The subject of aggression and hate has always been one to inspire passionate discussion and opinions. The etiology of hostility can be explained by studying an individual’s personality from different schools of thought or through various personality theories. However, there are many possible explanations for an individual’s or a group’s aggression and hatred.
Two Views to Explain Aggression and Hatred
It can be a general inference that some aggressive or hateful behaviors are learned from those an individual is surrounded with or from their culture. The learning theory suggests a great deal of a child’s behavior is learned through modeled behavior, observed behavior, imitation, and vicarious learning (Friendman & Schustack, 2016). Consider the cycle of abuse as it occurs in domestic settings, domestic violence is perpetuated through generations. A husband hits his wife and/or his children. If the wife stays with her husband, it is a tacit expression of condoning the behavior in a child’s perception. The child does not have the emotional or psychological maturity to understand the multiple factors preventing their mother from leaving the abusive situation and instead believes the best way to handle this situation is the way the mother is handling it until outside influence is added to the equation. This often creates a conflict for the child whereby the child both loves and hates both parents, the father for hitting his mother and his mother for allowing it. Without psychological treatment, the child can grow to repeat the same violent patterns within their family. This perspective along with Carl Roger’s perspective makes the most sense to some people, including this author. Carl Roger’s believed that negative emotions stem from the lack of positive regard in an individual’s life.
When looking at serial murderers through this theory, Friedman and Schustack (2016) explain that a series of event such a child’s abuse at the mother’s hands can result in the eventual pairing of the conditioned response of hatred and aggression toward women, even when the abuse is not happening anymore. The hatred and aggression can be directed toward women that look or act like the mother, making her the unconditioned stimulus.
Another way to look at aggression and hate is through the biological or physiological perspective. It is important to note that while there is empirical research linking physiological causes to aggressive behavior, such as those resulting from brain disorders or biochemical deficiencies, the understanding of several psychoanalytical and neo-analytical views is considered traditional and have been surpassed by modern biological theorizing (Friedman & Schustack, 2016). Wilson and Scarpa (2011) analyzed 43 independent samples in a meta-analysis regarding sensation seeking and aggression seeking to address the debate regarding empirical evidence supporting low resting heart rate (HR) as a psychophysiological correlate of aggression. Their results of 32,217 participants, 43 studies, over the time span of 40 years indicated a significant effect of sensation seeking and aggression. The results of this study seem to support the physiological causation of aggression argument.
Another perspective that is somewhat similar is Erich Fromm’s perspective who straddles the line between biological and nonbiological determinants of aggression and hate.
Yet another intriguing study indicates that aggressive behaviors may be the result of deficiencies in self-control arising because of low blood sugar (glucose) necessary for executive process functioning. A series of studies indicated that (1) glucose intake participants were less aggressive than the control participants; (2) low self-esteem control correlated to diabetes; (3) states with high rates of diabetic individuals also had higher crime rates; and, (4) countries whose inhabitants had glucose processing disorders also had high killing rates (war and non-war related) (DeWall, Deckman, Gailliot, & Bushman, 2011).
It is doubtful that anyone approach can explicate every instance of aggression or feeling of hatred. In this discussion, the author only focuses on two possibilities, of which there are many more just as plausible in varying circumstances. There are books and entire courses devoted to the topics of aggression and hatred, it is important to consider all possible angles and history when attempting to profile a murderer or a serial murderer.
References
DeWall, C. N., Deckman, T., Gailliot, M. T., & Bushman, B. J. (2011). Sweetened blood cools hot tempers: Physiological self-control and aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 37(1), 73-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ab.20366
Friedman, H. S., & Schustack, M. W. (2016). Love and Hate. In Personality: Classic theories and modern research (6th ed). (pp. 322-341). Pearson.
Wilson, L. C., & Scarpa, A. (2011). The link between sensation seeking and aggression: A meta-analytic review. Aggressive Behavior, 37(1), 81-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ab.20369
Comments
Post a Comment