Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

▶ Aggression refers to behaviour between members of the same speciesthat is intended to cause pain or harm.▶ Aggression is any offensive action, activity, practice, attack or procedureagainst personal liberty or one’s rights.▶ Aggression is a behaviour, the aim of which is to damage, harm orintimidate a person.▶ Aggressive behaviour causes damage to individuals or material property,or weakens or frightens people.▶ Forms of aggression are commonly categorized as:▷ physical – beating, killing, physical intimidation,▷ verbal – telling someone off, cursing at someone, mocking,mimicry,▷ emotional – anger, grumbling, hatred, being cross.▶ Aggression refers to the action of a state in violating by force the rightsof another state, particularly its territorial rights; it is an unprovokedoffensive, attack, invasion or harmful action.6.1.1 What is the source, the starting point of aggression?There are three main theories about where aggression comes from; the main discussionis on “nature versus nurture” 24 .a. Aggression as an INSTINCTIn this theory, aggression is connected to a survival instinct, which unites human -kind with the world of animals. Aggression as instinct describes aggression that isseen in the interaction between a predator (perpetrator) and its prey (victim). Thistheory assumes that a shared instinct to defend territory, defeat a rival for a desiredfemale or protect the young and defenceless of the species, must exist 25 .Aggression in this sense helps to preserve the species and to improve thespecies by making it more adaptive to the environment.The instinct of self-preservationWhenever we find ourselves in a minor or inferior position, we use energy toescape from it by any means. This energy is generated by our instinct of selfpreservation.This instinct is a biological property that guarantees animals andhumans the preservation of their species. It provides us with the necessaryenergy to maintain, protect and defend ourselves, and it provides us with energyto fight for a place in social relationships. We apply this instinct at two levels:6 . T h e d y n a m i c s o f c o n f l i c t s a n d v i o l e n c e 157