Editing Aggression (section)

===As a positive adaptation theory<!--linked from 'Non-aggression principle'-->===
Some recent scholarship has questioned traditional psychological conceptualizations of aggression as universally negative.<ref name="Ferguson & Beaver, 2009"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dolan |first=Eric W. |date=2023-09-30 |title=Contrary to popular belief, recent psychology findings suggest aggression isn't always tied to a lack of self-control |url=https://www.psypost.org/2023/09/contrary-to-popular-belief-new-psychology-paper-argues-aggression-isnt-always-tied-to-a-lack-of-self-control-213877 |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=PsyPost |language=en-US}}</ref> Most traditional psychological definitions of aggression focus on the harm to the recipient of the aggression, implying this is the intent of the aggressor; however this may not always be the case.<ref name="Smith, 2007">{{cite book |last=Smith |first=P. |year=2007 |chapter=Why has aggression been thought of as maladaptive? |chapter-url={{Google books|kfAdzNKaK5AC|page=65|plainurl=yes}} |title=Aggression and Adaptation: the Bright Side to Bad Behavior |pages=65–83 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-59375-9 }}</ref> From this alternate view, although the recipient may or may not be harmed, the perceived intent is to increase the status of the aggressor, not necessarily to harm the recipient.<ref name="Hawley & Vaughn, 2003">{{cite journal |doi=10.1353/mpq.2003.0012 |jstor=23096055 |title=Aggression and Adaptive Functioning: The Bright Side to Bad Behavior |journal=Merrill-Palmer Quarterly |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=239–42 |year=2003 |last1=Hawley |first1=Patricia H. |last2=Vaughn |first2=Brian E. |s2cid=54998386 }}</ref> Such scholars contend that traditional definitions of aggression have no validity because of how challenging it is to study directly.<ref>{{Citation|last=Bjørkly|first=Stâl|title=Psychological Theories of Aggression: Principles and Application to Practice|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33965-8_2|work=Violence in Mental Health Settings|year=2006|pages=27–46|place=New York, NY|publisher=Springer New York|doi=10.1007/978-0-387-33965-8_2|isbn=978-0-387-33964-1|access-date=2021-05-05|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

From this view, rather than concepts such as assertiveness, aggression, violence and criminal violence existing as distinct constructs, they exist instead along a continuum with moderate levels of aggression being most adaptive.<ref name="Ferguson & Beaver, 2009"/> Such scholars do not consider this a trivial difference, noting that many traditional researchers' aggression measurements may measure outcomes lower down in the continuum, at levels which are adaptive, yet they generalize their findings to non-adaptive levels of aggression, thus losing precision.<ref name="Ferguson, 2010">{{cite journal |doi=10.1037/a0018941 |title=Blazing angels or resident evil? Can violent video games be a force for good? |journal=Review of General Psychology |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=68–81 |year=2010 |last1=Ferguson |first1=Christopher J. |url=http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/gpr-14-2-68.pdf |citeseerx=10.1.1.360.3176 |s2cid=3053432 }}</ref>