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AGGRESSIVE PUZZLES

 

One important goal of scientific research is also disseminating knowledge and building social awareness. Research conducted at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw on manifestations of verbal aggression aims to explain how we define it and show how often we use this oppressive form of communication.

 

Match the names of the following acts of aggression with their correct definitions.

Also, match examples of their use, accompanied by the comments.

 

Name                          Definition                               Example/Comment

 

Threat

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This is a speech act (a “commissive”) in which the speaker announces that they will inflict harm on the recipient of the message if certain conditions are (not) met, or in order to instil fear.

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For example: You’ll regret it! I’ll report you to your employer and I’ll make sure you get fired – it’s only a matter of time. The threat doesn’t have to be direct; it can be implied: I know where you live. Watch yourself. Your children could also get lost someday. Think about it. It’s worth remembering that a statement meets the criteria of a punishable threat under Article 190 §1 of the Polish Penal Code if it arouses a justified fear of it being carried out.

Ethnic Slur

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A verbal expression of xenophobic fear, dislike, or hostility towards people perceived as foreign or coming from a different country, culture, ethnic group, or religion.

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It may manifest itself in stereotypes, discrimination, hate speech, and acts that lead to whole social groups being excluded or suffering violence, e.g.: the n-word; a Kraut; I wish those ‘Banderites’ would go back to their own country; They came for our benefits, they should find a job.

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT:

there are various types of, and differences between, aggression in women and men?

Psychologists Buss and Perry (1992) identified four main types of aggression: physical aggression (e.g. hitting or pushing); verbal aggression (e.g. shouting, insults, threats); anger

– an emotional reaction to frustration; and hostility, e.g. suspicion or cynicism. Studies have shown

that men score higher when it comes to physical aggression and hostility, and also slightly higher in verbal aggression. However, women and men do not differ in terms of the anger they feel – both sexes experience anger to a similar degree, although they often express it differently. The differences between the sexes concern the way aggression is expressed, not its emotional intensity.