Two Theories Of Aggression Analysis

There is a wide variety of different theories regarding aggression. However, the two theories which I tend to compare and evaluate are the evolutionary theory and the social learning theory. These theories tend to explain why an individual behaves in an aggressive or violent way. The evolutionary theory is derived from the biological factor in which it aims to focus on aggression as a natural selection, meaning aggression is naturally there within humans. On the other hand, the social learning theory which is derived from the learning factor aims to focus on aggression in a way where an individual can learn to be aggressive through observations in society.

The first theory that I would like to evaluate is the evolutionary theory, in which, …show more content…
In this system, you learn from direct experience or by observing the actions of others. People are ruled by rewards and punishments; such as, if someone commits a crime, therefore, he will go to jail. Or if someone gets a good mark on an exam, therefore, he will pass the course. As humans, we tend to act upon rules and rewards given to us once we have performed in a certain way and sometimes we tend to think that if we act this way it is wrong; however, what is considered wrong in one society can be considered right in another. Therefore, what we have learned is right might be considered wrong and what we have learned is wrong might be considered …show more content…
Bandura also suggested that the main source for one to learn aggression is by observing a role model as a child, therefore, you will act upon what you have observed from that specific role model or individual; for example, witnessing your father using aggressive behaviour towards his workers because of them not being able to complete a certain task therefore once you give someone a certain task to complete and he doesn’t provide, you will then tend to use the same behaviour your father used with his previous workers. Through this process, children learn the consequences of aggression and see whether what has resulted is positive or negative. Aggression can be witnessed through media and through experiences from our childhood; however, it must be understood as to why we use aggressive behaviour and whether it results in positive or negative reinforcements because as the social learning theory states, we sometimes witness someone being rewarded for a certain act whether good or bad we tend to act the same way due to the reward this person has been given and that is called vicarious reinforcement. Also, Self-efficacy plays a big role, in which, if we succeed in being aggressive our confidence increases; such as, punching a