Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Aggressiveness; Interpersonal relations; Self-perception;
Abstract
Interpersonal aggression is analyzed with the use of the symbolic interactionist perspective in this thesis. The literature generally lacks such an analysis. Symbolic interactionism views individuals as active definers and constructors of a reality. Individuals gain a sense of reality and the means by which to define it through the process of being socialized into various groups. That part of reality which is most important to the individual is termed "significant reality." A major part of an individual's "significant reality" is his or her self-concept. When an individual deems his or her "significant reality" is threatened, he or she may engage in a number of activities in an attempt to reduce the threat. Some of these activities may be defined by the individual and/or others as aggressive. These behaviors, as well as the reaction of others to them, in turn influence a person's self-concept. Interpersonal aggression occurs predominately among people who interact fairly frequently, extensively, and intensively. This provides many chances for actual or perceived threats to occur to one's "significant reality." It also provides many areas in which one may feel or actually be threatened. A selected documentation of incidents that have heightened people's awareness of conflict, aggression, and violence is included. This thesis also contains a discussion of why the study of conflictual phenomena is so complex and difficult. It is maintained the complexity and difficulty derive from the phenomena not being as simple as some characterize it as being but also the complexity and difficulty arise from the use and abuse of certain assumptions, concepts, definitions, and examples.
Year of Submission
1981
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
First Advisor
Robert Claus
Second Advisor
Ronald Roberts
Third Advisor
Virgil Noack
Date Original
1981
Object Description
1 PDF file (223 leaves)
Copyright
©1981 Dwight Alan Drury
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Drury, Dwight Alan, "Interpersonal Aggression: Assertion of Significant Reality Hypothesis" (1981). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2535.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2535
Comments
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