What is Aggression?

Definition: "Having a combative readiness, driving forceful energy or initiative, having or showing vigour, strength, or firmness" (Webster’s Dictionary, 1998).

Is Aggression Always Bad?

• Make a list of when it is OK to be aggressive and when it is undesirable

• Talk about how aggression makes you feel when you see it in others

• Aggressive people get their own way- discuss

Aggression

Recognising

And

Understanding

Why Do People Become Aggressive?

• Anger, anxiety, abuse

• Confusion, cultural expectation

• Depression, delusion

• Fear, frustration, grief

• Environmental stress

• Hallucination, humiliation

Why do people become aggressive?

• Isolation, institutional inflexibility, jealousy

• Lack of personal space, low self esteem

• Medication, limit testing, pecking order

• Manic excitement, pain

• Suicidal, violent coping strategy

Six Levels of a CrisisTime

1

23

45

1 Anxiety orTrigger

2 Defensive

3 Loss of Control

4 Recovery

5 Learning

6 Observation and Discussion

Level 1: Anxiety

Some signs:• Turn red or pale• Sweat, pupils dilate• Restlessness, fidgeting• Lack of eye contact• Fast breathing• Pacing, argumentative

Level 1: Body Language

• Body position and tension- crossed arms

• Clenched jaws or fists

• Breathing- rapid/shallow/audible

• Change in eye contact

Level 2: High Tension

• Belligerent, shouting abuse

• Defensive, making personal and offensive remarks

• Withdrawing from a group

• Refusing to speak/dismissive

• Refusing to co-operate

• Hiding face in hands or bent over/under table

Level 2: High tension

• Breaking basic rules, refusing to comply

• “I won’t”…….“You can’t make me”

• Indirect/direct physical threats

• Clenched fists

• Low level destruction of property

Level 3:Loss of Control

• Confrontational threatening body posture• Shouting, loud intense voice• Climbing furniture• Climbing out of window, throwing, tearing,

pounding, stamping on objects• Biting, scratching (self or others)• Hair or clothes grabbing• Verbal abuse

Conflict SpiralCONFLICT EXPLODES

Stress/ConflictIncreases Inappropriate

BehavioursIncites Others

Feelings DriveBehaviours

Negative ThoughtsTrigger Negative Behaviour

Stressful Incident orSituation Occurs

How to Make Things Worse

• Move into personal space

• Use body size or height to intimidate

• Straight forward, square shouldered body stance

• Arms crossed

• Unrelenting eye contact

• Fist shaking or clenched

• Finger pointing/shaking

Making Things Better

• Keep your distance

• Turn sideways and step back

• Intermittent eye contact

• Relaxed body posture

• Palms open

• Calm voice

• Don’t argue

• Don’t take it personally