28. Verbal and physical aggression

Abstract

This chapter provides a review and critique of the literature connecting aggression to communicative competence. First, links in the literature between of aggression and conflict are reviewed, acknowledging the constructive potential of conflict. There is a presumption among aggression scholars that aggression is destructive; however, constructive forms of aggression have long been conceptualized. The literature on communication predispositions to aggression defines aggression as the application of force, distinguishes symbolic from physical aggression, and explicates its constructive and destructive forms (argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness). The relationship of aggression to communication competence is discussed, linking communication predispositions of aggression to communicator skill. Related theoretical models are reviewed, including the theory of independent-mindedness, argumentative skill deficiency, and a model of aggression competence. Related research on aggression and competence is then reviewed, including positive and negative presumptions about violence. The difficulty of applying a competence framework to intentionally harmful behavior is addressed. Special attention is given to verbal aggression, anger, children's aggression, and intimate partners. The chapter concludes that some aggressive communication may indeed be considered competent, and that the links between harmful communicative aggression and competence are unclear. The dichotomous consideration of nonaggression as good and aggression as bad does not reflect extant research. While individual skills are important, the key to understanding argument, verbal aggression, physical aggression, and the relative communication competencies associated with them lie at the relational, family, or other grouplevel systems level. traits and their relationships with the cognitive flexibility scale and the communication flexibility scale.