Siva Sivani Institute of Management SYNOPSIS ON

COPING WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR

BY GLYNIS M. BREAKWELL

SUBMITTED BY DEVENDRA TRIPATHI ROLL NO: 17078 PGDM-TPS B

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Glynis is a psychologist specializing in research on leadership, on identity processes, on risk communication and on military cultures. She is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. In 2002, she was elected an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences and in 2006 was elected by acclaim an Honorary Fellow of the British Psychological Society for her contribution to the discipline of psychology. After her Prize Fellowship at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Glynis moved to the University of Surrey where she became Head of the Department of Psychology in 1990 and subsequently Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and, simultaneously, Head of the School of Human Sciences. She was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath in 2001. As Vice-Chancellor, she is both the academic leader and chief executive of the university. Glynis took her PhD from the University of Bristol and DSc from the University of Oxford. In 2003, in recognition of the significance of her contribution to the social sciences, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Bristol and in 2004 became an Honorary Professor at the University of Shandong in China. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the New Swindon Company (the urban regeneration company) and of the Theatre Royal, Bath, and has been a trustee of the

Holburne Museum. She is a member of the International Committee of the Royal Society and Vice-Chair of the Universities UK strategy group on Leadership, Management and Governance in Higher Education. She is Chair of the National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists. She is a Director of Universities UK. In April 2006, she became Chairman of the Bath Festivals. Glynis has published more than twenty books and hundreds of journal articles. This research has resulted in Glynis acting as an advisor to a number of government departments, including the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Defence, HSE and DEFRA, besides many multi-national corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The book in this series are designed to help readers use psychological insights, theories and methods to address issues which arise regularly in their own personal and professional lives and which affect how they manage their jobs and careers. Psychologists have a great deal to say about how to improve our work styles. The emphasis in this series is upon presenting psychology in a way which is easily understood and usable. We are committed to enabling our readers to use psychology, applying it for themselves to themselves. The book adopts highly practical approach. Readers are confronted with examples and exercises which require them to analyse their own situation and review carefully what they think, feel and do. Such analyses are necessary precursors in coming to an understanding of where and what changes are needed or can reasonably be made.

Contents:
1) Explaining aggression 2) Predicting aggression 3) Patterns of assault 4) Victims and victimization 5) Avoidance escape and control 6) Safety culture 7) Sensitization and realism

Explaining aggression
Aggression is typically defined as any form of behavior intended to harm or injure someone against his or her wishes. Aggression entails any form of injury, including psychological or emotional injuries. So, for instance shaming, frightening or threatening someone all constitute aggression. In explaining aggression and violence psychologists have usually distinguished between instrumental and emotional forms of aggression or violence. There are three main types of psychological explanations for occurrence of aggression and violence: the instinct explanation, the social or cultural explanation and the aversive stimulation explanation.

The instinct explanation: According to this view we all

are aggressive, we all are violent; we differ only in the ways and situations in which we allow our aggression to be released.

The social or cultural learning explanation:

According to this view, aggression is not inevitable; aggression and violence behaviors like all others are learned. Two types of learning are said to be involved instrumental and observational. The aversive stimulation explanation: this explanation predicts that aggression may be preferred response to aversive stimulation under certain circumstances if other types of response are impossible; if there are cues in the situation that are associated with aggression; if the individual has found aggression a rewarding and successful solution in the past.

The Assault Cycle

The psychological peak and trough of the aggressive encounter is thought to be echoed in a cognitive, behavioral and emotional cycle known as Assault cycle. It consists of five phases: The Trigger phase: It is the point at which the individual first indicates a movement away from how they usually behave. The Escalation phase: This phase leads directly to the violent behavior. The individual deviates more and more from its baseline level. The Crisis phase: As the individual becomes increasingly physically, emotionally and psychologically aroused, control over aggressive impulses lessens and actual violent behavior becomes more likely. The Recovery phase: The individual will gradually return to normal baseline behavior once the violent act has occurred. Post Crisis depression phase: In this phase the individual often regresses below normal baseline behavior.

Avoidance, Escape and Control

Avoidance strategies:
1)

2)

Do not proceed to make contact: Report your estimate of the risk to your line manager or supervisor or senior colleague and come to a joint decision about the appropriate course of action. Make a preliminary circumscribed contact: This can entail contact at a distance, such as using phone to check details which may influence your estimate of the risk.

A framework for developing coping strategies: Stage 1: Estimate the risk Stage 2: Check for risk estimation biases. Stage 3: Identify strategies. Stage 4: Ready yourself. A range of tactics can be used to de escalate aggression. These include maintaining your self control, continuing talking normally, mood matching, diversion of the assailant attention, feigned submission, and using furniture layout to provide some protection.

Summary of the key principals in coping with aggressive behavior:

Always be aware of the indicators of risk; Always consciously make risk estimate before engaging in any encounter that entails any sort of risk of aggression; Choose avoidance or evasion rather than confrontation; Be aware of the support available to you in dealing with aggressive situation. Report incidents; Use debriefing after an incident; Be realistic about your own abilities and the way you respond to them.

Conclusion
Coping with aggressive behavior is not simply a matter of dealing with immediate demand of an incident. It involves the whole process of preparing yourself for the possibility of violence, handling the incident and responding aftermath.