Are we becoming more aggressive as a species? Or less? Or just the same as always?

The exposure to media violence according to studies by Aaronson et al (2005) indicate that adults may be influenced by the amount of time watching violent television as teenagers and the ‘significant association’ with violence and aggressive acts later in life. The study also suggests that there exists considerable evidence that children who watch violence on television will display short-term increases in aggression.

Alcohol use and abuse in an increasing contributor to the psychological disturbance of users. According to MacDonald et al (1996), alcohol impairs judgement making people less cautious than normal, Bushman (1997) adds that a drunk person is more likely to interpret an accidental event as a deliberate act, and therefore act more aggressively.

Frustration can be a major contributor to aggressive behaviour, the current financial climate in the UK and changes to the quality of life for many people may be adding to individual anxiety.