Why some people are so fond of conflicts

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In life, we are often faced with unreasonable aggression and can not always explain it. One person in response to a polite question yells at you and outraged others bow, causing a conflict, and the third at all immediately climb into the fray.

Why do they behave this way? Why do some people have a response to external circumstances always adequate, and others aggression splashes over the edge?

As always, all the matter in the brain. Let's see what processes do people with no obvious hostile threats.

As aggression is born: the battle of the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala

Our behavior and response to external circumstances regulates many brain structures. The limbic system, including the amygdala and hippocampus, responsible for emotions: fear, Fun, furious. They are necessary for survival, as secured a useful behavior and help to avoid dangers.

But sometimes emotions have to slow down in order to adequately respond to external circumstances. This involved the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. They regulate behavior, predict the probability of reward and punishment to suppress aggression.

Even if you want to slap a man's face, because he was so stupid, you do not: the prefrontal cortex understands how it would end.

human reaction dependsNeurobiology of Aggression and Violence on which wins brain structure. And this, in turn, is determined by many different factors.

Why crust loses

brain injury

People with impairments of certain parts of the brain cortex noted aggressive and hostile behavior. The case when the responsible worker after a work-related injury that resulted in damage to the orbitofrontal cortex, became aggressive and unsociable.

Of course, such cases do not occur too often and people with trauma is unlikely to work in your company. But when it comes to aggressive stranger, such a reason has the right to exist.

A disadvantage of the gray matter

In psychopaths and antisocial personality markedPsychopathy linked to brain abnormalities lack of gray matter in certain areas of the cortex. Such structural defects prevent them feel guilt and empathy, to assess the consequences of their actions and suppress impulsive behavior.

Run into a psychopath much more real than a man with a head injury. So be careful: people with this disorder are not only pleasure from the violence, but did not think about the consequences of their actions.

The lack of serotonin and an excess of dopamine

Neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine associated with aggressive behavior in mammals. For example, the rat in this condition increases dopamine levels in the brainAggressive behavior, increased accumbal dopamine, and decreased cortical serotonin in rats. to 140%, and the level of serotonin, conversely, reduced to 80%. The disadvantage of the latter in the prefrontal cortex of animals causesAgression and the brain a heightened form of aggression, and when they artificially raise the level of this neurotransmitter, aggression comes to naught.

This is true for people. In one studyNeural mechanisms and hormones as a cause of aggression in the cerebrospinal fluid of aggressive people found fewer byproducts serotonin than those with an adequate response. In another experiment, the reception agent that reduces the levels of serotonin in the brain, making the participants aggressive and hostile.

Serotonin may be reduced due to various reasons. it is often associated with a bad mood, with communications functionsHow to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs in both directions: increased serotonin improves mood, and improved in any way the mood increases serotonin.

Therefore, the assertion that people are aggressive because of a bad mood, not unreasonable.

In addition, serotonin metabolism can be laid at the gene level. Therefore, aggressive behavior is inherited to 44-72%. Moreover, the effect of genetic predisposition can increase a difficult childhood: 45% of people have experienced aggressiveNature and nurture predispose to violent behavior: serotonergic genes and adverse childhood environment. early childhood maltreatment.

This confirms the fact that most of their peers bulliedChildhood Theory of Mind may predict bullying victimisation children faced with abuse in the family or a poor socio-economic conditions.

Also serotonin metabolism is disturbed by reception of alcohol. Perhaps that is why alcoholics are often aggressive and commit violence.

The reason for aggressive behavior may be a genetic predisposition to aggression, difficult childhood or alcohol intoxication.

So, some of these factors suppressed the activity of the prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala prevailed. However, his victory was not entirely responsible for the aggressive behavior. People with an overactive amygdala may simply be anxious, but not aggressive. What makes them behave with hostility? There are several theories.

Why do people behave aggressively

Fear, mistrust and hostility may be the consequence of low levels of oxytocin. Oxytocin - a hormone which is formed due to the affection and trust between people. In addition, he holdsOxytocin modulates neural circuitry for social cognition and fear in humans. amygdala activity and the lack of it increases the chances of aggressive behavior.

As is known, the arms of increaseMore frequent partner hugs and higher oxytocin levels are linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women the amount of oxytocin. So the next time someone calls you in the bar to go to talk, try to hug him (joke). Most likely, the aggressor would alienate you and the fight will begin not on the street, but right at the bar. Because he likes it.

Since dopamine is involved aggressive behaviorNeurobiology of Escalated Aggression and Violence, Scientists have suggested that aggression can cause pleasure. The fact that dopamine is directly related to the remuneration system and plays an important role in getting the enjoyment and the formation of relationships. It is logical to assume that people can take a seat on aggressive behavior and deliberately seek conflict.

Moreover, the study found that already low serotonin is further reduced after the victorious experience of aggression.

If a man ran into a fight and won, his serotonin receptors have started to work even worse. So that after each successful for him the conflict it becomes a little more aggressive.

A normal person is difficult to understand how you can have fun. After all conflicts cause so much stress: trembling hands, cold sweats, a lump in the throat - this little pleasant. There is one theory that explains this: the aggressors simply do not experience such feelings.

Do aggressive people decreased cortisolNeural mechanisms and hormones as a cause of aggression - a stress hormone. The lack of this hormone prevents activate the autonomic nervous system, and people with special infringement committed actions that enhance excited. In addition, due to the reduced level of cortisol, they feel calmer, committing violence against other people. And if you are shaking hands after a scandal, then he will bring them only a slight exhilaration.