Introduction
Martin Luther King Jr. once noted that if human beings adopted a character that would discourage human divergent behaviors such as retribution and aggression, then that move would underscore the basis of love. This assertion implies that aggression existed during Luther’s time, but its impacts were not as grave as they are in contemporary society. In the early nineteenth century, males were aggressive when they wanted food and refuge among other human needs. Women were often belligerent when they wanted to fight for their children. However, as aggression was passed from one generation to another, it developed to become more destructive than helpful. Aggression has led people to commit violent and criminal acts, thus raising the question whether it is a form of deviance. This discussion paper will discuss whether aggression is a form of deviance. The paper will ultimately give a decisive conclusion on the issue, but it will first define the terms.
Aggression, violence, and deviance defined
Various studies on aggression give divergent meanings for the term. For instance, aggression in children is normally viewed as an awful behavior, while in sports and business environments it is often considered as an admirable character. However, most scholars popularly view aggression as a bad social behavior. Social psychologists equally define aggression as behavior whose aim is to cause harm to another individual’s body, emotions, and property without the knowledge of the person. Society accepts various norms and practices, but such norms become aggressive when an individual breaches the set rules (Anderson & Bushman, 2002). Studies have indicated that a person who desires to inflict pain to another is only referred as aggressive if the behavior is also considered as anti-normative. Similarly, if one’s desire to injure is driven by provocation, then his or her acts are seen as aggressive when they surpass the act that prompted the retaliation. It important to note that aggression is neither accidental nor is it a thought devised in the brain, but it is a social behavior involving other elements whose aim is to harm and hurt others (Arendt, 1970).
According to Leary et al. (2003), when one has aggression that intends to cause tremendous harm, it is referred to as violence. Every act of violence is born out of aggression, but not all acts add up to violence. For instance, a child who pushes another off a bicycle cannot be referred as violent, but rather aggressive. However, a person who, with motive, hits, beats, or shoots another individual would be considered as violent. Violence in sports contradicts the regulations set for a particular sport and it endangers the lives of the participants. In the United States, four acts are termed as violent, viz. homicide, rape, assault, as well as robbery. Nonetheless, social thinkers would group other acts as physically brutal acts even though they meet the standards of the Federal Bureau of Investigation acts of violence (Anderson & Bushman, 2002).
All acts that are considered as unlawful in any environment apart from sports are referred to as deviant. In this regard, deviance refers to a form of behavior that contravenes the norms and practices set by the society (Hirsch & Gottfredson, 1994). From the various conversations amongst scholars and theorists, a relationship has been discovered between the intensity of rivalry and deviance. The greater the intensity of rivalry in sport, the lesser the deviance. Once society contemplates an act as deviant, it becomes very difficult to change that perception. For instance, based on social definitions, being overweight would be viewed as deviance in North America where the majority notion of an ideal feminine beauty is a wafer-thin figure of a model. Essentially, every individual contravenes societal standards in particular situations.
Deviance does not generally involve acts that are prohibited by law. It is a broad idea that incorporates criminal acts and other deeds that cannot amount to conviction. For instance, a police officer takes a bribe in the process of enforcing law and a student occasionally commands another student to do his or her own assigned homework. These scenarios would amount to deviance, as they both defy the social norms, but only bribery would amount to a criminal offence. Indeed, deviation from societal standards is not necessarily negative and it does not apparently lead to a criminal offence (McCullough, 2008).
Forms and Functions of Aggression
Aggression can be conveyed in various ways such as verbal, physical, direct, or indirect means among others. Verbal aggression occurs when one hurts others with words such as insults, whilst physical aggression involves hurting others physically through acts such as stabbing, shooting, and beating among others. Relational aggression refers to deliberately hurting another individual’s social identity and self-esteem. This aspect may occur through defamation, seclusion, and gossip among others. Recent studies reveal that social pain may last longer than physical harm (Anderson & Bushman, 2002). The various types of aggression can be inflicted either directly or indirectly. Direct aggression occurs when the harm is done in the presence of the victim, whilst indirect occurs where the harm is done in the absence of the victim. Gossiping behind a person’s back is indirect aggression, whilst insulting one on the face is direct aggression. Displaced aggression occurs when an innocent party faces aggression from a person who is out to revenge the harm caused to him/her by a third party. For instance, after a domestic quarrel with her husband, a wife may vent her aggression on the children. Direct aggression is more harmful and it may turn out violent.
Aggression serves various functions. For instance, a man who, after finding his committing infidelity, beats her is driven by a motive different from a man who beats a teller in the bank in an attempt to get money from him/her. One is motivated by anger whilst the other by money. In a bid to explain this aspect of aggression, psychologists have developed explanations for reactive aggression, which includes anger, impulsion, and proactive aggression. The latter occurs when the behavior is driven by some malice aforethought to harm someone in order to achieve a particular goal. However, the distinction is difficult to identify at times due to the strong relationship between the two and since people normally have varied intentions.
Frequency of aggression
Massive destruction of property and lives during the Second World War evidently taught the world the need for peace, though violence is a commonplace in the contemporary times. Civil wars and revolutions are all over the world especially in developing countries. The world became more aggressive than anticipated. Perhaps the only time the world experienced moderate peace was during the age of Enlightenment. However, international wars have reduced significantly. Although violent images are present everywhere, especially through the media, the world is becoming civilized and less violent in reality (Anderson & Bushman, 2002). The rates of murder cases in the United States have been dwindling and currently, there is less murder probably due to the huge percentage of the aged population, which is less violent. Statistics show that the median age of homicide criminals is below 30 years. However, the young population is anticipated to boom in the next few years and this aspect might change the figures. Considering that aggression is a recurrent behavior that one grows with from childhood to adulthood, it is likely that the cases of crime will increase in the future.
Considering the aforementioned, can aggression be perceived as deviance/crime? Whether to respond in the affirmative or otherwise will be largely driven by the definition of deviance/crime and the current happenings in the modern society. As aforementioned, deviance arises when one contravenes the social norms. Aggression will absolutely lead to the defiance of these norms, as the intent of an aggressor is to harm and hurt another either deliberately or due to provocation. Moreover, in a society where people are exposed to violent acts in their environment and those aired in the media, people are prone to become aggressive. These aggressive behaviors have often led people to commit crimes such as murder, rape, and assault.
Conclusion
Aggression only comes to existence when one does an act to harm another innocent party. This harm may be termed as violent by considering its magnitude. This aspect leads to deviance, which generally means doing something contrary to the social norms. Since deviance does not necessarily mean violating acts formalized by law as criminal offences, aggressive behavior becomes deviant. Moreover, considering that aggression has led to actual violence, in essence, aggressive behavior amounts to deviance.
References
Anderson, A., & Bushman, J. (2002). Human Aggression. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 27-51.
Arendt, Hannah. (1970). On Violence. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace & Co. Hirsch, T., & Gottfredson, M. (1994). The Generality of Deviance. Piscataway, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
Leary, M., Kowalski, R., Smith, L., & Phillips, S. (2003). Teasing, rejection, and violence: Case studies of the school shootings. Aggressive Behavior, 29(3), 202 – 214.
McCullough, M. (2008). Beyond revenge: The evolution of the forgiveness instinct. New York, NY: Wiley.