instrumental aggression
noun[U]
psychologyspecializeduk/ɪn.strəˌmen.təl əˈɡreʃ.ən/us/ɪn.strəˌmen.t̬əl əˈɡreʃ.ən/aggression(=angryandthreateningbehaviour)thathappensinordertoachieveaparticularaim, forexampletostealsomething,ratherthan as areactionto something that someoneelsedoes:
Instrumentalaggressionisdesignedtohelptheindividualmaintainpowerorpossessionin asituationfortheirowngain.
Psychopathy isstronglyassociatedwithinstrumentalaggression.
Synonym
proactive aggression
Compare
reactive aggression
- Instrumentalaggressionisactivelyused toaccomplishsomething, forexample, tostealsomeone'shandbagtoobtainmoney.
- Somepsychiatricdisordersareassociatedwith anincreasedriskfor bothreactiveandinstrumentalaggression.
- There have been nocaseswhereacquiredfrontallobedamagehasincreasedtheriskof goal-directedinstrumentalaggression.
Counselling & psychotherapy
- analyst
- aversion therapy
- CBT
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- cognitive therapy
- group therapy
- helpline
- hypnotherapy
- marriage counseling
- marriage guidance
- mind-body
- proactive aggression
- psychotherapist
- psychotherapy
- self-harm
- sex therapist
- sex therapy
- sexologist
- stress management
- tough love
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Violent or aggressive