Introduction
Acts of aggression occur everywhere and involve individuals from various categories. FOX News reports about Katie Quackenbush, who shot a homeless man twice in Nashville (Pagones, 2022). According to the article, Gerald Melton, 54, was sleeping on the street. However, loud music and fumes from the nearby Quackenbush Porsche SUV disturbed the man. He decided to reprimand the woman and ask her to leave, but she refused to do so. As a result, the man received two gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Quackenbush received probation as a result, as she assured the police that Melton endangered her and posed a threat to her life. It is also reported that before opening fire, a woman asked a homeless man if he wanted to die tonight (Wegner, 2022). Quackenbush and her passenger did not report the shooting to the police, and after the incident, went to Taco Bell before returning home. Melton survived but underwent at least three surgeries due to his injuries.
Understanding Aggression Through the General Aggression Model
This incident can be considered from the perspective of the general aggression model (GAM), as it involves many factors. This theory describes how personal and situational aspects influence an individual’s arousal and shape decision-making (Allen et al., 2018). GAM states that “human aggression is heavily influenced by knowledge structures, which affect a wide variety of social-cognitive phenomena including perception, interpretation, decision, and behaviors” (Allen et al., 2018, p. 3).
The experience and social conditions shape the perception and beliefs of an individual’s situation. Over time, specific knowledge patterns can become automated and include an affective component, resulting in expressions of anger (Allen et al., 2018). Thus, GAM describes the interaction of personal and social factors that can ultimately lead to an act of aggression.
The most important aspect of this model that needs to be considered in connection with the described incident is the role of social factors in aggression. Anderson and Bushman (2018) provide a diagram of the model, noting that the basis for aggression lies in the individual’s personality, which is shaped by both biological and environmental factors. However, when faced with social factors, arousal and aggression can be mitigated by fear of punishment or condemnation. A response from the social environment may be necessary for an individual to decide on an act of aggression.
Within the GAM, Quackenbush’s actions can be examined in relation to her personality and social factors. First, the woman has an expensive car and carries weapons with her. These facts may indicate that she feels a sense of superiority in the social environment concerning the homeless Melton.
Aspects of her personality that contributed to her aggressive behavior could have been formed over time and acquired an affective component. The woman is probably not used to receiving comments and changing her plans. A homeless person, who, for her, is a representative of a lower social class, cannot be a source of authoritative opinion and instill a sense of social responsibility.
From the point of view of the social environment, first of all, Quackenbush had a gun that she could use in case of danger. Additionally, she was aware that the message of self-defense and the danger Melton posed to her life would protect her from jail time. The homeless man lacks sufficient evidence to prove his innocence, and the incident occurred early in the morning when there were few witnesses.
Thus, the social environment did not mitigate Quackenbush’s intent to act aggressively. This happened because the woman did not find sufficient grounds for restraining aggression in assessing the potential consequences. She realized the likelihood of avoiding punishment and condemnation from the public is high. Social conditions did not deter her aggression, which ultimately led to the incident. Together with her personal characteristics, these factors resulted in the decision in favor of the act of aggression.
The most effective way to prevent such incidents is to strengthen the role of the social environment as a mitigating factor of aggression. It is challenging, if not impossible, to influence the characteristics of personal development and the formation of perception in individuals. However, among the preventive measures that could be used in relation to this conflict, one can single out a restriction on the possession of weapons, stricter penalties for causing harm to health, and the introduction of liability for causing disturbance to other citizens.
Conclusion
Quackenbush and Melton should have equal social rights, which would also entail equal social responsibilities. In particular, the homeless person does not have the opportunity to have a weapon in most cases or to defend himself effectively in front of a court. This imbalance led to an act of aggression that could have been prevented if the woman had experienced greater fear of punishment for her actions. Awareness of the future imprisonment could significantly influence her decision and mitigate personal impulses to aggression.
References
Allen, J. J., Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2018). The general aggression model. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 75-80. Web.
Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2018). Media violence and the general aggression model. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 386-413. Web.
Pagones, S. (2022). Nashville Porsche driver gets probation for shooting homeless man who asked her to lower music, move car. FOX News. Web.
Wegner, R. (2022). Why Katie Quackenbush will not serve jail time for shooting man experiencing homelessness. The Tennessean. Web.