The Prevention and Control of Human Aggression

Abstract

Aggression is, by definition, a dangerous and harmful form of behavior. Further, as we have noted on several different occasions, its incidence in social interaction is alarmingly high. Given these facts, it seems only reasonable to expect that over the years, researchers concerned with the study of human violence would devote considerable attention to techniques for preventing or controlling such actions. Surprisingly, however, this has not been the case. A careful survey of existing psychological literature on aggression reveals that while a great many investigations have focused upon various social, situational, environmental, and individual antecedents of violence, a much smaller number have examined means for preventing or controlling its occurrence (cf. Kimble, Fitz, & Onorad, 1977; Pisano & Taylor, 1971). Further, many of the studies that have been concerned with these latter topics have been conducted primarily within an applied context. As a result, they have often sought means for controlling aggression under specific circumstances or among special populations and have not attempted to establish basic principles that might prove useful in lowering the incidence of aggression generally (cf. Bandura, 1973). While many different factors have contributed to this surprising and somewhat unsettling state of affairs, two seem to be of greatest importance.