Verbal aggression (page 1 of 3)

Verbal aggression

Psychological Dictionary. THEM. Kondakov. 2000.

See what “verbal aggression” is in other dictionaries:

Verbal Aggression is aggressive behavior using the response of one’s own negative emotions both with the help of intonation and other non-verbal components of speech, and with the help of the content of statements ... Psychological Dictionary

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Aggression - (lat. aggredi attack) 1) individual or collective behavior, action aimed at causing physical or psychological harm, damage, or destruction of another person or group of people. In a significant proportion of cases... ... Dictionary-reference book on educational psychology

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Verbal aggression - A form of aggressive behavior that uses the response of one’s negative emotions both through appropriate intonations and other non-verbal components of speech, and through the threatening content of statements. Dictionary... ... Great psychological encyclopedia

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aggression - and; and. (lat. agressio attack) 1) An armed attack by a state or several states on what l. a state with the aim of seizing its territory, destroying or limiting its independence, changing its political or social... ... Dictionary of many expressions

AGGRESSION is purposeful destructive behavior that contradicts the norms and rules of coexistence of people in society, causing physical harm or causing negative experiences, a state of tension, fear, depression. Aggressive... ... Pedagogical Dictionary

Danger

Aggressive behavior contradicts not only moral principles , but also legal norms. It can be dangerous for both the offender and the victim.

If the victim responds with similar manifestations, this may turn into physical confrontation, namely beatings, bodily harm, or murder.

For the victim, verbal aggression is dangerous because the person constantly feels humiliated, loses self-esteem and can lead to suicidal thoughts .

A person can also get used to humiliation and perceive it as the norm.

This happens to a child who is constantly suppressed and scolded by his parents.

Having matured, such a person will tolerate negativity from other offenders.

In children, behavioral skills develop into personality traits over time. This leads to the development of psychopathy against a background of aggression. The likelihood of deviant behavior, maladjustment in society , and the commission of crimes also increases.

Verbal aggression: causes, manifestations and correction of this condition

Verbal aggression is statements or intonation components of statements that serve to cause mental pain or are aimed at causing negative experiences of another person or living being.

N. S. Yakimova draws attention to the fact that statements become aggressive only in those cases when they cause the opposite equivalent action. Otherwise, even the most terrible word forms in generally accepted practice are perceived as adequate and do not injure. But it is not always the case. The fact is that verbal aggression is often directed at those creatures or people who cannot fully respond to such an act. For example, a parent yelling at a child is essentially committing an act of violence. But the same response is not always observed. Most often the child just cries. And in the case of a leader, the subordinate is generally forced to silently “swallow” all the aggression. That is, it is more correct to talk not about the reverse action, but about the reverse reaction. And it doesn’t matter how this reaction manifests itself. The main thing is that it causes emotion or excitement. This is called the "principle of reciprocity."

It is also worth separating verbal aggression from the phenomenon of linguistic violence. The fact is that linguistic violence does not have a specific victim, but directs the statement to a wide, clearly undefined circle of people. For example, persons of Jewish or Roma origin. Even jokes about blondes or Chukchi can be classified as a form of linguistic violence. Verbal aggression is always objective and clearly aimed at defending one’s position or point of view in front of a specific person.

However, in all cases the motive of behavior comes to the fore. And the determining motive is precisely the desire to cause internal damage to the interlocutor. This is expressed in the meaning-forming intention, and not just in the design of speech. After all, one can recall, for example, communication between certain individuals containing a large amount of obscene language. But, at the same time, this very abuse is both broadcast and perceived as insert words and does not cause offensive feelings. Because, in this case, there is no determining motive and deliberate actions in the form of causing offense.

What exactly is verbal aggression? In fact, this is one of ten types of experimentally identified variants of verbal attacks, which can be as follows:

criticism of personal qualities;
condemnation of biographical facts (including place of birth);
incorrect review of appearance;
curses;
“joke”, cruel jokes and ridicule;
threats;
obscene language;
prolonged teasing, usually turned into persistent word forms or mocking rhymes and expressions rooted in society;
nonverbal signs.

Why are nonverbal signs included in the layer of verbal aggression? Yes, because with their help expressions and turns take on completely different, offensive forms. We include the following signs:

gestures (clenched fists, crossed or resting hands on the sides);
facial expressions (angry or disdainful facial expression);
poses (“imperative poses” are always perceived as a provocation);
visual contact (a gaze that is perceived as “impudent” can be provocative here);
intonation and timbre of the voice (even a phrase that is harmless in meaning can be shouted or said with disdain, provoking offense);
organization of time and space of communication (invasion without demand into “foreign territory” or an urgent challenge to one’s own, realizing that in such a place communication will be uncomfortable, is already regarded as an act of attack).

“Do you think this is true?” says the parent or leader. In fact, this phrase is not offensive. But, if you add a certain posture, timbre of voice, put your hands on your hips, and even call your interlocutor “to the office on the carpet to the authorities.” A harmless phrase immediately becomes a threat, a condemnation of opinions and attitudes. And the phrase: “Everything is clear with you, my dear,” with certain non-verbal “additions” calls into question the level of mental abilities and competence. In a word, both in the first and second cases cause internal discomfort and worries.

After verbal aggression, physical aggression can be provoked. This happens if there is an initial disposition of the object of aggression due to its characteristics: personal, social or situational. Personal characteristics most often include age and gender. Social factors include ethnicity, social well-being of the environment, level of education and general culture.

Situational factors most often include the environment, the physical, physiological and neuro-emotional state of a person and additional factors that may influence the adequacy of the assessment and perception of the situation. But we should not write off the influence of social factors. These factors are determined by the national mentality and the division of certain linguistic norms as “unacceptable” or “acceptable”. Thus, in some ethnic groups it may be absolutely unacceptable to make offensive statements about the interlocutor’s parents. And such things always provoke an act of physical aggression. Whereas in another group it will not cause such a violent reaction.

Verbal aggression can take the form of direct aggression, which is carried out directly on someone here and now. Or maybe indirect. Indirect verbal aggression is heterogeneous and includes two different but complementary concepts. In the first case, it is considered as aggressive behavior, the focus of which on a specific person is hidden. In the second case, it is considered as aggression, which in a roundabout way seeks to hurt the victim. In fact, these two concepts are similar in principle of action - without direct statement. It has the appearance of intrigue and gossip. Insult is achieved by damaging, first of all, a person’s reputation.

Despite the fact that almost all people can commit such linguistic acts, most often psychologists or psychotherapists are consulted about verbal aggression in children and adolescents. It is worth saying that the language and speech of adolescents is intensively developing and improving both due to an increase in vocabulary and due to the understanding of ambiguous interpretations of certain words and phrases. The teenager realizes that expressing his views on some things is not necessary in words. There are many other ways.

Modern teenagers are less and less interested in books and theater, and more and more often in computers and television. Therefore, they absorb variants of aggression expressed in verbal form faster and more than their parents. And it doesn’t matter from whose lips these expressions come out: a convict, an outcast, a character in a game. After all, television programs, as well as computer games, according to many observers, have become more aggressive.

Hypothetically, it is believed that the motives for verbal aggression in adolescents are as follows:

the need for self-realization, even if this occurs at the expense of oppressing the interests or personal space of another person;
the need for self-affirmation when the child begins to rebel against authority;
the need for self-defense when you have to defend your living space or freedom of choice.

As for children and pre-teens, with the help of verbal aggression, children often “mask” important and painful internal experiences: sadness, anger, but more often – a feeling of loneliness, fear of abandonment. Therefore, there are often cases when such options for “replacing a child” occur during periods when younger children are joining the family, during divorces, changes of place of residence and other life situations that are traumatic for a small personality. Even if this is the need to “survive” or “defend your personal space” in a large group, for example, a kindergarten group.

Here we can note the fact that the forms change somewhat.

Thus, verbal direct aggression most often takes the form of teasing: “Masha is a yogurt,” “Zhora is a glutton.” Although they can descend to the level of insults. Moreover, not all sets of swear words are adequately learned at this age. Therefore, in addition to “infection” and “mare”, words that for some reason were “included” in this list can be used as swear words.

For example, a child may “call” someone “handy.” In his mind, this word means a real monster with “some kind of long and huge or ugly arms.” Whereas in our minds, this is more likely a person who is very good at making or repairing something. In addition, the psychologist may generally surprise parents who are shocked by the child’s vocabulary: it turns out that the child does not express aggression at all. He simply retells new words he has heard from others.

Complaints remain striking manifestations of indirect verbal aggression in childhood. Although, as a rule, they are leveled out even without psychological correction work. But aggressive fantasies should attract the most attention. In them, as a rule, the child does not “punish the offender” himself: “a policeman will come and take you away,” “I’ll tell the janitor, and he will take you far, far away, to a garbage heap.” The fact is that these types of fantasies can indicate the formation of low self-esteem in a child and be a litmus test of his inability to fight back against problems or offenders without anyone’s help. You can also talk about options for overprotection by a parent or family member, which suppresses a small personality.

What can be advised in these cases? Of course, don’t despair and deal with the problems. Psychologists or psychotherapists will help you with this.

As a rule, children and adolescents who are prone to verbalize their aggression are easy to talk to. The thing is that they are happy to communicate and be heard. Consequently, the correction of such manifestations occurs quite well.

Author of the article: Galina Nikolaevna Lapshun, Master of Psychology, I category psychologist