Summary: A new study contests the belief that aggression stems from poor self-control. Instead, it suggests that aggression is often a deliberate, controlled act, inflicted to maximize retribution.
This finding, based on meta-analysis of multiple psychology and neurology studies, contradicts the traditional approach of treating violent tendencies by boosting self-control. It implies that such interventions may even enable some people to better execute their aggressive instincts.
Key Facts:
- Aggression does not necessarily arise from poor self-control. Instead, it can be a calculated act of retribution, requiring self-discipline to carry out effectively.
- Evidence suggests that self-control training programs do not necessarily reduce violent tendencies.
- Research indicates that the brain’s prefrontal cortex, a center of self-control, shows increased activity during aggression, further debunking the association between poor self-control and aggression.
Personally, I find the above statement to be very interesting, before I became aware of how ASPD affects my life in a negative way, I would often intend to appear more angered than I actually was in order to achieve some end goal.
Presently, I see my anger as stemming from a lack of control over my emotions and thoughts.
That being said, I cannot say that I am always the master of my domain so I still find this article worth a little bit of light reading.
I think it’s a mistake to too firmly attach aggression to one specific behavioral origin, which I believe is what the study is getting at to begin with. There are certainly forms of aggression that are rooted in defensive behaviors that aren’t well thought out, as well as deliberate and methodical forms of aggression. It’s certainly a misapprehension to assume that all aggression is a result of being unable to control oneself, which does have some implications for how we should be dealing with it.
If, for example, we look at every abuser through the assumption that they simply can’t control themselves rather than that they’ve got a maladaptive way of viewing the world and interacting with others that leads them to use aggression in order to exercise control, we’re likely going to take the wrong steps to try to change that situation.