The Nature Of Human Aggression

We are exploring the differences in the roles heredity and environment play in human aggression. This is not an easy question, one that the scientific community has been grappling for years. The current consensus seems to be that both heredity and environment play significant roles in determining our intricate personalities, including the areas of violence and aggression. Through a survey we will conduct later in the semester, we will question Miami students about their childhood, criminal background, and past incidents of violence among other things, to attempt to determine whether their genetic makeup or rearing had a greater influence on possible violent behavior.

Through out our research we have encountered various experiments and much insight into how environment and genetics play a role in the development of aggression in humans. Author of the book "Human Aggression", Russel Geen, defines aggression as a noxious stimulus to another person with the intent of harming that person, and in the expectation that the aversive stimulus will reach its destination. This may lead some to ask, "what the hell is this guy talking about?" The answer is simple. According to Lee Ellis, aggression is wanting to hurt someone or something and then acting accordingly; expecting they will get hurt. Then there are many different types of behavior that fit the definition of aggression, thus it is best for us to recognize that there are different types of aggression.

Controversy surrounds the origins of human aggression. Biologists' viewpoints will suggest that humans share certain "genetically determined tendencies" toward aggressive behavior. The behaviorist argument suggests that aggression is acquired through experience, and learning. However, we hope to prove that the two are not mutually exclusive of one another. Some aggressions found in humans have biological origins and some are learned.

1. Relevance

Out of the eleven books we are using for this research project, three have proven to be extremely helpful in giving us ideas to start our investigation. The first is titled "Aggression in Man and Animals." The book begins with a definition of aggression, which we have discovered is necessary due to the fact that there are different kinds of aggression. A section of this book that is of particular interest to us is the chapter titled "Evolution and Aggression." The second book is called "Biology, Crime, and Ethics". This book has much useful information done in researching criminal behavior in terms of biology. It goes into much detail about whether or not genetic factors play a role in criminal behavior. The book titled "Origins of Human Behavior" is of particular interest to us because it describes a theory that states that certain people may be more "animalistic" than others, which also affects aggression.

2. Background

Environmental Factors

To understand human aggression from a biological perspective- scientists study human behavior from its primate origins. They say that aggression has evolved as a behavioral norm in humans because it facilitates survival and adaptation. For example, inter-male fighting may be an adaptive form of aggression because it assures the most desirable spacing of animals within a given territory.

Behaviorists usually tend to treat aggression as a set of acquired behaviors and attach less emphasis on innate and biological determinants. These scientists commonly apply the "principles of social learning theory" when addressing aggression. Using this approach, aggression is usually dealt with in terms of (1) features of the environment which foster the initial learning or acquisition of the behavior, (2) environmental influences that facilitate the aggressive behavior, and (3) environmental conditions that maintain aggressive behavior.

A number of conditions in the physical environment have proven to elicit aggressive behavior. For instance, the belief that aggression is more likely in hot weather than in cool weather is a common one. One may observe that belief in the Uniform Crime Reports of the FBI which show that peak occurrences of common crimes of violence (such as assault, rape, and murder) occur in the hottest summer months.
The stressful affects of noise have also been well documented. Urban settings are usually characterized by high levels of noise, which can lead to loss of hearing, hypertension, stress, and decreased efficiency in problem solving. The major role of noise in aggression is that it plays the role of an intensifier of ongoing behavior. In other words, if behavior is aggressive, then the introduction of noise facilitates the expression of the aggressive behavior. Noise may also contribute to aggression by reducing an individual's tolerance for frustration.

Thusly, physical environments, not only acting as a space to provide conidiotns that may foster aggression, also have the capability of maintaining it. One may see that environment plays a crucial role in agressive behavior in humans.

The Genetic Factor

In "Biology, Crime, and Ethics", Frank Marsh highlights studies of criminality, all which, "...unanimously reported that parental criminality and offspring criminality seem to be related... between 30 and 45% of offspring with criminal records had one or both parents with criminal records," (Marsh, 67). He goes on to discuss the trend of delinquency and criminality "running in the family," but insists this does not provide support for either a, "...genetic or family environmental causal explanation," (Marsh, 69).

Later in the book, Marsh questions whether or not man is innately aggressive. He mentions researchers in the neurosciences, who have isolated the limbic system, the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the reticular system as parts of the brain from which aggressive behavior stems. Marsh warns of simplifying the "circuitry" of the brain, though, and the danger in saying humans are "wired" for violence, despite their life experience. He summarizes by saying, "...in the generality of human beings, genetic influences alone cannot be responsible for aggressive behavior, in most cases such behavior is largely dependent upon environmental factors," (Marsh, 149).

In his book "Origins of Human Aggression", Gerald Neuman discusses early forms of man, including Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthal Man, and Cro-Magnon Man. He states evidence showing that Australopithecus was an adept killer, a cannibal, and relied on aggressive skills to survive. He proves that all forms of man could be violent, and that we, as Homo homo sapiens, are no exception.

In quoting studies done on monkeys, Frank Marsh states that the capacity for violent behavior was found to be innate, and that the ability to control those aggressive tendencies is what must be learned. Using the quoted research, he again asserts the evidence shows that aggression is, "...an unlearned, innately determined
behavior," (Marsh, 152). Further, he groups all aspects of behavior together, saying learning and innate factors both play important roles, in the lives of humans and all animals. Next, the author discusses the influence of genetics. He believes genes do not determine traits, but rather influence the developmental expression of traits, which together, "...represent the expression of the interaction of genes with environments," (Marsh, 153).

An individual must learn how to be aggressive. If raised in a violent environment, one may model his life after the examples he was provided, possibly becoming a permanently aggressive person. Marsh makes his final point to summarize,saying,"...the areas of the brain that have become associated with aggressive or violent behavior have been organized by the experience of the individual, and the environments in which he has been socialized, to facilitate the expression of such behavior... The fact is not that man becomes what he is predetermined to become, but that he becomes, as a human being, whatever - within his genetic limitations - he learns to be," (Marsh, 156).

4.Materials and Methods

The following are the survey questions:

1. What is your age?
2. What is your sex?
3. Do you recall any instances of abuse during your childhood?
4. Rate your upbringing on a scale of 1-10, 1 being loving and 10 being violent.
5. Would you consider any family members violent?
6. As a child, were you more intimidated in your own home, or outside of your home?
7. Have you ever been arrested?
8. Have you ever been involved in a physical altercation?
9. Can you recall witnessing violence in your home?
10. Ö.Outside of your home?

Bibliography
1. Crook, Paul. Darwinism, War, and History. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 1994.

2. Ellis, Lee. Crime in Biological, Social, and Moral Contexts. Praeger Press. New York. 1990.

3. Hennessy, James J. Criminal Behavior. Transaction Publishers. London. 1992.

4. Herrnstein, Richard. Crime and Human Nature. Simon and Schuster. New York. 1985.

5. Jeffery, C.R. Biology and Crime. Sage Publications. Beverly Hills. 1979.

6. Johnson, Roger. Aggression in Man and Animals. WB Saunders Company. Philadelphia. 1972.

7. Katz, Janet. Biology,Crime, and Ethics. Anderson Publishing Co. Cincinnati. 1985.

8. Raine, Adrian. Psychopathology of Crime. Academic Press. San Diego. 1993.

9. Neuman, Gerard. Origins of Human Aggression. Human Sciences Press. 1987.

10. Whalen, Richard. Neuropsychology of Aggression. Plenum Press. New York. 1974.

11. Wright, Robert. The Moral Animal. Vintage Books. New York. 1994.

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