Aggression in any form can have adverse consequences on an individual, significantly impacting their self-esteem and potentially destroying relationships. Aggressive behavior or communication can influence an individual's life in various negative ways.
Let's delve into the most frequent consequences of how aggression can harm a person.
Erosion of Trust
Trust is an essential factor in any relationship, be it familial, platonic, or romantic. Healthy relationships require trust as a foundation. Aggression fosters conflict, generates strain in relationships, and results in trust erosion. When people are subjected to excessive discomfort and pain, they often build defenses to shield themselves from further harm inflicted by the aggressive person.
Impediment to Open Communication
Aggressive communication is inherently unhealthy and breeds feelings of fear and embarrassment. Consequently, the person at the receiving end of the verbal aggression often fears impending conflict and seeks to protect themselves by any means.
They may opt to maintain their silence, safeguard their cherished possessions, and steer clear of the aggressive person entirely to avoid any potential hostility. In such a scenario, communication breakdown occurs, and any possibility of sincere, open communication is lost.
Replacement of Security with Fear
Aggression fails to foster a sense of security. In contrast, it engenders fear, trauma, and apprehension.
Aggressive individuals are often fraught with fear themselves, and when they exhibit aggressive behavior, they project their fears onto others. This projection can be thought of as an energy transfer. Therefore, recognizing and dispelling aggressive behavior is crucial.
Aggression fuels feelings of uncertainty, fear, and general negativity towards the relationship. A relationship characterized by negativity will never foster happiness or joy. The sole purpose of aggression is to assert dominance and control, but it is destructive in every aspect. A relationship characterized by aggression yields no positive outcomes.
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Increased Stress Levels
A relationship marked by aggression invariably leads to stress. Aggressive behavior triggers the fight-or-flight stress response as a defense mechanism. If our safety is compromised, we naturally gear up to protect ourselves. Constant exposure to aggression can lead to an exceedingly unhealthy and stressful relationship.
Anyone in such a relationship, where they constantly feel under threat, should extricate themselves from the situation. It's neither safe nor healthy and qualifies as an abusive relationship.
Deterioration of Self-confidence
Aggressive behavior eventually wears down a person's self-esteem and confidence. Constant belittling or a perpetual sense of lack of control can severely damage a person's self-worth. Bullies and narcissists, known for their aggressive behavior, can inflict physical or verbal abuse, severely impacting their victims' self-confidence.
In Conclusion
Ideally, respectful communication should be the norm, enabling people to express themselves freely.
A person can be candid, respectful, and tactful, careful not to hurt others' feelings, demonstrating consideration. These attributes are indicative of assertiveness, not aggression, and are commendable traits to cultivate. They reflect self-confidence and emotional maturity.
Aggression stems from fear and insecurity. Aggressive behavior should never be tolerated. If there's an opportunity to escape such a dynamic, it's better to terminate or restructure the relationship with the aggressor before their behavior compromises your physical or emotional well-being.
