Chapter 11

    For the general population, aggressiveness is a despicable characteristic of certain human beings. On the other hand, from a scientific perspective, aggression is nothing more than a natural behavior, which makes us all despicable subjects of study about the topic. 

Our aggressiveness does not distinguish us. It is pervasive and abounds among many species. Human's tendency to kill and eliminate other human beings reflects a kind of aggression perpetuated through evolutionary processes that came from some ancestral that at one point was worse than us.  However, laws and rules (sometimes) prevent people from indiscriminately killing like a hippopotamus do every time they feel threatened by a competitor swimming in his private territory. 

As time went by, we became more able to control our instincts and direct our aggressiveness to different targets and use it in more beneficial ways.  Yet, we also learned how to conceal such detrimental emotions. We learned how to dissimulate our aggressive tendencies, and we no longer need to growl as irrational beings but just act meticulously lethal in many other ways.  

Despite such cognitive improvements, most of us believe that it is fair to respond with aggression to defend ourselves or protect someone from other people who inflict injuries or pain. It is instinctive and necessary for survival.  If necessary, we fight with rage. Our body system is equipped to act and react with violence in such aversive situations.  

In contrast,  aggression can also be displayed to guarantee leadership and avoid division in people's groups when people are motivated by a single goal. Leaders must be aggressive to keep themselves in a higher position and be followed by others.  Sometimes a threatening look can be more efficient than a push to put someone in their proper place.

Aggressive behavior in humans is also observed in the amount of risk they take to attain a goal. Competition among people who play sports, for example, demands levels of aggressiveness to guarantee that somebody will be better than others. As the faster cheetah gets the best pray, we strive to get the best reward.