ABSTRACT
INSTINCT THEORIES The first psychological theory of anger and aggression was proposed by the psychoanalytic school pioneered by Sigmund Freud, who suggested that aggression arose from a basic drive (Thanatos) towards death and destruction which, when redirected from the self, turned to the destruction of others. This theory did not offer clinicians any practical solutions to the control of aggression, other than positively redirecting it, for example, by displacing aggression into combative sport. However, the theory does not explain the presence of non-violent cultures or the apparent association between violence in the culture and high levels of combative sport, that is to say, situations where, the greater the levels of combative sport, the greater are the levels of violence in the culture. There is also evidence to suggest that, for many individuals, apparent displacement of aggressive drives can actually increase levels of anger and aggression, possibly as a result of increased physiological arousal. Stafford-Clarke (1967) said of Freud's instinct theory: 'the theory proved of far more use to artists and novelists than to clinicians5.
