Assignment task: What would be a reasonable response question to this post with in-text citations and references?
"Aggression is a behavior intended to harm or injure another person or living being, whether physical, verbal, indirect, direct, active, or passive (Sabates, 2012, p. 184). Physical aggression is a behavior that causes or threatens physical harm toward another. This behavior can be any one of the following, which include kicking, biting, using weapons, and/or breaking another's possessions. An example of this may be if someone gets mad and proceeds to throw things or begins to hit someone.
Verbal Aggression is defined as using words and gestures to cause psychological harm. This may include bullying or verbal harassment. An example may be if someone curses at another or calls them names. Indirect aggression is known as criticizing a competitor's appearance, spreading rumors about a person's sexual behavior, and social exclusion. An example of this might include someone asking another, "Did you know Jill has been married five times and has kids from 8 different men?" Indirect aggression often includes using others to harm a person, and you don't directly confront the person. An example might include a gang leader sending someone to retrieve money that is owed in any way that they can.
Active aggression is a threat or an act of assault, with the ability to carry out the threat or assault. An example of this could be if a gang leader threatens the person who owes money and could carry out the assault. Passive aggression is indirectly expressing negative feelings or steadily and openly addressing them. An example might include if a child is told they do not get another cookie, they then sulk or refuse to be told no.
Some aggressive behaviors can be learned from parents, the culture around them, society groups, and even mental illness.
We all learn some aggression from our parents. We know that if we do something that is wrong as a child, we will likely get a spanking or another form of punishment. We learn that this type of aggression is intended to stop or put an end to bad behavior. Sometimes we prejudice others and verbally assault someone. We may be aggressive to someone because of their race or to someone with the same culture.
What does the Bible say about aggressive people? "pray for them." Matthew 5:44(NIV) "Love your enemies, bless the one who curses you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who are spiteful to you or use you and persecute." James 1:19 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to "anger. 2 Timothy 1(NIV) "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
References:
- Sabates, A. M. (2012). Social psychology in Christian perspective: Exploring the human condition. InterVarsity Press.
- Holy Bible, New International Version (2008). Zondervan. (Original work published in 1973).