In our brain we have mechanisms which keep in control our primitive, instinctual urges. We control our eating so that we do not indulge our appetite for food to its full extent. We control our sexual desires. We have a similar biological urge to act aggressively to anyone who acts aggressively to us. This is a built-in biological protective mechanism to help us survive in the physical rough and tumble of primitive life many generations ago. This aggressive urge is still within us, but in ordinary life we have learned to control it fairly well.

If we come under stress, the orderly action of our brain cells that control our primitive aggression is disrupted. The result is that when we are under stress we may easily act much more aggressively than we normally would. And, more important, we may act aggressively in inappropriate circumstances or situations where a calm and considered response would have served us much better.

«I told the boss what I thought. Should have done it differently. Just calmly. It was silly, silly, silly. »

«I hit him. Yes. I hit him. So small, I shall never forgive myself.»

Man or woman, the reaction is the same. The particular reaction which is evoked just depends on the circumstances in which we are placed.

‘Baby bashing’ is just a particular example of the release of aggression through stress. There is often a major problem such as an unexpected pregnancy, and an associated problem that the woman is not feeling too well. There may be a background problem of her husband drinking. And the stress reaction is finally precipitated by the baby’s persistent crying. Her aggression can no longer be contained. It bursts forth. She hits the child.

*52/98/5*