Social Psychology W7 P2

The source of aggression, primarily in children, is widely debated among those studying the topic. The most common source to blame is television and video games; those who watch violent shows or play violent games are believed to become more violent themselves. Others believe that violent games are actually a way to relieve stress and anger, and to prevent a person from lashing out onto real people by instead allowing them to vent their anger in a relatively safe way. It is also argued that these aggressive behaviors have to be learned, so perhaps they come from an environment that the person spent a lot of time it. Whether it be parents, peers, or people on the streets, it is completely possible for a person to learn these behaviors, become desensitized, and then act aggressive themselves while not completely understanding the severity of their actions.

Naturally, part of a persons aggressive actions are based on the split-second conclusions drawn upon in any given situation. If they believe that a situation is going to turn violent based on their past experiences, its easy for them to jump in and be proactive in their eyes, even if the situation was not actually going to be a violent one otherwise.