Two terms used throughout the need discussions are defined below:

Need Conflicts: Within a particular dimension some needs conflict with each other because they evoke incompatible behavior if they are expressed synchronically (simultaneously). For example, the aggression and nurturance needs evoke incompatible behavior in all three dimensions. Needs that conflict in a particular dimension are located in opposite areas of that dimension (see Target Model) indicating that they are not normally activated synchronically in that dimension.

Mal Adaptive Need Fusion: Needs that normally produce conflicting behavior when synchronically evoked in a particular dimension are sometimes combined or fused despite resulting conflicts. Mal adaptive fusion creates frustrations and problems. For example, in the combative dimension, when the aggression and succorance needs are synchronically activated, the fused behavioral expression may take the form of whining and complaining that does not effectively express either the aggression need or the succorance need.

The Aggression Need
(The need to be forceful and to criticize or attack others)

The word "aggression" has a number of meanings in every day life. The term "aggressive" is sometimes confused with the word "competitive" although the two words are derived from quite different base sources. The PIT definition for aggression emphasizes the need to use force or power for destructive purposes. Using this meaning, the primary function of aggression is to overcome, neutralize, or destroy opposition.

The aggression need, along with the succorance and achievement needs, is one of the three primary acquisition modes (ways to get what we want). There are some things we want that can only be obtained if we have the power to use physical or psychological force to remove opposition to our desires. The things we can acquire by aggression are primarily material things. We can take land, or money, or even the physical possession or custody of people by aggression, but we cannot take knowledge, skill, experience, love, and affection by aggression.

Aggression is particularly associated with the acquisition of territory and property. Animals, humans, and nations fight to acquire territory they can control, use, and exploit. Money and other material objects considered valuable also arouse aggressive acquisitive impulses. People widely condemn aggression, but also widely express and assert it. Most of our laws are aimed at curbing or controlling aggression. Aggression, in the form of blame or punishment, is used to "fight fire with fire" in efforts to inhibit the aggression of others.

Animals can be readily classified according to their aggressiveness (e.g., hawks vs. doves). Predatory animals are necessarily more aggressive than nonpredators although there are some herbivores, such as the rhinoceros, that can become quite aggressive when their territory is invaded. Humans are highly aggressive and have constantly engaged in wars and developed ever increasingly destructive weapons to carry out their aggression.

There are many words that designate aggressive behavior. Some of these are: fighting, arguing, condemning, persecuting, torturing, raping, looting, pillaging, murdering, killing, sabotaging, blaming, scolding, punishing, accusing, criticizing, manipulating, exploiting, cheating, lying, and stealing. In addition, there are many slang words or phrases for aggression that come and go in popular usage.

The Function of the Aggression Need

Although it is the cause of much pain and misery, aggression has an important and necessary function. Only aggressive actions can overcome some obstacles and neutralize some threats to our existence. Among animals it serves to cull and improve the species through selective survival and breeding. From a moral and ethical point of view, there are some forms of bad or evil that can only be eliminated or contained by aggression. From a motivation systems point of view, aggression is an opposing force that helps counter fear, withdrawal, and passivity and is thus an important element in the dynamics of our motivation system.

Problems Related to the Aggression Need

Aggression is probably involved in more human problems than any other need. Inability to assert aggression effectively can result in feelings of impotence, passivity, helplessness, and dependency. Such feelings can cause anxiety and depression. Non-aggressive people become vulnerable to exploitation and bullying by aggressive people. Overly aggressive people, or those who are inappropriately aggressive, arouse fear and counter-aggression in others and this tends to destroy or impair personal relationships. Social aggression (e.g., murder, theft, rape) is punished by social alienation, fines, imprisonment, and in some societies death. The maladaptive fusion of aggression with non combative needs such as succorance and deference creates passive-aggressive behavior such as whining, demanding, complaining, and manipulating. The expectation of "special treatment" is a passive-aggressive trait. Such behavior delays development of abilities and maturity.

One of the most serious problems associated with aggression occurs when it is maladaptively fused with abasement and becomes intropunitive. Pathological self-blame, self-criticism, and self-punishment create depression. The most extreme form of intropunitive aggression is suicide.

Normal Dimension Locations of the Aggression Need

The aggression need is normally located very high in the combative area of the combative dimension. This location indicates a generally held belief that the desire to be forceful and to criticize and attack others is most appropriately expressed in highly combative situations. When we decide to fight for material possessions or to impose our will on others, we use force and power to defeat adversaries and overcome opposition. Aggression is thus highly opposed to submissive behavior or desires to be nurturant, conciliatory, objective, or analytic.

Aggression is normally located in the impersonal area of the personal dimension. This location indicates a belief that attacking and criticizing others is very opposed to personal-social interactions. The impersonal area location of aggression indicates that criticism and blame aimed at friends and loved ones should be expressed impersonally, objectively, and directed toward specific behavior or faults rather than aimed at the whole person.

Aggression is normally located in the noncompetitive area of the competitive dimension. This location indicates a belief that the desire to blame, criticize, or attack others is not appropriate in competitive activities. If aggression is brought into competitive activity, the activity tends to become more combative than competitive.

Aggression Dislocated in the Noncombative Area of the Combative Dimension

It is very rare for a person to locate the aggression need in the noncombative area of the combative dimension. Such a location suggests that the person feels that criticism, blame, or aggression should be expressed in an inhibited or indirect way. The person's ability to be self-assertive is weakened because the aggression need is too distant from other combative needs such as defendance, rejection, dominance that support and strengthen aggression.

Aggression Located Too High in the Combative Dimension

When the aggression need is located extremely high in the combative area so that it is isolated from other combative needs, it loses the motivational support necessary for effective combative action. In this location it is rarely expressed because it is considered to be so extreme and destructive. When it is expressed, however, it is apt to be in the form of rage or a tantrum with a lack of control and direction. To be effective in combative situations, the aggression need must be integrated closely with the other combative needs.

Aggression Dislocated in the Personal Area of the Personal Dimension

When the aggression need is dislocated in the personal area of the personal dimension, it may indicate a belief that aggression in the form of criticism, blame, or punishment is personal (directed toward the entire person rather than some aspect of their behavior. This dislocation may also mean that aggression is frequently expressed in social situations where positive attitudes are expected.

Aggression Located Too Extreme in the Impersonal Area of the Personal Dimension

When the aggression need is isolated and located toward the impersonal area extreme, it may indicate a belief that aggression is so destructively opposed to personal-social interactions that any degree of disapproval felt toward others requires a great deal of social distancing to prevent violent conflict. Such an extreme location may also indicate that aggression loses the moderating influence of the rational needs when there is an effort to impersonally resolve conflicts with friends or loved ones.

Aggression Dislocated in the Competitive Area of the Competitive Dimension

When the aggression need is dislocated in the competitive area of the competitive dimension, it may reflect a belief that to excel in competition is not enough - one must destroy competitors. The competitive goals of skill, knowledge, and ability suffer when criticism, blame, and force enter into competitive striving. Such an approach may also make a person vulnerable and insecure when their performance or ability is criticized because they tend to become conflicted over whether to consider the criticism rationally or whether to respond with combative aggression.

Aggression Located in the Extreme Peripheral Noncompetitive Area

When aggression is located in the extreme peripheral area of the noncompetitive area, it may indicate a belief that aggression is so opposed to competitive activity that any arousal of anger or aggression requires the person to withdraw from competition.