New Mexico Highlands University

Instrumental aggression is a form of harm-doing that is motivated by the desire to achieve a specific goal, where causing pain is not the primary objective. The aggressive act serves as a tool or instrument to obtain something else, such as money, resources, or status.

Instrumental Aggression

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

What type of aggression is mugging?

The actions of a contract killer who murders for payment serve as a clear example of instrumental aggression. The primary motive is financial gain (achieving a goal), not an emotional desire to inflict pain on the victim.

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