When it comes to the topic of aggression in men and women there are many stereotypical ideas, particularly that men are aggressors and women are their docile counterparts. Any female can tell you, however, that women can be just as aggressive as men; the only difference is how that aggression is displayed. But what are the reasons behind female aggression? Could it be genetic? Experts say yes.
Male and female aggression
Understanding male and female aggression means more than just understanding genetics. According to theRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the social reasons behind male and female aggression are as different as the ways that behavior manifests. Women, for example, are most likely to engage in verbal aggression and attribute it to excessive stress and a loss of self-control. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to engage in physical aggression and attribute it to the need to control others due to a physical or self-esteem threat.
Similarly, women tend to feel more guilty about their acts of aggression while men consider them feats of success. Aggression in society if viewed differently between the genders, making it much more difficult to identify a hostile female unless she is as physically aggressive as a male.
These differences are attributed to the cultural belief system most societies around the world employ. Because aggression is more frowned upon for females, indirect aggression–gossiping, spreading false rumors and acts of passive-aggressiveness–are seen as more socially acceptable.
Experts indicate women also tend to have smaller, more trusted groups of friends compared to men which promotes an atmosphere of indirect aggression when an issue arises.
What about female aggression and genetics?
But while there are differences in how men and women display aggression, what about those instances when someone just seems far more cutthroat than those around them? For women, this elevated level of aggression is likely linked to genetics.
In 2007, experts from the University of Pittsburgh’s Behavioral Physiology Laboratory found behaviors such as anger, hostility and aggression in women were linked to variations in a serotonin receptor gene. Out of more than 500 test participants, researchers found that those who had one or both of two alterations in the promoter region of the serotonin receptor 2C gene were more likely to score lower on two common tests for anger, hostility and aggression.
This means women who produce less serotonin are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors. These women are also the ones most likely to experience chronic diseases related to excessive anger.
“Aggression and hostility are predictors of hypertension, glucose metabolism and heart diseases,”Indrani Halder, Ph.D., of the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Program at the University of Pittsburgh, said in a statement. “The genetic marker we found for hostility also may be useful for predicting a person’s predisposition to such diseases.”
What should you do if you feel overly aggressive?
Part of the battle when it comes to dealing with female hostility is recognizing it in yourself as well as in others. If you feel you are struggling with aggression issues there are a number of steps you can take to try to manage your emotions without repressing feelings of anger and creating more psychological hurdles to overcome down the road.
The American Psychological Association (APA) indicates aggression is a manifestation of anger, and when it comes to women, it is often the result of anger which has had no outlet.
“Unexpressed anger can create other problems,” states the APA. “It can lead to pathological expressions of anger, such as passive-aggressive behavior (getting back at people indirectly, without telling them why, rather than confronting them head-on) or a personality that seems perpetually cynical and hostile. People who are constantly putting others down, criticizing everything, and making cynical comments haven’t learned how to constructively express their anger. Not surprisingly, they aren’t likely to have many successful relationships.”
Women who have recognized they are overly hostile should daily:
- Breathe deeply, from the diaphragm; breathing from the chest will not cause relaxation.
- Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as “relax,” “take it easy.” Repeat it while breathing deeply.
- Use imagery; visualize a relaxing experience, from either memory or imagination.
- Nonstrenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax muscles and make you feel much calmer.
- Exercise to boost feel-good chemicals in the brain known as endorphins.
If relaxation methods are not beneficial, professional anger management therapy may be indicated.
How should you handle female aggression?
Female aggression can be handled without escalating the issue. (Shutterstock)
On the flip side of the coin, you may not be the aggressor, but may be the victim of another woman’s attacks. Because women rarely attack in the physical sense, a self-defense seminar isn’t going to do you much good against a passive-aggressive or rumor-oriented individual.
In this situation, women who must deal with an aggressive fellow woman should:
- Not take things personally. Not only does this prevent confrontation, it makes you less of a target if your attacker gets no reaction.
- Keep responses neutral. If you must respond to female aggression do it as emotion-free as possible. The angrier you are, the more your attacker will rise to the occasion.
- Attempt empathy. Sometimes female aggression isn’t directed at anyone in particular but is a manifestation of other struggles. If possible, try being empathetic to your attacker. No one wants to feel like they are suffering alone.
- Be assertive. Don’t let yourself be bullied. If female aggression is becoming an issue, be firm about your feelings and why it is inappropriate. This doesn’t mean start an argument; calmly but sternly state your case. If it is a bullying situation, many women will back down.
