Dealing with aggression
There are four different types of communication behaviour: aggressive, assertive, passive, and passive-aggressive. Only aggressive people show aggression. In psychology, the term aggression refers to a range of behaviours that can result in both physical and psychological harm to yourself, others, or objects in the environment. This type of behaviour is done to harm another person either physically or mentally. Aggression can be normal, and is only an indicator of underlying disease when feelings become excessive, all-consuming and interfere with daily living. Research suggests that impulsive aggression, especially when it's caused by anger, triggers the acute threat response system in the brain, involving the amygdala, hypothalamus, and periaqueductal gray (PAG). For some people, anger is caused by an underlying disorder, such as alcoholism or depression. Anger itself isn't considered a disorder, but anger is a known symptom of several mental health conditions.
What Causes Aggressive Behaviour?
What Causes Aggressive Behaviour?
- Physical health.
- Mental health.
- Family structure.
- Relationships with others.
- Work or school environment.
- Societal or socioeconomic factors.
- Individual traits.
- Life experiences.
Aggression or aggressive behaviour is not a solution for any problem. We have to control our aggression. Below are some methods that can help keeping aggression in check:-
- Resist the temptation to respond to your anger at the heat of the moment.
- Hit the gym or take a walk - exercise is a powerful way to manage anger and alleviate stress.
- Walk away - sometimes taking a break from the situation will put things into perspective.
You have to remember following things when dealing with aggressive behaviours-
- Be positive in the way you handle the situation.
- Stays calm. Don't appear scared or respond aggressively.
- Focus on the issues and not the person.
- Maintain non-aggressive body language.
- Control your tone of voice.
- Give them space.
We have to plan before to prevent aggression. Prevention is better than cure.
- Set out clear expectations.
- Build rapport and be understanding.
- Show cultural sensitivity.
- Avoid negative talk.
- Don't assume or make judgments.
- Be encouraging.
- Avoid power struggles.
- Manage problems
After all this precautions if you do not control your aggression then do not hesitate to consult a psychologist. One of the most common types of psychotherapy in this type of cases is cognitive behavioural therapy. The purpose of the treatment is to help an angry person recognize the self-defeating negative thoughts that lie behind anger flare-ups. If you or a loved one has anger issues, therapy can help. A therapist can teach necessary skills to manage overwhelming emotions. They may also help a person address underlying emotions and memories that may be contributing to the distress. With time and patience, anyone can learn to control their anger.