BioConcepts

aggressionAggression (ger.)

• Behaviour intended to injure another person or animal; an instance of this. (OED 2012)
  category competition

  1831

  the ferocious and depredatory aggression of quadruped felons

  Dansey, W. (1831). Appendix. In: Arrian on Coursing. The Cynegeticus of the Younger Xenophon: 183.

  1904

  Protectively coloured themselves for purposes of aggression, they [killer-whales] hunt in packs like wolves, and, although only twenty feet long, ruthlessly tear in pieces whales three times that length.

  Pocock, I.R. (1904). How and why are animals coloured. The Pall Mall Magazine 32, 177-189: 186.
  

  1961

  aggression is defined as a response that delivers noxious stimuli to another organism; the term attack will be used as a synonym.

  Buss, A.H. (1961). The Psychology of Aggression: 1.

  1963

  Das Buch handelt von der Aggression, das heißt von dem auf den Artgenossen gerichteten Kampftrieb von Tier und Mensch. […] Die Aggression, deren Auswirkungen häufig mit denen des Todestriebes gleichgesetzt werden, ist ein Instinkt wie jeder andere und unter natürlichen Bedingungen auch ebenso lebens- und arterhaltend.

  Lorenz, K. (1963). Das sogenannte Böse. Zur Naturgeschichte der Aggression (München 1974): 7-8.

  1970

  Aggression within animal species is almost always associated with competition. Insofar as aggressive behavior is adaptive, it can usually be regarded as a competitive technique

  Wilson, E.O. (1970). Competitive and aggressive behavior. Social Science Information 9, 123-154: 126.

  1975

  Aggression A physical act or threat of action by one individual that reduces the freedom or genetic fitness of another

  Wilson, E.O. (1975). Sociobiology: 577. 

  1977

  aggression is any form of behavior directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment

  Baron, R.A. & Byrne, D.E. (1977). Social Psychology: 455.

  1980

  Alle Verhaltensweisen, die einen anderen zu einer räumlichen oder sozialen Distanzierung führen, können als aggressiv bezeichnet werden

  Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I. (1967/80). Grundriß der vergleichenden Verhaltensforschung. Ethologie: 423.

  1981

  A lion is no more aggressive in killing a gnu than a chicken in eating a worm. […] To an ethologist, the term ‘aggression’ is associated with a motivation whose actions are directed towards competition for resources, what one could term ‘property defence’

  Rasa, O.A.E. (1981). Ethological aspects of aggression in sub-human animals. In: Brain, Paul F. und Benton, David (eds.). The Biology of Aggression, 585-601: 585-6; 587.
  

  1982

  aggression. Auch aggressives Verhalten oder Aggressionsverhalten genannt. Sammelbezeichnung für alle Elemente des Angriffs-, Verteidigungs- und Drohverhaltens.

  Immelmann, K. (1975/82). Wörterbuch der Verhaltensforschung.