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7 - Origins, Development, and Prevention of Aggressive Behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
Richard E. Tremblay
Edited by
Daniel P. Keating
Richard E. Tremblay
Affiliation:
University of London
Daniel P. Keating
Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Summary

What is aggressive behavior? When does it start? How does it develop? Can we prevent the development of chronic physical aggression? These are the four main questions that are addressed in this chapter. Research on the development and prevention of violent behavior is a growing industry. Paradoxically, the more humans become “civilized,” the more they appear to be preoccupied by violence. The development of aggressive behavior is central to most theories of human behavior and is addressed by disciplines as varied as zoology, psychiatry, economy, psychology, public health, and political sciences.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR”?

It may be a surprise that the major problem with this area of research is one of definition. Investigators have been putting their finger on this problem over and over again, but no simple solution has been found (Berkowitz, 1962; Burt, 1925; Buss, 1961; Cairns, 1979; Coie & Dodge, 1998; Hartup & de Wit, 1974; Parke & Slaby, 1983; Pitkanen, 1969). The best way to observe the difficulties faced by investigators is to examine the content of the “aggression” scales that have been used over the past decades. The content of the scales defines what is measured. The popular scales used to assess children's and adolescents' aggressive behavior contain a mix of behaviors that range from physical aggression to attention seeking and disobedience.

Type
Chapter
Information
Nature and Nurture in Early Child Development , pp. 169 - 187
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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