AGGRESSION AND CRIMES OF VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 27859
• Author(s): J H Goldstein
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 206 pages
• Sale Source: Oxford University Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES SOCIAL LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS WHICH ENCOURAGE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN HUMANS.

Abstract

AGGRESSION IS DEFINED AS ANY BEHAVIOR WHOSE INTENT IS THE PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM OF ANOTHER PERSON. ACTS OF VIOLENCE OF INCREASING PUBLIC CONCERN, SUCH AS MUGGINGS, RAPES, ROBBERIES AND MURDERS, ARE NOT SO UNLIKE THE AGGRESSION IN WHICH MOST PEOPLE ENGAGE ON A LESS GRAND SCALE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRIMINAL AND NON-CRIMINAL IS NOT QUALITATIVE, BUT ONE OF DEGREE. AGGRESSION IS ACCEPTED, AND OFTEN ENCOURAGED, IN ALMOST EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR. EVIDENCE IS CITED THAT EVEN AGGRESSION-RELATED HUMOR, LONG ASSUMED TO BE A NON-VIOLENT MEANS OF RELIEVING AGGRESSIVE IMPULSES, SERVES INSTEAD TO INCREASE THEM. SITUATIONAL AND ATTITUDINAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH AGGRESSIVE AND NON-AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR ARE ANALYZED AND COMPARED. FINALLY, HYPOTHESES ARE PRESENTED ON MEANS TO PROMOTE THE LATTER, PRIMARILY THROUGH LARGE-SCALE MODIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS.