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Psychosocial perspectives of human aggression and violence |
MENA Dubai 2003 Abstract
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Tabassum Rashid
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Indeed everyone is legitimately concerned about aggression and violence which has reached to an epidemic proportion in today's societies. News paper headlines scream of violent acts ranging from street crimes to school shootings and bombings of the residential areas, etc. What are the reasons that individuals act so aggressively? What are the factors that can turn groups, communities and nations into deadly enemies? Is aggression a trait that is found in all human beings, built in by evolution and hence unalterable? Or is it a learned behavior? Psychology has contributed much in understanding what motivates people to commit aggressive acts and indulge in violence, and over the years there have been many theories on what causes aggression. But in this age of terror the human aggression has progressed to a point where a multidisciplinary approach based on expertise in a large variety of academic disciplines like psychology, international, military and cultural studies, religion, etc. has become inevitable.
The present paper attempts to provide valuable information on what role psychology can play in understanding the factors of aggression and violence and managing its consequences; how can it impact violence-related policies, programs and practices; and facilitate bridges between the research community and the policy makers. |
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