What is instrumental aggression?

Instrumental aggression refers to actions that are intended to achieve a specific goal or outcome beyond simply inflicting harm. This form of aggression is characterized by a calculated approach, where the aggressor engages in aggressive behavior as a means to an end, such as gaining a resource, achieving dominance, or obtaining a desired objective.

For example, a child may push another child off a toy not out of anger or the desire to hurt the other child, but rather to obtain the toy for themselves. This illustrates that the aggressive act is instrumental in that it serves to facilitate the attainment of a goal, rather than being impulsive or emotionally driven.

In contrast, other forms of aggression that are mentioned in the other options involve emotional responses or lack a clear goal, distinguishing instrumental aggression as a proactive behavior motivated by specific objectives.