Is aggression learned ?or is it inherited?

Answer 1

This is an argument that has been going on for decades. On one hand the more Liberal philosophy is that people are basically good but become bad through poverty, societal influence and negative peer pressure. On the other hand is the Conservative philosophy that people are basically bad. They must be influenced and instructed to become good useful members of society. Neglect the child and raise a monster.

My personal opinion is that aggression is both learned and inherited. Imagine if a child is abandoned in the jungle with no human contact. What do you think he will be like when he grows up? He will most likely be more animal than human. Therefore, aggressive behavior is natural. If it is not corrected the child will learn that it is a good tool to accomplish his goals. If he wants a toy that another child has, takes it by force and gets away with it, he will "learn" that his natural impulses need no controls.

Things like sharing, caring, empathy, sympathy, altruism etc. are not at all natural behavior. These things must be taught and instilled through example if we wish our child to acquire them as part of his personality.

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Answer 2

Is Aggression Inherited

Answer 3

I would say that it is mostly learned, but I think it has alot to do with biological makeup as well. We all know that higher levels of testosterone lead to higher levels of aggression, and since this hormone is present in both sexes, it has to play a factor. Everyone has different levels of the hormone, which must be an inherited factor I would think.

Obviously on the learned side of behavior, the things we are exposed to play the largest role. If a child grows up with an abusive parent, they are more likely to be abusers themselves.

Answer 4

Well, at its simplest level, aggression is part of the "fight or flight" response dictated by adrenaline in your bloodstream. And this is, of course, *not* a learned behaviour.
Animals are agressive, even ones raised in peaceful circumstances, and children are agressive - even before they really understand what they are fighting about.

However - what *is* learned is the capacity to *not* give in to aggressive urges, or to channel the aggression into something more appropriate. For example, you can aggressively compete with someone, or aggressively persuade them without resorting to simple, physical aggression ("a fist in the mouth often offends").

The hormonal part is, of course, inherited; and it is perfectly possible for genetics to give you a higher or lower aggression/adrenline response.
The behavioral part is learned, from what others around you do in response to challenges.

Answer 5

A person may genetically inherited aggression but it can can be controlled by social learning ......... The visa versa of the same is also applicable

Answer 6

Both inherited propensity and learned. I think the elders including parents re-inforce what is already a genetic predisposition.

Answer 7

well that's a very interesting question
nature or nurture?
sure, you can LEARN to be aggressive, but i think it comes down to personality more, if you have a short fuse SURE you're going to lash out more often.
but, take for example; an abusive father will raise abusive children, so yeah, it can be learnt too

i think aggression plays a large role in survival and what not, so its going to be apparent in pretty much every animal.
at least i think so....
happy trails

Answer 8

Personley i think it is a learned disorder inherited from your dad mum etc..

Answer 9

Its learned

Answer 10

aggresion can be learned but one of your emotions is aggresion (anger)... some could be located in the brain... (why certain people need anger management) ... some could be caused by family history (if your father is aggresive then you could naturally have the tendancy to be so.) and it can be personallity.
it is learned AND inheirted