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Aggression as Instinct

An issue which continually plagues social scientists is whether mankind behaves according to environmental or genetic factors. One aspect of behavior that has considerable impact on global society is that of aggression. Thus, the question becomes, is aggression an instinct? Human aggression not only plagues society within, in such aspects as crime, but without in the guise of war. Some have gone so far as to state that man is the cruelest and most ruthless species that has ever walked the earth.1

Political scientists often argue that by its very nature, the modern bureaucratic state engenders war. They believe that man's inherent aggression and competitiveness has been increased by political systems which thrive on conflict in order to express their hegemony.2

Of course, mankind has been engaged in warfare for as long as recorded history documents. Psychologically, scholars such as Sigmund Freud believed that humans are born violent, while others, Carl G. Jung for instance, have shown that violent expressions within society are often mirrored within the psyche itself.3

Because war is such an integral part of the contemporary world, this paper will discuss the experience of war from the perspective of a national politician, and average citizen, and the President of the United States. To conclude the work, the paper will synthesize common attitudes about warfare and ask some pertinent questions about the future of man's aggressive behaviors.

The national politician, whether part of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of government, would be primarily concerned with the manner in which the foreign policy goals of the nation would be improved because of, or with the prevention of war. War would, therefore, always be one of the options that would be available in order to retain the hegemony of the nation, or establish certain diplomatic necessities as perceived by the policy maker. Of course, one should also ...

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Aggression as Instinct. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 14:03, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1683632.html