Aggressive Human Behavior Research Articles

Disputes over Feeding Resources Provoke Agonistic Interactions Between Capuchins and Humans in Brasília National Park, Brazil

ABSTRACT Progressive urbanization has led to increased human–primate interactions, often resulting in aggression, especially when humans offer food. In Brasília National Park, the local capuchin monkeys are known for their intense interactions with the visitors at the Pedreira Pool. In this context, this study investigated factors predicting aggressive behavior between capuchins and humans. The sampling was conducted over a one-year period, and behaviors were recorded using “all events” sampling. Two binary logistic regression models were applied to predict when the monkeys and humans were most likely to be aggressive. A total of 722 encounters between capuchins and humans were observed during this study, totaling 616.5 hours of monitoring. Of these, 364 occurred during the dry season and 358 during the rainy season The monkeys were more aggressive toward the humans during the dry season, when the humans were either being aggressive toward the capuchins or photographing them, when food was involved, and when fewer humans were involved in the interaction. The humans were more aggressive toward the capuchins when the capuchins stole food or were being aggressive and when more children were present. Aggressive behavior in the capuchins was caused primarily by disputes over food and was exacerbated by aggressive human behavior toward the capuchins and attempts to photograph them. While offering food may reduce agonism in the short term, it may have contributed to a long-term increase in aggressive behavior by attracting the monkeys into more frequent contact with human visitors. The number of humans in close proximity during an encounter was a predictor of aggressive behavior in the capuchins toward the humans, which indicates that the monkeys assess the costs and benefits of approaching humans. Park administrators should prevent, or at least reduce, the entry of food into the park.

The tradition and prospects of studying the mechanism of criminal behavior from the standpoint of modern biosocial interpretation of the phenomenology of human aggression

In recent decades, there has been an increasing interest in the biopsychophysiological side of the criminal's nature in foreign criminology. The representatives of the biosocial trend are focused on advanced developments in the field of studying the biological side of aggressive human behavior. Serious progress has been made in this direction over the past thirty years, primarily due to the discoveries of cognitive neuroscientists, endocrinologists and molecular geneticists. In addition, specialists in the field of human physiology and nutrition have also made some progress in understanding the patterns of interaction of biological and social elements in the formation of the mechanism of aggression. Discoveries in the field of epigenetics can also give a significant impetus to the development of social sciences, which have fundamentally changed researchers' ideas about the role and relationship of the genetic base and the external environment in the mechanism of heredity. All relevant information on this subject is analyzed and summarized in a timely manner by foreign biosocial specialists, expanding, among other things, the criminological discourse in terms of studying the patterns of formation of the mechanism of criminal behavior, as well as individual crime prevention (primarily violent). This article is an attempt to review advanced research in the field of today's biology of human behavior, as well as those measures that are already being implemented (taking into account current scientific information about the socio-biological side of the criminal's nature) abroad in order to minimize the scale of criminal aggression.

ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ МАРКЕРОВ АГРЕССИВНОГО ПОВЕДЕНИЯ ЧЕЛОВЕКА НА ОСНОВЕ АНАЛИЗА АУДИО И ТЕКСТОВОГО КАНАЛОВ

The interaction of participants in digital platforms requires a prompt response to actions from each other. At the same time, such interaction is multifaceted, in which, along with the transfer of information, knowledge about the state of the interlocutor, his current emotional state and personal characteristics is necessary. As part of a pilot study at ITMO University, together with psychologists from St. Petersburg State University, a list of markers of aggressive behavior was determined. And within the framework of this work, the implementation of methods for extracting markers of aggressive human behavior through audio and text channels is described. This paper also describes the approach of combining verbal and non-verbal features in speech. From the results obtained in the course of applying methods for extracting markers of aggressive behavior, we can conclude that the use of audio and text channels of information separately is not enough to detect aggressive behavior.

Recognition of the emotional state based on a convolutional neural network

The paper proposes a new solution for recognizing the emotional state of a person (joy, surprise, sadness, anger, disgust, fear, and neutral state) by facial expression. Along with traditional verbal communication, emotions play a significant role in determining true intentions during a communicative act in various areas. There is a large number of models and algorithms for recognizing human emotions by class and applying them to accompany a communicative act. The known models show a low accuracy in recognizing emotional states. To classify facial expressions, two classifiers were built and implemented in the Keras library (ResNet50, MobileNet) and a new architecture of a convolutional neural network classifier was proposed. The classifiers were trained on the FER 2013 dataset. Comparison of the results for the chosen classifiers showed that the proposed model has the best result in terms of validation accuracy (60.13 %) and size (15.49 MB), while the loss function is 0.079 for accuracy and 2.80 for validation. The research results can be used to recognize signs of stress and aggressive human behavior in public service systems and in areas characterized by the need to communicate with a large number of people.

Обиждам те (се) – параметри на обидата и вербалната агресия в училище

The article examines the manifestations of verbal aggression among students and draws attention to one aspect of it – the insulting words as a component of aggressive human behavior. The study is based on surveys conducted in 19 schools across Bulgaria. A classification of offensive vocabulary has been made. The study registers global trends in modern society, asking questions to psychologists, teachers, sociologists, namely – can aggression be prevented, transformed into a constructive type of behavior, whether the individual could affect the hostile environment etc.

Специфіка ворожості й агресивності осіб, схильних до переживання заздрощів за різним типом

Aggressive human behavior, including unlawful, is characterized by a complex psychological process, in which all components of personality are involved. Research interest specifies the need for a deeper understanding of envy as a hypothetically possible motive for aggressive crimes. The purpose of the study is to analyze the relationship between the indicators of envy and indicators of aggression and hostility of the individual and to identify typical types of aggression among people prone to experience envy of different types. Methodology - a set of research methods, used in the research, includes the following: theoretical (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization and interpretation of literature sources and theoretical approaches to the particular issues); empirical methods (observation, survey, testing); mathematical and statistical methods. To process empirical data, the method of quantitative (correlation analysis, comparison of average values by Student’s t-test, using computer program for statistical data processing SPSS 17.0 for Windows) and qualitative analysis (method «aces» and «profiles») are applied as well. The methodical support of psychodiagnostic research was carried out with the help of the following methods: 1. Original test-questionnaire «Differential diagnosis of personality propensity to envy» (DIZA) and questionnaire «Social guidelines of the individual relative to envy» (elaborated by O. P. Sannikova, A. F. Lisovenko); 2. «Methods of diagnosis of hostility» (after the scale of Cook – Medley); 3. «Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventor» (BDHI). Scientific novelty: in the scientific research we: 1) clarified the meaning of the concepts «envy», «aggression», «hostility» and proposed an author’s definition of «envy»; 2) theoretically substantiated and empirically confirmed the relationship of indicators of envy with markers of aggression and hostility of the individual; 3) empirically revealed distinctive types of aggression among individuals, prone to experiencing envy of different types. Conclusions: Envy (tendency to experiencing feelings of envy) according to the author’s position is defined as a complex multilevel property of personality, which is manifested in constant comparison with others (or imaginary «standard») not in their favor, in the subjective sense of self-esteem, passionate desire to take advantage of the object of comparison when it is impossible to obtain or acquire the desired, accompanied by specific manifestations (emotional, cognitive, behavioral, control-regulatory, motivational, constitutive, etc.). Significant correlations of the positive sign between the indicators of envy and almost all the indicators of hostility and aggression were obtained. The profiles of hostility and aggression in groups of subjects with different types of envy experience were analyzed, on the basis of which «psychological portraits» of individuals with a tendency to experience envy of different types (emotional, cognitive, behavioral and control-regulatory) were provided. It is proved that envy can affect the specifics of hostility and aggression of the individual in different ways. A perspective direction of the research includes studying of the level and envy specifics among individuals, convicted of crimes with an aggressive focus. Keywords: envy; tendency to envy; hostility; aggression; cynicism; negativism; personality; individual psychological characteristics.

CURRENT TRENDS IN AIR POLLUTION AND LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE REPUBLIC OF KARELIA

The article assesses the risk of exposure to athmospheric pollution on the life expectancy at birth and mortality in the Republic of Karelia. Special focus is on the long-term (1996–2016) variation of pollutant emissions from fixed sources and the statistically related to it change in the rate of mortality from external causes. Thus, the number of suicides and murders in the period studied decreased simultaneously with a decrease in the emissions of solid particles (r = 0.92 and 0.89, respectively), CO (0.92 and 0.88), SO2 (0.77 and 0.72), etc. Such dependencies are consistent with available publications on the effect of chemical pollution on suicidal and aggressive human behavior, as well as the general trend of the effect of emitted solids on the number of crimes associated with violent actions against victims in the Northwest Federal District. The health hazard of exposure to dust-like particles is shown. Their concentration in urban air increases after the snow cover had thawed, especially in the case of a deficit of spring precipitation. Dust particles have partially acute-angled shapes and an elevated content of heavy metals (W, Cu,V, Co, Zn, Ni, Mn, Sb, Sn, Cr, Mo) compared to urban soils. The data presented in this article and their analysis are important for the continuation of research aimed at assessing environmental risks and reducing the negative impact of chemical pollution on human health and behavior.

A Global Reassessment of Solitary-Sociable Dolphins.

Dolphins are typically regarded as highly social animals. However, some individuals live apart from their own species and may come to socialize with people through a recognized series of stages which are presented and expanded on in this paper. The term “solitary-sociable dolphins” has been used to describe these animals and such individuals have been identified from several different species and reported in many parts of the world. In many instances, the interactions with people that may follow their original isolation, and which typically become more intense over time, have created situations where the welfare of the animal has been compromised by disturbance, injury, the feeding of inappropriate items and aggressive human behavior. Several solitary-sociable dolphins have also been deliberately injured and killed by humans. People who interact with these dolphins may also put themselves at risk of injury. This paper reports on recent cases drawing on published and unpublished sources. Since 2008, 32 solitary dolphins have been recorded including 27 bottlenose dolphins (25 Tursiops truncatus and two Tursiops aduncus), two striped dolphins and three common dolphins. Four solitary belugas have also been recorded. There are some ten solitary dolphins and one beluga known at the present time. Laws and guidelines currently in place to protect solitary-sociable dolphins need to be strengthened and interactions with people should be avoided or, at the least, carefully managed to protect both the dolphin and the humans involved in the interaction. Terms, such as disturbance and harassment which are included in laws need to be clearly defined. Additionally, management plans for solitary-sociable dolphins need to be developed and adapted on a case by case basis taking into account the individual dolphin's sex, age, personality, stage of sociability and home range. It is also important that government officials and local stakeholders work together to implement guidelines which set out how the public can observe or interact with the dolphin safely.

Religion and Violence: how symbiotic a relationship?

Violence is often seen as intimately connected to the Abrahamic religions, while on other accounts peace is the main religious objective. There is plenty of scope for coming to both conclusions when we examine Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It could be argued that religion takes violence seriously and provides suggestions for controlling it. In fact, the methodology of theology itself emphasizes balance and moderation, and so attempts to control violent and aggressive human behavior. Islam in particular, and all the Abrahamic religions, tend to accord theologically with Aristotelian approaches to ethics, and so an unbridled enthusiasm for violence would be anathema. The Abrahamic religions provide intellectual resources for the regulation of conflict and clearly all take a positive view of peace.

Multi-modal human aggression detection

This paper presents a smart surveillance system named CASSANDRA, aimed at detecting instances of aggressive human behavior in public environments. A distinguishing aspect of CASSANDRA is the exploitation of complementary audio and video cues to disambiguate scene activity in real-life environments. From the video side, the system uses overlapping cameras to track persons in 3D and to extract features regarding the limb motion relative to the torso. From the audio side, it classifies instances of speech, screaming, singing, and kicking-object. The audio and video cues are fused with contextual cues (interaction, auxiliary objects); a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) produces an estimate of the ambient aggression level.Our prototype system is validated on a realistic set of scenarios performed by professional actors at an actual train station to ensure a realistic audio and video noise setting.

Латентные институты: стихийная стандартизация поведения и ее политическое значение

Social institutions play a key role in shaping human behavior. Especially, they produce standard patterns of human interaction both in economic and political life. However, it is unclear whether social institutions are the only source of these patterns. In the paper we argue that sometimes standard patterns of human interaction could occur spontaneously without influence of any social institution due to certain evolutionary reasons. Such standard patterns of human interaction might exist being not reflected in human consciousness. For a long time they might be not discovered and not studied but remain a force which could cause a strong political impact. To study such latent standard patterns of human interaction we have designed a new technical tool – so-called “latent institutions”. Then, we have discovered the two standard patterns of human interaction which deemed to be produced evolutionary and occurred spontaneously and which supposed to have a great political meaning. The both patterns determine aggressive human behavior in political interactions. The first of them is typical for the most part of population of modern Russia. The second one was typical for many in Western countries in the near past. We used the new technique of “latent institutions” to study the two new-discovered standard patterns. The result is that they are strictly opposite each other. Based on the result we have made certain predictions on the future development of the Russian and Western political systems.

Conceptualising Animal Abuse with an Antisocial Behaviour Framework.

Simple SummaryThere is increasing acceptance of the links between animal abuse and aggressive or antisocial behaviours toward humans. Nevertheless, researchers and other professionals continue to call for methodologically sound empirical research amongst claims that current animal abuse research is methodologically limited. Below, I argue that current conceptualizations of antisocial and aggressive human behavior logically incorporate animal abuse. Given that the body of empirical evidence available to support of theories of antisocial and aggressive behaviour is large and sound, conceptualization of animal abuse as an aggressive behaviour rather than a behaviour that is somehow different, enables us to confidently promote putting current understanding into practice.This paper reviews current findings in the human aggression and antisocial behaviour literature and those in the animal abuse literature with the aim of highlighting the overlap in conceptualisation. The major aim of this review is to highlight that the co-occurrence between animal abuse behaviours and aggression and violence toward humans can be logically understood through examination of the research evidence for antisocial and aggressive behaviour. From examination through this framework, it is not at all surprising that the two co-occur. Indeed, it would be surprising if they did not. Animal abuse is one expression of antisocial behaviour. What is also known from the extensive antisocial behaviour literature is that antisocial behaviours co-occur such that the presence of one form of antisocial behaviour is highly predictive of the presence of other antisocial behaviours. From such a framework, it becomes evident that animal abuse should be considered an important indicator of antisocial behaviour and violence as are other aggressive and antisocial behaviours. The implications of such a stance are that law enforcement, health and other professionals should not minimize the presence of animal abuse in their law enforcement, prevention, and treatment decisions.

Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Connecticut: A Five-Year Analysis of Mosquito Data 1999–2003

Two hundred and ten isolations of West Nile virus (WNV) were obtained from 17 mosquito species in six genera in statewide surveillance conducted in Connecticut from June through October, 1999-2003. Culex pipiens (86), Culex salinarius (32), Culex restuans (26), Culiseta melanura (32), and Aedes vexans (12) were implicated as the most likely vectors of WNV in the region based on virus isolation data. Culex pipiens was abundant from July through September and is likely involved in early season enzootic transmission and late season epizootic amplification of the virus in wild bird populations. Epidemic transmission of WNV to humans in urban locales is probable. The abundance of Cx. restuans in June and July and isolations of WNV in early July suggest that this species may play an important role as an enzootic vector involved in early amplification of WNV virus among wild birds. Its involvement as a bridge vector to humans is unlikely. Culex salinarius was the most frequently captured Culex species and was abundant in August and September when virus activity was at its height. Frequent isolations of WNV from this species in September when the majority of human cases were reported in union with its abundance at this time of the year, demonstrated vector competence, and broad feeding habits, make Cx. salinarius a likely bridge vector to humans, horses and other mammals. Multiple isolations WNV from Cs. melanura collected in more rural locales in late August and September, provide supportive evidence to suggest that this predominant avian feeder may play a significant role in epizootic amplification of the virus among wild bird populations in these environs. Aedes vexans was the only species of Aedes or Ochlerotatus from which multiple isolations of WNV were made in more than one year and was among the most frequently trapped and abundant species throughout the season. Since Ae. vexans predominately feeds on mammals it is unlikely to play a significant role in epizootic amplification of WNV, however, because of its abundance and aggressive mammalian and human biting behavior it must receive strong consideration as a bridge vector to humans and horses. The occasional virus isolations obtained from Aedes cinereus (4), Uranotaenia sapphirina (3), Ochlerotatus canadensis (2), Ochlerotatus trivittatus (2), Ochlerotatus sollicitans (2), Ochlerotatus sticticus (2), Psorophora ferox (2), Anopheles punctipennis, Anopheles walkeri, Ochlerotatus cantator, Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, and Ochlerotatus triseriatus in conjunction with their inefficient vector competency and host feeding preferences indicate that these species likely play a very minor role in either the enzootic maintenance or epizootic transmission of WNV in this region. The principal foci of WNV activity in Connecticut were identified as densely populated (>3,000 people/mi2) residential communities in coastal Fairfield and New Haven Counties, and in the case of 2002, similar locales in proximity of the city of Hartford in central Hartford County. In almost all instances we observed a correlation both temporally and spatially between the isolation of WNV from field-collected mosquitoes and subsequent human cases in these locales. In most years the incidence of human cases closely paralleled the number of virus isolations made from mosquitoes with both peaks falling in early September. We conclude that the isolation of WNV from field-collected mosquitoes is a sensitive indicator of virus activity that is associated with the risk of human infection that habitually extends from early August through the end of October in Connecticut.

Early relationships and the development of aggression in children.

The development of abnormally aggressive human behavior is complex and multifactorial. Aggressive patterns of behavior often begin early in life and, once established, are notorious for their resistance to change, which has led some to believe that environmental interventions offer little hope for significant reductions in the prevalence of violent behavior in our society. Recent findings from research in the field of developmental psychopathology, however, have shed some new light on this very old problem. This paper specifically reviews the attachment literature and interprets it in the context of what has already been learned from research in epidemiology and behavioral genetics on environmental contributions to aggression over the life span. Environmental factors may influence the development of aggression by affecting children's early relationships with primary caregivers or by limiting opportunities for children to engage in positive relationships with caring adult figures. Longitudinal studies directly correlating early attachment relationships with levels of aggression in later childhood have been limited in number but suggest that insecure early attachment relationships may predispose children to the development of abnormally aggressive behavior, particularly when such relationships represent the entirety of their early social experience. Interventions aimed at either enhancing parent-child relationships or providing opportunities for alternative relationships with caring adult figures, particularly in high-risk settings, may help to prevent abnormally aggressive behavioral outcome.