What is the Difference Between Hostile and Instrumental Aggression?

The difference between hostile and instrumental aggression lies in their goals and motivations.

• Hostile Aggression: This type of aggression is driven by emotions, specifically anger and frustration, with the intent to cause pain or harm to another person. It is impulsive and often occurs in response to a perceived threat or insult. For example, a fight in a bar between strangers is an example of hostile aggression.
• Instrumental Aggression: In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve the intent to cause harm. It is premeditated and often used as a means to an end. For example, a contract killer who murders for hire displays instrumental aggression.

While both types of aggression involve violent behavior or thoughts towards others, hostile aggression is driven by emotions, whereas instrumental aggression is driven by the need to achieve a specific goal.

Comparative Table: Hostile vs Instrumental Aggression

The main difference between hostile and instrumental aggression lies in their goals and motivations. Here is a table comparing the two types of aggression:

Hostile aggression is characterized by violent behavior or thoughts towards others, and it is often driven by emotions such as anger or frustration. On the other hand, instrumental aggression is more planned and coercive, with the goal of influencing or manipulating a specific outcome in a situation.