Throughout psychological research, there has been little disagreement that there are obvious differences between the sexes in regards to aggressive behaviour. Statistics comparing FBI reports of crime rates between males and females in 1981, show not only that significantly more men were arrested for criminal offences than women, but that the crimes committed by women tended to be crimes less associated with violent attacks on others. In a cross cultural analysis of the behaviour of children, by Maccoby and Jacklin in 1974, reviewing studies of child behaviour dating back to the 1930’s, and found that boys were typically more aggressive than girls across different social classes. Olwens (1993), discovered that boys were more likely to become bullies or victims, and Boulton (1995) found that a high proportion of inter-sex aggression in primary schools was associated with initiation by the boys. However a dispute does occur over an explanation for these sex differences, and as with most psychological theories, the dispute centres around the nature-nurture debate. Nature orientated theories involve the role of sex hormones, innate characteristi

Social roles typically assigned to both sexes has been said to account for the differences in aggression between the sexes. Literature and mass media show predominantly men acting in the violent roles. Parents tend to buy toys for their children according to their gender, such as dolls for girls and toy weapons for boys. In circumstances where their son has stood up for himself, possibly aggressively, parents are more likely to reward or encourage the behaviour as opposed to circumstances where their daughter may have acted aggressively. In such a way, children are exposed more and more to circumstances where it is acceptable for males to be aggressive and not females, as in acting aggressively to correct wrongs to themselves. By categorising the genders into certain social roles, it encourages women to hold the negative consequences of their actions, more securely in their minds, while men will tend to act first before contemplating the consequences of their actions ( Eagly and Steffen).

cs and natural physiological responses to explain the differences, while nurture orientated theories argue the influence of society and constraints of social roles.

Ethologists such as Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1989) argue that the contrasting physiological responses between the sexes, to aggressive stimuli help to show that it is an innate characteristic of men to be more aggressive than women. In his study, he found that while both sexes respond to aggressive stimuli with increased blood pressure, given the opportunity to retaliate physically, men’s blood pressure will be greatly reduced while women’s will be maintained. In the opposit

Some topics in this essay:
Robin Morris, Maccoby Jacklin, Ethologists Eibl-Eibesfeldt, June Reinisch, Maccoby Levin, , Frady Riad, Erhardt Baker, Whiting Edwards, Steffen Studies, testosterone levels, males females, aggressive stimuli, blood pressure, social roles, aggressive behaviour, sex differences, differences aggression, anti social behaviour, exposed hormone, social behaviour, sex differences aggression,