Aggressive Behavior

Aggressive behavior is something millions of people deal with in one form or another. In psychology, the term is in use to describe any behavior that is the intention to be painful or otherwise harmful to others.

Aggression does not have to be physical, though physical aggression is highly risky for the safety of the victim. Aggression can also be verbal and just as painful and is often a display through words, actions, property damage, or other destructive behavior methods. There is a large difference in aggression and assertiveness.

Caregivers as well as other family and friends should carefully monitor nearly all situations that result in aggressive behavior. There are many classifications of this very complex mental health situation. Many times, people display more than one classification as well.

Some of the forms include a predatory aggression, which is an attack or any movement done by a predator. Inter male aggression is a type in which males of the same species fight over dominance, status, females or other key elements that in some way threaten them.

Other types of aggressive behavior are completely different. Fear induced aggressive behavior comes about by the failed attempts to flee from the threat at hand. Others include irritable aggression, territorial aggression, instrumental aggression or maternal aggression.

There are further classifications and clarifications of aggressive behavior. These include categories such as retaliatory aggression, versus instrumental, predatory or goal oriented aggression. Hostile and affective types of aggression are also on display. Doctors often believe that people who display any type of aggression to serious levels are at risk to themselves and to others around them.

Getting medical and mental help for those who are showing signs of aggressive behavior is very important. Many are unable to control these feelings and actions; making them an increased risk to anyone, they are involved.