Mary was watching a television show. It was a mystery.

She was totally engrossed (absorb all the

attention), and the end of the movie was near. Her baby started crying. He always seemed to do this
whenever she was enjoying herself. She shouted at him to shut up. His response was intensified crying.
Mary got angry and slapped his face. The baby cried even louder. The movie ended, and mary missed it.
Angrily, she stuck her son again, breaking his arm. In this situation, the central person, Mary, pursued a
goal – seeing the end of a television show. But something unexpected happened, and the means to the
goal was blocked. The person was frustrated, anger built up , and direct aggression occurred.

Aggression is not always aimed at the original frustrator. For example, consider a businessman
who has a hard day at the office. His boss belittled him for blowing a big deal. On the way home in his
car , he frustrated. For example, consider a businessman who has a hard day at the office. His boss
belittled him for blowing a big deal. On the way home in his car the frustrated commuter blows his horn
angrily at a car ahead when it doesn’t pull away fast enough from a stop light. As he enters his home, his
dog jumps up on him, only to receive a quick kick. He shouts at his wife during supper. All these
aggressive behaviors are assumed to be instances of displaced aggression. In many cases