Aggressive Acts
Choose a recent national or international news report of an aggressive act performed by an individual or group. Research available background details on the individual or group and supporting details. In 750-1,000 words, do the following:
Analyze one of the four theoretical models (biological, drive, social learning, or general aggression model) to explain factors that could have contributed to the aggressive behavior described in the news report.
Discuss preventative measures that could have been employed.
Use two to three scholarly sources to support your thinking, your textbook can be used as one of the resources.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide.
Sample Answer
Aggressive Acts
Aggression refers to the behavior of a person, which is intended to cause harm to others. The term is used to refer to a range of behaviors that results in psychological and physical harm to others, the environment, or oneself. Aggression is usually a response to something that has taken place in the world around us. It is a response to words said by others or actions taken by others. The discussion of the paper will describe an example of an aggressive act in the recent national news report, analyze one theoretical model for an explanation of the factors that contributed to the aggressive act, and discuss preventative measures that could have been utilized in the situation.
A recent national news report of an aggressive act is the deadly shooting that took place in a California rail yard. The shooting was carried out by Samuel Cassidy, a 57-year-old male, who fired a total of 39 bullets. Based on the camera footage, he walked calmly from one building to another, shooting different individuals. He had the intention of shooting particular individuals as others that encountered him were not harmed. His ex-wife reported that Cassidy had talked about killing certain people in the workplace for more than a decade ago. She reported that Cassidy used to come home angry and resentful for what he perceived to be unfair assignments. Notes were obtained on how Cassidy hated the Valley Transportation Authority. It is believed he had held a grudge against the workplace for years. He was described by those who knew him as a loner, unfriendly, and was prone to anger. He always seemed like an outsider, and it was reported that he could not take rough humor from his workmates. The authorities reported finding explosives at Cassidy’s home where a timer had been set or what was believed to be a slow-burn device so that a fire would start simultaneously as the shooting. A fire was reported after the first 911 call from the rail (Chea, Har, & Associated Press, 2021).
Analysis of the General Aggression Model
The general aggression model asserts a series of events leads to overt aggression. The model adopts a knowledge structure approach drawing from research on how the structure of knowledge affects perception, the interpretation of an individual, and decision-making (Allen & Anderson, (2017). There are two major variables involved, including situational factors and personal factors. Situational factors may include variables such as a different kind of provocation, including insults, frustration, or exposure to aggressive behavior. Variables in the second category of personal factors include individual traits that predispose a person towards aggression, beliefs, and attitudes towards violence, and a tendency for one to perceive intentions that are hostile to others’ behavior. Both the situational and personal variables lead to aggressive behavior through three basic processes that include arousal, affective states, and cognitions. The variables may increase excitement or physiological arousal, generate hostile feelings, induce hostile thoughts or generate aggressive beliefs and attitudes (Brandscombe & Baron, 2017).
The general aggression model can be used to explain factors that contributed to the aggressive behavior of Cassidy. The shooting was triggered by a series of events. The shooting was impacted by both situational and personal factors. Personal factors seemed to have been the major drivers of the aggressive behavior. The shooter was described as unfriendly, a loner, and prone to fits of anger. Although he worked with the colleagues he shot, he always seemed like an outsider. He was never partaking in what others were doing. The ex-wife said that he used to go home angry and resentful for what he perceived as an unfair assignment. Situational factors in the case of the shooter include the rough humor of the colleagues and not being accepted by anyone. The shooter had talked about killing some of the workmates more than a decade ago. The personal variables combined with situational factors led to the development of aggressive thoughts and behavior. The shooting and the fire were well thought out plans.
