Biopsychological and Psychodynamic Explanations for Aggression

Aggression – Aggression in Society

In this course, Dr Eduardo Vasquez (University of Kent) explores the prevalence of aggression in society. In the first lecture, we think about biopsychological and psychodynamic explanations for aggression. In the second lecture, we think about the implications for society if aggression was to be found to be caused by nature, rather than nurture. In the third lecture, we think about Brendgen and colleagues’ 2005 study examining social aggression. Next, we think about how to study the potential correlation between height and aggression. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about issues of reductionism when studying aggression. Photo by Andrea Cassani on Unsplash

Biopsychological and Psychodynamic Explanations for Aggression

In this lecture, we think about biopsychological and psychodynamic explanations for aggression, focusing in particular on: (i) Freud’s concepts of the Id, Ego and Superego; (ii) the role of the Id being focused on biological drives, which include aggression; (iii) aggression as a key response by the Id to not getting what it desires, in the form of frustration; (iv) the role of the Superego being to hamper the Id’s responses, including those of aggression; (v) Freud’s view that the suppression of aggression can still lead to a greater tendency to aggress in the longer term; (vi) the practical nature of the Ego, which attempts to balance the desires of the Id and the morality of the Superego; (vii) one key role of the Ego being the channelling of aggression into a more appropriate activity, such as sport, a process known as sublimation; (viii) displacement of aggression and catharsis as other key functions of the Ego; (ix) two reasons for a person expressing anger being the Superego’s inability to suppress the Id, or an inability to channel that aggression elsewhere effectively; (x) the biopsychological view that aggression is adaptive, meaning it serves an evolutionary function; (xi) some key evolutionary advantages for having a greater tendency for aggression; (xii) the view in biopsychology that aggression expression differences can be based in genetics; (xiii) the role of testosterone in aggression and violence; (xiv) adoption studies as a key mechanism for distinguishing genetic and environmental factors.