Lecture on Early Childhood Aggression

Introduction

• Hypothetical scenario of toddlers with adult-like physical attributes capable of serious harm underscores the significance of aggression studies.
• Focus on identifying early signs of violent behavior in children.

Early Emotional Development

• Dr. Michael Lewis' Research:
  • Explored the development of angry reactions in newborns.
  • Identified six early emotional expressions: anger, fear, disgust, sadness, interest, and happiness.
  • These emotions are evident in facial expressions, body language, and physiological responses from birth.

Aggression in Young Children

• Observation of toddlers shows they learn intensely from their environment.
• Notable early aggression seen in behaviors like biting.
• Aim to understand aggression evolution into cooperation and self-control.

Theories on Aggression Origins

• Historical theories:
  • Inborn aggressive instinct requiring societal control.
  • Learned aggression through imitation.
• Survey Insight:
  • Majority believe humans are most violent during adolescence.
  • Environmental factors viewed as significant in developing aggressive behavior.

Recent Research Findings

• Dr. Richard Tremblay's Study:
  • Followed children from birth to understand violent behavior development.
  • Challenged old views: physical aggression peaks around age 2, not adolescence.

Developmental Stages of Aggression

• Infant Motor Skills:
  • Around 6 months: Sitting up, grabbing objects.
  • 9-10 months: Crawling, exploratory aggression (e.g., pulling hair).
• Age Milestones:
  • 1 year: Standing, threatening or hitting possible.
  • 2 years: "Terrible Twos" with tantrums triggered by trivial reasons.
  • 3 years: Full motor skills for complex aggressive actions.
  • By age 4, physical aggression generally starts to decline.

Conclusion

• New insights suggest early childhood is a critical period for aggressive behavior development.
• Understanding these patterns can better inform strategies for fostering cooperation and self-control.