Types Of Aggressive Behavior Research Articles

Measuring Aggression on Psychiatric Inpatient Units: Development and Testing of the Calgary General Hospital Aggression Scale

During the pilot component of a study designed to document aggressive incidents on the psychiatric inpatient units and to provide practical information relating to such incidents, it became evident that there were problems with using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale. In order to conduct the proposed study a new scale needed to be developed. The Calgary General Hospital (CGH) Aggression Scale was generated to: (1) capture all types of aggressive behavior, including behaviors that are very mild as well as those that are more severe and (2) reflect behaviors exhibited by all types of patients, not just those that are only a small proportion of this hospital's inpatient population. In addition to an introduction to the CGH Aggression Scale, descriptive data resulting from the use of the new scale and data regarding the reliability of the new scale will be discussed

Peer and Self-Estimated Aggression and Victimization in 8-Year-Old Children From Five Ethnic Groups

The Direct & Indirect Aggression Scales (DIAS) (Björkqvist et al. [1992b] Finland: Åbo Akademi University) were applied in order to investigate the perception of aggression among 8-year-old children (n=404, girls 200, boys 204) in a cross-cultural comparison. Two samples from Finland (Finnish and Swedish-speaking children), two from Chicago, IL (African Americans and Caucasians), and one from Warsaw, Poland, were included in the study. These types of aggressive behavior and victimization of aggression (physical, verbal, and indirect) were measured using both peer and self estimations. Peer estimations were internally more consistent than self estimations. Children rated themselves as significantly less aggressive than their peers rated them. The opposite was true of victimization. An attributional discrepancy index (ADI) was calculated as the difference between self and peer estimated aggression scores. The index may be seen as an indicator of norms pertaining to aggression in different ethnic groups. ADI scores of girls, but not for boys, showed significant variance over culture on all three types of aggression. This indicates greater cultural variation in norms pertaining to aggression for girls than for boys. Cultural variation and sex differences in the patterning of aggressive behavior were analysed using multidimensional scaling (ALSCAL). Cultural variation appeared as distribution along the x-axis (dimension 1) in a two-dimensional solution, and sex differences along the y-axis (dimension 2), indicating that patterns of aggressive behavior are dependent on both culture and sex. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Head-Injured Males: A Population at Risk for Relationship Aggression?

Several recent studies suggest that head injury may be a potentially useful factor in explaining some types of aggressive behavior. In our research, we have been able to demonstrate an association between head injury and marital aggression using a sample of male batterers and appropriate comparison groups. Anecdotal and empirical literature also supports the hypothesis that aggression, relationship problems, and negative changes in personality and behavior are common sequelae to a head injury. This article explores the hypothesis that flows intuitively from the above, namely, that head-injured males are at increased risk for physical aggression in their intimate relationships. Empirical data are presented identifying several risk factors for relationship aggression and marital discord that may be sequelae of a significant head injury. Nevertheless, head-injured men were not found to be more physically aggressive with their female partners. The implications of these results are discussed.

The Effect of Habitat Structure and Density of Nests on Territory Size and Territorial Behaviour in the Black‐headed Gull (Larus ridibundus L.)

AbstractWe studied the effects of vegetation structure and nest density on territory size and aggression in the black‐headed gull (Larus ridibundus). Vegetation structure influenced the types of aggressive behaviour, but not territory size. The proportion of overt aggression (attacks, fights) was highest in barren areas or those with short, sparse vegetation, and lowest in plots covered with dense, tall grass. We explain this by decreased visibility of conspecifics in habitats isolated by vegetation. In such areas, total aggression did not decrease, because the low proportion of attacks and fights was offset by an increase of more moderate (“upright”) displays. Only when nest density was high did the vegetation reduce the frequency of agonistic behaviour — but then it comprised almost exclusively attacks and fights. As expected, greater nest density was related to reduced territory size and an increased proportion of overt aggression. A high proportion of attacks and fights occurred in the plot with the lowest nest density, where at the same time there were also numerous first‐year breeders. We conclude that, when analyzing the effects of habitat conditions on aggressive behaviour, it is important to consider the structure of behaviour, and not only the total frequency of all types of agonistic interactions.

Aggressive behaviour in Huntington's disease: a cross-sectional study in a nursing home population.

We describe a cross-sectional study of aggressive behaviour in a sample of patients suffering from Huntington's disease in a residential nursing home. Data were obtained using the RAGE, a behaviourally oriented rating scale for measuring aggressive behaviour in cognitively impaired patients. Nursing staff rated 27 patients after a 3 day observation period. A third of the sample were rated to be at least mildly aggressive; the frequencies of some specific types of aggressive behaviour were high. In contrast, the frequency of injuries sustained and the use of restraints and medication for aggressive behaviour were low. Aggressive behaviour was found to be significantly related to the degree of functional impairment. These data are compared with those reported in a study using the RAGE to assess aggressive behaviour in a sample of elderly patients with dementia.

Aggressive Behaviour in Huntington’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Nursing Home Population

We describe a cross-sectional study of aggressive behaviour in a sample of patients suffering from Huntington's disease in a residential nursing home. Data were obtained using the RAGE, a behaviourally oriented rating scale for measuring aggressive behaviour in cognitively impaired patients. Nursing staff rated 27 patients after a 3 day observation period. A third of the sample were rated to be at least mildly aggressive; the frequencies of some specific types of aggressive behaviour were high. In contrast, the frequency of injuries sustained and the use of restraints and medication for aggressive behaviour were low. Aggressive behaviour was found to be significantly related to the degree of functional impairment. These data are compared with those reported in a study using the RAGE to assess aggressive behaviour in a sample of elderly patients with dementia.

Effects of Exposure to Aggressive Behavior on Job Satisfaction of Health Care Staff

This study examined the effects of exposure to the aggressive and disruptive behavior of institutionalized elderly patients on health care staff's job satisfaction. Aggressive behavior was defined as physical, verbal, or general disruptive behavior. Health care staff from a geriatric long-term care hospital were interviewed about their exposure to these types of aggressive behavior and the effect of this exposure on job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was significantly correlated with overall exposure to aggressive behavior. Although physical aggression was reported more frequently, exposure to verbal aggression correlated higher with job satisfaction. Exposure to aggressive behavior was the best predictor of job satisfaction, followed by level of education. These findings indicate that job satisfaction is negatively affected by exposure to aggressive behavior but positively affected by educational level. The role of educational programs in moderating the impact of exposure to aggressive behavior on job satisfaction is discussed.

Aggressive behaviour in elderly psychiatric inpatients.

We describe the types of aggressive behaviour and determine their prevalence in a sample of hospitalized elderly psychiatric patients. Data were obtained by nurse ratings of aggressive behaviour using the recently developed Rating Scale for Aggressive Behaviour in the Elderly; 90 patients were rated over a 3-d period. Nearly half the sample were at least mildly aggressive; the frequencies of some specific types of aggressive behaviour were high. In contrast, the frequency of injuries and the use of restraints and medication for aggressive behaviour were low. Some correlates of the aggressive behaviour were also analysed.

Do girls manipulate and boys fight? developmental trends in regard to direct and indirect aggression

Gender differences in regard to aggressive behaviour were investigated in a series of studies of schoolchildren of different age cohorts: 8-year-olds (N = 85), 11-year-olds (N = 167), and 15-year-olds (N = 127). Different types of aggressive behaviour were measured with peer nomination techniques, supported by self-ratings. The social structure of the peer groups were also studied. The results of the 11-year-old cohort were previously presented by Lagerspetz et al. [1988; Aggressive Behavior 14:403–414], but they are compared here with the other age groups. The principal finding was that girls of the two older cohorts overall make greater use of indirect means of aggression, whereas boys tend to employ direct means. Previously, the main difference between the genders has been thought to be that boys use physical aggressive strategies, while girls prefer verbal ones. Our studies suggest that the differentiation between direct and indirect strategies of aggression presents a more exact picture. Indirect aggressive strategies were not yet fully developed among the 8-year-old girls, but they were already prominent among the 11-year-old girls. Aggressive behaviour was assessed overall by the children themselves to be the highest in this age group.

Interspecific recognition among termites of the genusReticulitermes: Evidence for a role for the cuticular hydrocarbons

Two species of termites,Reticulitermes (lucifugus) grassei andR. (l.) banyulensis, show a high degree of aggressivity toward each other. The epicuticular signature, recognized by contact, can be extracted using organic solvents, and the removal of the signature abolished all types of aggressive behavior. The signature can be transferred to lures, where it triggers interspecies aggression. It was found to be mainly present in the apolar fraction of the cuticular extracts, which contained only hydrocarbons, are determined by GC/MS techniques. Chemical recognition contributes towards isolation of the two species belonging to theR. lucifugus complex.

Regulation of genetic aggression by central dopamine system

Two types of aggressive behavior were produced by selective breeding in ICR mice. NC900 line mice exhibited high level of species-typical, isolation-induced aggression, conversely, NC100 line mice exhibited little aggression. The present study tested the hypothesis that these differences involved brain monoamine systems. Comparisons of microdissected samples from various brain regions showed that NC100 line mice had significantly lower concentrations of dopamine, DOPAC and HVA in the nucleus accumbens (NAB) and caudate nucleus (NCU) than NC900 line. Homogenate binding studies demonstrated that NC100 mice had significantly increased density of D1 dopamine receptor, but not D2 dopamine receptor in the caudate nucleus. These results support the hypothesis that central dopamine pathways play an important role in modulating the genetically selected differences in aggressive behavior, and of which intensity differs from D1 and D2 dopamine receptors.

An overview of types of aggressive behaviour in dogs and methods of treatment

In 223 cases of dogs presented to a specialist behavioural clinic in Brisbane, Australia, 87 (39%) were for severe aggression. The classes of aggression included dominance (31.6%), territorial (29%), predatory (12.3%), intermale (12.3%), sibling rivalry (7.9%), fear biting (6%) and idiopathic rage (0.9%). The breeds most represented which attacked humans were the Bull Terrier (16%), German Shepherd and crosses (15%), Cattle dog breeds (Blue Heeler and crosses, 9.2%), Terrier breeds (9.2%), Labrador (8%), Poodle and Cocker Spaniel (both 5.7%) and Rottweiler (4.6%). The dangerous dog list put out by the local Brisbane City Council includes the first three breeds mentioned and the Rottweiler as the top four breeds causing aggression problems. Hospital records in Victoria and Queensland confirm that most damage is caused to humans by Bull Terriers and German Shepherds. Many breeds similar to those in our study are also represented in American data on aggressive breeds. Treatments included obedience training only, restraint only, obedience and restraint, synthetic progestins and obedience, castration, progestins and obedience, castration and obedience, use of chlorpromazine and as a last resort, euthanasia (12.6%). Entire males formed the largest group (44%), followed by castrated males and females (both 21%) and spayed females (15%). Several breeds (Boxer, Briand, Samoyed and St. Bernard) only attacked other animals and birds. This study reinforces evidence that social disruption is caused by aggressive dogs, but it also indicates that many responsible clients seek advice on how to deal with this behavioural problem.

Feline Aggression

Types of aggressive behavior commonly recognized in cats include intermale, territorial, fear/defensive, play, predation, and redirected. Diagnosis is made on the basis of signalment data, the pattern of aggressive postures displayed by the aggressive cat, and the circumstances in which the aggressive behavior occurred. Treatment varies with the type of aggressive behavior but may include neutering, desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques, punishment, drug therapy, and management changes.

Peer Status and Aggression in Boys' Groups: Developmental and Contextual Analyses

The social transactions of popular, rejected, neglected, and average first- and third-grade boys were examined during their initial encounters with peers. 23 groups of 5 or 6 boys each were observed for 45-min free-play sessions conducted on 5 consecutive days, with sociometric interviews following each session. Social preference in the play groups correlated significantly with classroom social preference after the third and subsequent play sessions for the third graders, and after the fourth and subsequent sessions for the first graders. The observational coding system distinguished 4 types of aggressive behavior that were hypothesized to relate to peer status in different ways. The first, rough play, was not related to peer status. However, rejected boys at both ages displayed significantly higher rates of angry reactive aggression and instrumental aggression than average boys. The relation between bullying and peer status varied with the age of the child. Popular first graders engaged in more bullying than average first graders, but popular third graders did not differ from average in bullying. Other questions concerned the temporal relation between play group behaviors and social preference scores within the group. Socially interactive behaviors anteceded high preference by peers, and low preference in turn led to social isolation in subsequent sessions.

Differences in children's peer sociometric and attribution ratings due to context and type of aggressive behavior

Sociometric and attribution (internality and responsibility) ratings of boys performing different kinds of aggression (hostile and instrumental hitting and pushing) and of neutral behavior occurring in two contexts (provoked and unprovoked) were investigated in an analogue fashion. Thirty fifth- and sixth-grade boys viewed and rated 12 brief videotaped scenes of two unfamiliar male peers interacting, presented in one of six random orders. Provoked aggression resulted in less dislike, less worthiness of punishment, and greater attribution to external causes than unprovoked aggression. Instrumental and hostile aggression produced lower liking ratings and were viewed as more deserving of punishment than neutral behavior but did not differ from each other. Results support distinctions between provoked and unprovoked aggression but not between hostile and instrumental aggression, at least in terms of their functional impact on peer judgements.

Learning Courtship Aggression: The Influence of Parents, Peers, and Personal Experiences

Using a differential association/social learning framework and sex role theory, we examine four research questions concerning the zero-order and relative influences of parents, peers, and individuals' personal experiences on courtship aggression. We examine data separately for aggressors and victims as well as females and males, and we distinguish among three types of courtship aggression: abuse, violence, and sexual aggression. The results, from a random sample of college students, indicate that influences most proximate in time and place affect courtship aggression most strongly; that is, individuals' own experiences as victims and perpetrators are stronger influences than parents and peers in predicting courtship aggression. Patterns of results vary by type of aggressive behavior and sex of respondent.

Indoleamines in Depression and Suicide

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the evidence in favor of a relationship between depression and central 5-HT dysfunctions. The findings are derived from the patients with depression as the principal diagnosis. Some data originate from the patients suffering from a somatic illness and from depression as well. Both peripheral and central data are discussed. The issue of the specificity of the observed alterations in 5-HT metabolism is also described. It is concluded as in depression, 5-HT metabolism can be disturbed. The same seems to be true for certain disturbances in aggression regulation. It is more likely that the 5-HT disturbances are causally related to the behavioral disorder, than that they are secondary to them or mere coincidences. This conclusion is based on these considerations, including (1) 5-HT precursors, in particular 5-HTP can be effective in depression, (2) 5-HTP exerts prophylactic effects in high frequency uni- and bipolar depression, (3) preliminary findings suggest 5-HT precursors, in particular tryptophan, to possess aggression decreasing potential in schizophrenic patients, (4) in animals the relationship between certain types of aggressive behavior and central 5-HT systems has been well established.

Frequencies of agonistic behaviours as measures of aggression in chickens: A factor analysis

Different types of aggressive behaviour have often been treated as comparable in measures of aggressiveness in chickens. Are these different forms of behaviour equivalent? Observations were made of behaviour in small mixed-sex groups of domestic chickens, from hatcing to 25 weeks of age. Threats and headpecks both tended to elicit avoidances, and retaliation was rare. However, leaps and horizontal threats tended to elicit other leaps. Factor analysis showed that threats and pecks tended to occur in the same dyadic relationships. Dyads with a high frequency of chases and waltzes, however, were not necessarity those with a high frequency of threats and pecks. The frequency of waltzing was dependent on the amount of crowing a male showed. The frequency of leaps and horizontal threats tended to be closely linked to the occurrence of running bouts rather than to the occurrence of threats and pecks.

Life stress and violence among Ex-mental patients.

Levinson and Ramsay (J. Hlth soc. Behav. 20, 178, 1979) recently suggested that high life stress may be related to violent behavior among mental patients. Data are reported here from community interviews with 148 former patients and 245 respondents from the general population to further test this relationship. Self reports of the frequency of life stress events and four types of aggressive behavior ranging from arguments to assaults with weapons were obtained. High life stress was found to be associated with more frequent disputes of all types for both population. When these relationships were examined with demographic control variables, the significant effects of life stress remained only for the mental patients. The implications of these findings for a situation-based approach to violence and to stress research are considered.

Evaluations of different types of aggressive acts among a variety of male adolescent samples

An aggression questionnaire measuring a subject's reaction along five evaluation measures—justification, aggressiveness, similarity, punishment and approval—to different types of aggressive behaviour was completed by three groups of subjects who were termed aggressive delinquents, non‐aggressive delinquents and non‐delinquents. The types of aggression inspected were reactive hostile aggression, initiatory instrumental aggression, social aggression, initiatory hostile aggression and reactive instrumental aggression. Analyses of variance found no global differences between the groups but group by type of aggression effects were significant on the similarity and approval measures. Aggressive delinquents were found to rate initiatory aggression more favourably than the other groups particularly the non‐delinquents. Percentage of total variance attributable to situations was found to be greater than that attributable to persons with all three groups and this was most evident with the non‐delinquents.