Gender Roles Of Aggression Essay

Gender differences on aggressiveness are often misunderstood. People often develop stereotypes of gender roles in aggression. Aggression can be defined in numerous ways. There are also various types of aggression, such as physical and psychological aggression. Psychologists define aggression as a behavior intended to inflict harm or injury upon someone or something (Kassin, 2011, p. 438). Many people often attribute greater aggressiveness to men than to women. People commonly perceive greater aggression when the target is a woman than a man. The gender of aggressor, target, and observer influences the perception and evaluation of aggression (Stewart-Williams, p. 177). Aggressive behaviors come in many forms. Extreme acts of aggression are …show more content…
Social learning approaches emphasize that males and females are taught lessons about aggression. (Kassin, 2011, p. 452). Aggression can be seen in children at a young age, early as four- seven months old. Physical aggressions to obtain goals are frequent in two year olds, such as having tantrums that involve kicking, hitting, and biting. In 1961, Albert Bandura conducted an study involving children to detect whether they will exhibit aggression after viewing an adult inflict aggressive and nonaggressive behaviors toward a doll. The study contained the same amount of girls and boys. The children mimicked more physical and verbal aggression which imitated the adult model than the non-aggressive behavior displayed towards the bobo doll. Males (boys) were seen to imitate more physical aggression but the level of verbal aggression was similar. Adolescent boys are often encouraged to aggress to maintain dominance, whereas adolescent girls are encourage to be less aggressive. Girls tend to engage in relational aggression while males tend to display overt aggression, both forms of aggression are equally hostile. This study highlighted how aggression can be learned through observance. However, observance of nonaggressive behavior can help inhibit aggression in …show more content…
Gender differences in violet aggression are caused in part by hormones. Testosterone, which occurs at higher levels in boys and men, plays a significant role in aggression, and this is in part responsible for these difference (Kassin, 2011, p. 474). Prenatal hormones contribute to gender differences in behavior; however, a great portion remains to be learned. Observed gender differences in aggression are certainly due in part of evolutionary factors. The traditional female gender role places little emphasis on aggressiveness. In addition, the female gender role emphasizes avoiding physical harm to oneself and others. The male gender role includes norms encouraging many forms of aggression. Psychologists and popular writers who have analyzed the male gender role have claimed that men are expected to be tough, violent, and aggressive (Eagly, p. 310). Women primarily stayed at home, taking care of the children and house chores. Men typically engaged in more aggressive behaviors, for example, defense, fighting, hunting, etc. Therefore men learned to aggress because their duties required them to be aggressive. In evolution, males tend to be more competitive with each other to gain and maintain social status while women use nonphysical aggression to gain social

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