AGGRESSION

AGGRESSION

Aggressive behavior seems to be an invariable accompaniment of growth.  This means that we can expect and count on it in our children.  Their aggressive behavior will undoubtedly tax our patience at times and strain our relationship with them.  We will alternately feel the need for stronger disciplinary techniques on the one hand and a deeper sympathy and understanding on the other.  If their aggressiveness points out the frustrations of childhood more clearly to us it will also serve to remind us how frustrating it is to be a parent.

At any rate, we very rarely get rid of all of the aggression in our children.  And even if we could it would be inadvisable. Aggression has its good and bad r healthy and unhealthy aspects.  A person can express his aggressiveness by being an enterprising go-getter or he may less happily be merely negative or rebellious.  He may develop a strong , healthy sense of competition or become mean and hostile. He may be persevering or destructive.  These are some of the alternate modes of aggression.

Our interest in promoting the healthier expressions of aggression and limiting the unhealthy ones can be fostered only by an increase in our understanding of what aggression is and where it comes from.  There is no question about the fact that it starts early in life.  You can see it for yourself.  Before your child is several months old, it is easy to notice how at times his generally helpless cries develop the character of anger and defiance.  He is thwarted or blocked and gets upset about it. Children are probable frustrated more easily than anyone else in the animal kingdom. Their physical needs are just as strong as those any other little animal, and it takes them very much longer before they can do anything about these needs by themselves.