aggression (redirected from Aggression (psychology))

aggression /ag·gres·sion/ (ah-gresh´un) behavior leading to self-assertion; it may arise from innate drives and/or a response to frustration, and may be manifested by destructive and attacking behavior, by hostility and obstructionism, or by self-expressive drive to mastery.

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ag·gres·sion (-grshn)

n.

Hostile or destructive behavior or actions.

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aggression

behavior that is angry and destructive and intended to be injurious, physically or emotionally, and aimed at domination of one animal by another. It may be manifested by overt attacking and destructive behavior or by covert attitudes of hostility and obstructionism. The most common behavioral problem seen in dogs.

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affective aggression

involves intense, patterned autonomic activation with sympathetic and adrenal stimulation.

fear-induced aggression

accompanied by fear and usually when escape is not possible; may be associated with previous unpleasant experiences.

food-related aggression

directed towards people or animals when approached while eating. An early indicator of the risk of developing dominance aggression.

interfemale aggression

dominance aggression between females.

intermale aggression

fighting between males, most commonly tomcats; includes elements of competitive, territorial and sexual aggression.

maternal aggression

the dam's protection of her young; a variant of dominance aggression.

nonaffective aggression

without autonomic activation.

pain-induced aggression

defensive aggression triggered by pain.

play aggression

biting, nipping and growling at people or other animals during play.

possessive aggression

a form of dominance aggression; the animal is reacting against someone or another animal trying to remove something, usually food.

predatory aggression

directed towards any kind of animal, including dogs and humans, or even inanimate objects. Typically, it is elicited by something that is moving quickly.

protective aggression

the animal is protecting its territory. See territorial aggression (below).

redirected aggression

occurs when the animal is touched or restrained by a human or another animal, while it is fighting or threatening.

territorial aggression

behavior directed toward the defense of an area by an individual or a group against entry by others, usually members of the same species but the trait is developed in guard dogs that protect property from human intruders.