The Route to Aggression
Select one of the causes of aggression discussed in your text and present your view of how that cause of aggression explains a recent episode of violence or aggression that occurred in your community. Begin by thinking about your local community, but feel free to discuss instead a violent episode that occurred regionally or nationally
Sample Solution
In my community, there has been a recent episode of violence that was driven by the cause of aggression known as frustration-aggression theory. This theory suggests that when people are faced with an obstacle or interruption to their goals, they become frustrated and then resort to aggressive behavior as a means to remove the obstacle (Bushman & Anderson, 2001).
In this case, the recent episode of violence in my community centered around a local business that had recently closed down.
The closure of this business left many people without jobs and without any other employment opportunities in the area. People were understandably angry at what had happened and wanted someone to blame for their frustrations. Fights broke out between employees who felt betrayed by their employer and members of the local community who felt let down by the company’s sudden departure from town. The fights escalated quickly into full-blown riots with cars being set on fire and buildings vandalized in addition to physical confrontation between those involved.
This is an example of how frustration-aggression theory can explain violent behavior within communities. When people feel like they have no control over a situation or are unable to reach their goals because of some external force, they become increasingly frustrated and may attempt to undermine said force through aggressive means such as vandalism or physical confrontations (Bushman & Anderson, 2001). This feeling of powerlessness can lead individuals to lash out against whatever is preventing them from achieving their goal, resulting in violence directed towards those perceived as responsible for blocking progress or satisfaction.
Ultimately, this example demonstrates how frustration-aggression theory can be used to explain episodes of aggression within communities. When people become frustrated due to obstacles beyond their control preventing them from reaching desired outcomes and goals, they often resort to aggression as a way venting these frustrations onto others whom they perceive as responsible for creating these obstacles in the first place (Bushman & Anderson, 2001). Thus understanding this cause behind aggressive behavior can help us better identify potential triggers for similar episodes occurring again within our own communities in order for us take preventative measures ahead of time before another tragedy occurs .