Introduction
Each gender role is accompanied by a certain set of qualities that reflect the existing stereotypes of masculinity and femininity. In a narrow connection with the search for the meaning of life lies the desire to know oneself, one’s capabilities and abilities, the search for oneself in relationships with others which defines the Kairos of the paper. The discrepancy between the inner “Self” and the external, behavioral actualizes the problem of self-control. It is no coincidence that the most common form of adolescent self-criticism are complaints and weak will. These processes in proceed differently boys and girls, both in terms of timing and content. Girls express their negative feelings and emotions better in the form of intimate conversations with close friends. This makes it easier for them to form more subtle and complex forms of self-awareness. It is much more difficult for boys to find socially approved ways of expressing their emotions. This is largely due to the gender characteristics of cognitive and emotional development.
Currently, in the context of the development of modern society, the problem of gender identity in adolescence is of particular relevance. The analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature on the problem of research shows that adolescence is extremely complex and contradictory. In order to understand the causes and mechanisms of aggression in adolescence, it is necessary to consider the main characteristics of this age period. One of the first patterns and acute problems of adolescence is the change in relations with parents, the transition from childhood relationships to mutual respect and equality. The family is the main social factor contributing to the gender development of adolescents. Modern society is faced with a number of problems concerning the relationship of the sexes. Their cause can be considered insufficient, and often incorrect, distorted upbringing of boys and girls in the family, which can act as the main factor in the formation of gender-specific aggression.
Source Choice
One expert on this issue is professor Kim Dahyeon (Aggressive Behavior), who says that men and women differ in their attitudes regarding aggression. I chose this article as a source because it is published in a reputable journal that is reviewed and cited. The research’s findings show that men and women hold different societal beliefs about violence, including different models and hypotheses about its purposes (Kim et al. 394). Researchers have shown that men often experience less shame and anxiety (Kim et al. 394). On the contrary, women are more concerned about how aggression can turn out for themselves — for example, the possibility of being rebuffed by the victim.
Another source I chose is the book by Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz about aggression and its causes. I chose this book as a source because it is my composition textbook. Scholars assert that a special kind of aggressive actions are attacks on unfamiliar and unfamiliar people that are not caused by frustration (Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz 161). Without seeing the victim and not knowing what exactly the other person will feel, it is easier to show aggression. However, at the same time, guys often carry it out because of obvious differences, for example, nationality, and girls – for example, because of envy for excellent studies (Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz 256). I also used an article by Tuente, who demonstrated that gender differences in the urge to destroy were revealed when interviewing students who recalled their childhood (Tuente et al. 66). I chose this article as a source because it presents statistical evidence confirming the researchers’ conclusions.
My Own Observations
High School Property
I agree with Tuente when they say that different things cause aggression in girls and boys (Tuente et al. 74). In high school, I observed that boys, in comparison with girls, are generally characterized by a higher level of physical aggression and a more pronounced tendency to offensiveness. They really often attacked newcomers who belonged to a different ethnicity or had external differences, such as being too tall or overweight. I have observed that girls have higher levels of emotional, verbal aggression and self-aggression compared to boys. According to my observations, which confirm the words of scientists Tuente et al., girls have a higher tendency to resentment and vindictiveness, which caused aggression in female students with whom I studied.
I also agree with Tuente’s position on how childhood, namely the aspect of relationships with parents, affects gender aggression. I agree that girls have a high level of physical aggression of their parents correlated with guilt, and indirect aggression – with resentment (Tuente et al. 73). There were girls in my class to whom physical punishments were applied as educational influences. I knew this because I had a very trusting relationship with my classmates and we could have heart-to-heart conversations during which they talked about what was bothering them. Most of them had very low self-esteem, they were quiet and fearful. At the same time, the boys, to whom the parents showed aggression, also aggressed towards others. Thus, my observations in high school confirm the researcher’s words about the positive and negative correlation of parental violence on the aggression of children of different sexes.
Social Media
In my opinion, aggression in social networks, such as Instagram or snapchat, is becoming even more pronounced. Kim Dahyeon puts forward the theory that women are more inclined than men to assess the potential consequences of aggression (Kim et al. 398). However, it seems to me that this is not entirely true when displaying aggression on the Internet. A lot of my high school friends had additional accounts from which they wrote aggressive messages. At the same time, they did not think at all about what would happen if someone found out that this particular girl was the owner of the account. Therefore, I do not think that the theory of a more responsible manifestation of aggression on the part of girls can be applied to social networks.
However, based on my observations, I can assert that for girls, underlying motivations actually continue to be crucial even when violence is displayed in social networks. This is mentioned by Dahyeon et al., and given my observations from high school, I may infer the viewpoint of scientists (Dahyeon et al. 397). Once my classmates created a hate group created to take revenge on one girl. The meaning of the existence of an entire Instagram profile was the manifestation of hatred for a specific social addressee. There the girls showed a strong dislike for the girl and were friends against her. The unifying impulse of revenge predetermined both the common values and the structures of the corresponding activity. At the same time, I have never seen anything like this in guys. They always showed aggression on the Internet openly but ended the conflict quickly enough, without taking revenge on each other and without hiding resentment. Therefore, I believe that although social networks allow aggression to be shown more freely, other gender differences remain when it is demonstrated.
Conclusion
In this paper, an analysis of the literature on the problem of aggression and gender characteristics of aggressiveness and aggressive behavior was carried out. Studies show that non-biological factors have a primary influence on gender differences in aggressiveness. This, first of all, is generated mainly by the opposite of gender roles, that is, ideas about how, within a given culture, the behavior of representatives of different sexes should be. Moreover, an important role in the manifestation of aggression is influenced not only by society as a whole, but also by educational patterns in a particular family.
As part of the empirical research, the evidence or refutation of the theories of scientists from my own experience was considered. I studied what causes aggression in both women and men, and found that women really have an increased level of hostility compared to men. In this regard, the causes of female aggression are more profound and are caused not by rejection of the obvious differences of another person, as in men, but by resentment and a desire of revenge. In men, aggressive behavior is a channel for the discharge of arousal that occurs during conflicts. In women, aggression is caused by the desire to experience a range of different feelings and not to end the conflict. The data obtained in the paper can be used in educational institutions to reduce the level of aggressiveness of students of different genders and to teach them the skills of psychological self-regulation.
Works Cited
Kim, Dahyeon, et al. “Gender Gender Differences in Aggression: A Multiplicative Function of Outward Anger Expression.” Aggressive Behavior, vol. 48, no. 4, 2022, pp. 393-401. Web.
Lunsford, Andrea, and John Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s an Argument. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012.
Tuente, Klein, et al. “Hostile Attribution Bias and Aggression in Adults: A Systematic Review.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 46, no. 1, 2019, pp. 66-81. Web.