Aggression in Higher Education
Presented by Carsbia Anderson
and
Lara Shipley
Aggressive Behavior
• Aggressive Behavior is not merely assertive behavior.
• Aggression seeks to harm others and occurs frequently in
higher education.
 Dealing with roommate conflicts
 Policy enforcement, threatening behavior in hearings
 Encountering drunk or substance abusing students
 Managing psychological disturbances and disruptions
 Dating relationship arguments/fights
 Vandalism and robbery
 Parking and food service complaints
Aggression Continuum
• With both Cognitive and Primal Aggressors,
we must be aware of how they move through
the aggression continuum.
• This Aggression Continuum is made up of the:
Trigger Phase
Escalation Phase
Crisis Phase
Aggression Continuum
Trigger Phase ( Heart Rate 60-80, normal)
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Calm, normal breathing
An activating event occurs
Begin to experience stress and anxiety
Circumstances are dynamic but everyone is coping
Offers a baseline
Begins escalating….
Aggression Continuum
 Escalation Phase (Heart Rate 115-145)
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As anxiety mounts..
Quality of judgment diminishes
Swearing, arguing with others
Fewer arm and hand gestures
Diminished creativity in thought
Reduced thoughtful consideration
Aggression Continuum
 Crisis Phase (Heart Rate 145-175)
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Hardens point of view
Issues ultimatum
Growling, baring teeth
Direct, prolonged eye contact
Moving in and out of your personal space
Eyes targeting body parts to strike
Aggression Continuum
 Crisis Phase (Heart Rate Above 175)
 Loss of verbal control
 Loss of judgment
 Begins physical attack
Aggressive Behavior Types
Some forms of aggressive behavior are less overt. To
identify these other forms of aggressive behavior, John
Byrnes has developed the concept of the Unmagnificent Seven.
These seven clusters of behavior are commonly
experienced personality types which seek to negatively
impact a community – whether it be an office staff,
residence hall, classroom or department.
Aggressive Behavior Types
• Not all behavior you encounter will be overt
aggression.
• Most will be cognitive (intent-driven) aggression.
• Many individuals develop frustrating behavior
patterns that create chaos and disrupt a sense of
community
• We will now discuss seven common patterns of
frustrating passive-aggressive behavior. They are
the Un-Magnificent Seven.
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Sherman Tank
- This person enjoys confrontation and always
needs to prove themselves right
- They will argue about rules on your floor, office,
department
- Push past weaker personalities
- They seek to dominate
- Challenge your authority
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Sniper
– This individual will be critical of you behind
your back
– They will gossip and create chaos when you
are not around
– They will blend in to their surroundings when
threatened or challenged
– They will use jokes or sarcasm to cover their
true motives
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Exploder
– This individual will have wide mood swings
– Will be a “loud mouth” and will make
insulting and cutting remarks
– They want everyone to silence those who
disagree with them and are happiest when
others are passive
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Complainer
– Whines and complains about the situations they
are in or the school rules
– Never seems happy or optimistic about
improvement
– Wears down and drains those around them
– Feels unappreciated and powerless
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Negativist
– These individuals are never happy and desire
others around them to be just as gloomy
– Rarely see the bright side to things
– Say “no” to everything they are asked
– Depress other people around them
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Clam
– These individuals are disengaged, silent and
unresponsive
– They may be upset or frustrated, but never
communicate it
Aggressive Behavior Types
• The Bulldozer
–These individuals overwhelm others
with facts and figures
–They only value their opinion and have
little regard for the knowledge or
viewpoints of others
Aggression Management
Aggression Management’s Universal Approach
1. Start with getting the aggressor away from
the crowd.
2. Begin your interaction with a positive
statement not a negative one (constructive,
not punitive).
3. Explain to them the documented issues in a
neutral and reflective way (without sarcasm).
Aggression Management
Aggression Management’s Universal Approach
4. Explain that their present behavior is not
in their best interest.
5. Ask how we can work together to become
more productive.
Aggressive Behavior Documentation
• It is important to document the behavior you
observe in the Advocate system.
• Ask yourself
– Are there witness statements I should gather?
– Is there evidence I should save?
– Are my notes clear and legible?
– Will my statement withstand a cross-examination?
– Did I create my statement immediately after
event?
Aggression in Higher Education
• Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D, Certified Senior Trainer
–Phone: 603-491-3215
–Email: brian.vanbrunt@wku.edu
• John D. Byrnes, President, Center for
Aggression Management
–Phone: 407-718-5637
–Email:
JohnByrnes@AggressionManagement.com