Why is there an urge to hurt others?

You may be familiar with the violent scenes in movies. This kind of behavior doesn't just exist in movies. Even in the real world, humans naturally have a tendency to commit violence. This can sometimes turn into an urge to hurt others.

In fact, where did the impulse come from?

The scientific reason behind the urge to hurt others

Violence, both physically and emotionally, is basically a part of the personality that makes up humans. It's hard to admit, but discrimination, bully, and all kinds of interactions that can trigger conflict also cannot be separated from it.

This behavior is known as aggression in psychology. The originator of psychoanalytic theory, Sigmund Freud, stated that aggression comes from impulses in a person. This impulse becomes motivation and appears in certain forms of behavior.

Unfortunately, aggression generates destructive behavior such as intimidation, threats, ridicule, even as simple as gossiping about other people. This behavior not only destroys the other person, but also the person who does it.

One of the most extreme forms of aggression is the urge to hurt others. Like other aggressive behaviors, the desire to hurt others serves several purposes, such as:

• express anger and hostility
• shows ownership
• show dominance
• achieve certain goals
• compete with others
• in response to pain or fear

Launching the Pijar Psikologi page, Freud described violence as a humane lust. This lust demands to be fulfilled, just like the appetite for appetite and the desire to have sex.

If traced back to pre-civilization, humans must struggle to get food and protect themselves, their families, and their groups. Often times they have to resort to violence to achieve that goal.

Violent behavior is recorded in genetics and has become an instinct that is embedded until now. However, human civilization makes violence absurd anymore. Violence is now seen as inhuman and irrational.

The urge to hurt others is still there, but you are trained to save it. In fact, you may not even know you have it. This desire may only arise when you are faced with a conflict that causes negative emotions.

Why don't humans hurt each other

Freud sparked the concept that life has three levels of consciousness, namely conscious (conscious), preconsciousness (preconscious), and unconscious (unconscious). According to him, most human behavior is controlled by this level of consciousness.

In this level of consciousness, there are three personality elements which are called id, ego and superego. Id is part of the subconscious that wants satisfaction and pleasure, for example, you eat when you feel hungry.

The ego is in charge of fulfilling the id's desires in a way that is safe and accepted by society. If you want to eat, of course you don't just take other people's food. According to Freud, it was the ego that regulated this.

Meanwhile, the superego is an element of personality that makes sure you follow the rules and moral principles. The superego keeps you from being kind and responsible to an orderly society.

The same is true when you feel the urge to hurt someone else. For example, you get angry when someone bumps into you on the road. The id wants to satisfy his desires by acting harshly. You want to hit the person.

However, the superego "forbids" you to be violent. Although violence makes you feel better, the superego keeps you from doing it. It also reminds you of the punishment that awaits this action.

In the end, the ego acts as a mediator between the id and the superego. It appears so that you can express your anger without being as violent as the id wants you to. This way, you can control your emotions.

Control the urge to hurt others

Although naturally present in a person's personality, the desire to hurt others cannot be justified. This action is also illegal and will hurt you. If you frequently feel this urge, here are some tips for controlling it.

• Think about situations and people that make you irritable. Imagine what the triggers are so you can avoid them.
• Stay away from situations that make you angry before you do something.
• If you know you are going to face a situation that triggers your anger, think about how you would respond.
• Talk to those closest to you who are willing to try to understand you.
• In a calm state, think again about whether your actions were bad for the people you love or your relationships with others.

The urge to hurt others is part of one's instinct. This behavior arises due to many factors which are sometimes unavoidable. Even if it's not easy to bury it, you can practice controlling it a little at a time.