A child who hurts another child while struggling to gain possession of a toy is engaged in what type of aggression?

A child who hurts another child while struggling to gain possession of a toy is engaged in what type of aggression?

• A. Relational aggression
• B. Prosocial behavior
• C. Hostile aggression
• D. Instrumental aggression

Answer: (D)

Instrumental aggression is aggression done to achieve a concrete goal, using force or forceful action as a means to obtain something you want. In this scenario, the child hurts another to gain possession of the toy, so the aggressive act is purposeful and aimed at reaching a specific outcome rather than being driven by anger toward hurting for its own sake. Relational aggression would involve harming someone’s social connections (like excluding or spreading rumors). Prosocial behavior is helping or cooperating with others. Hostile aggression is aggression driven primarily by anger or a desire to harm the person, not specifically to obtain a goal like a toy.

Instrumental aggression is aggression done to achieve a concrete goal, using force or forceful action as a means to obtain something you want. In this scenario, the child hurts another to gain possession of the toy, so the aggressive act is purposeful and aimed at reaching a specific outcome rather than being driven by anger toward hurting for its own sake.

Relational aggression would involve harming someone’s social connections (like excluding or spreading rumors). Prosocial behavior is helping or cooperating with others. Hostile aggression is aggression driven primarily by anger or a desire to harm the person, not specifically to obtain a goal like a toy.