal issues worldwide. The word ‘aggression’ can have various meanings based on different contexts. In this context, we’re discussing aggression and violence together. Aggression refers to any action, even if it’s verbal, where someone aims to harm another person, animal, or object. Violence, on the other hand, means deliberately using physical force to harm, damage, or even kill someone or something.
What Causes Aggression?
Many factors can influence aggression, including biological, psychological, and socioeconomic reasons. Biologically, aggression can be caused by your genes, medical and mental health conditions, the chemicals in your brain, hormones, drug abuse, and even certain medicines. Psychologically, various mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, or antisocial personality disorder may also contribute to aggression.
Socially and economically, conditions related to our interactions with others, group dynamics, our neighborhood surrounding, economic status, and cultural environment can potentially lead to violence or increase the likelihood of aggression. Typically, these triggers can often take place simultaneously.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Aggression
Violence is sadly a common problem, especially in the United States. In a 2013 report, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that there were over 1.1 million violent crimes nationwide. Weapons, particularly firearms, were involved in a significant percentage of these crimes. Sadly, domestic violence statistics are alarming as well. On average, nearly 20 people per minute experience physical abuse from an intimate partner. This amounts to more than 12 million men and women yearly. Also, sexual assault is a pervasive issue, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men having experienced rape in their lifetime. Almost half of these victims knew their attackers. Distressingly, 1 in 15 children witness domestic violence every year.
In addition to these numbers, more than 16,000 people are killed, and 1.6 million endure nonfatal assaults requiring medical treatment annually. These alarming rates of violence in the USA are much higher than other high-income countries, primarily due to a significantly higher rate of gun-related homicides.
- Over 1.1 million violent crimes reported nationwide in 2013.
- Firearms were used in 69% of murders, 40% of robberies, and 21.6% of aggravated assaults.
- Almost 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner.
- More than 12 million men and women are physically abused by an intimate partner each year.
- 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the U.S. have been raped in their lifetime.
- Approximately 46.7% of female rape victims and 44.9% of male rape victims knew their attacker.
- 1 in 15 children witness domestic violence each year.
- More than 16,000 people are killed and 1.6 million sustain nonfatal assaults requiring medical treatment annually.
- The U.S. has a homicide rate 7.5 times higher than other high-income countries, largely due to higher rates of gun-related homicides.
Treatment Options for Aggression
The approach to treating aggression and violence should be determined by their root causes. This means that the treatment is guided by the diagnosis. If a mental disorder is contributing to aggressive or violent behavior, it’s crucial to address and treat that specific disorder.
It’s also understood that issues like Substance Use Disorders (SUD), antisocial behavior, non-compliance with treatments, and repeat offending are risks for violent behavior. As such, when addressing aggression and violence in treatment strategies and the legal system, these factors should be taken into account.
What else can Aggression be?
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
