Microsoft Word Chapter 1 done doc

14.2 PERSPECTIVES ON AGGRESSION :
 
The term Perspective means viewpoint. Perspectives on 
Aggression mean different viewpoints on aggression or theories of 
aggression. It deals with the views of different researches as to the 
reasons concerning why human beings aggress against others. 
There are many different perspectives on aggression. The three 
most common perspectives are as follows:
• The Role of Biological Factors : From Instincts to 
Evolutionary Perspective. 
• Drive Theories: The Motive to Harm Others. 
• Modern Theories of Aggression: The Social Learning 
Perspective and The General Aggression Model. 
 
14.2.1 The Role of Biological Factors :
 
From Instincts to Evolutionary Perspective : One of the 
important debatable issues has been what role do instincts or 
genetic factors play in aggression. One view holds that human 
beings are genetically programmed for aggression and violence. 
Views of Sigmund Freud : One of the earliest instinct theories 
was given by Sigmund Freud which held the view that human 
violence stems from built-in (i.e., inherited) tendencies to aggress 
against others. He held the view that human aggression is 

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instinctive. Freud believed that the individual has two basic 
instinctive drives:
• Eros (or libido or life instinct) and 
• Thanatos or death instinct. 
He called the instinct to live and obtain pleasure libido or 
eros and gave the name Thanatos to the death drive. When 
thanatos dominates, the result is self-punishment and suicide. 
According to this viewpoint aggression springs mainly from a 
built in fighting, instinct that humans share with many other species.
Presumably, this instinct developed during the course of evolution 
because it yielded many benefits. For example fighting serves to 
disperse populations over a wide area, thus, ensuring maximum 
use of available resources. And since it is often closely related to 
mating, such behaviour often helps to strengthen the genetic make 
up of a species by assuring that only the strongest and most 
vigorous individuals manage to reproduce.