Hostility facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hostility
Two people in a heated argument in New York City

Hostility is a strong feeling of unfriendliness or opposition. It's often seen as a type of aggressive behavior. People sometimes use it as another word for anger or aggression.

In psychology, hostility is an important idea. For example, it's a part of neuroticism, which is a personality trait. It also plays a role in how people understand the world around them.

Hostility and Being Welcoming

Long ago, for groups like hunter-gatherers, any stranger from outside their small tribe could be a threat. This meant there was often a feeling of hostility towards outsiders.

Similarly, in ancient Greece, different communities often felt hostile towards each other. This only slowly changed as people developed rules for hospitality, which means being welcoming to guests.

Even today, the tension between being hostile and being welcoming is a powerful force in the world.

Us Versus Them Thinking

Some experts, like Robert Sapolsky, believe that humans naturally tend to form groups. We create "us" groups (our friends, family, or community) and "them" groups (people who are different). Hostility is often directed at the "them" group.

It's also thought that when people feel more hostile towards an outside group, they might feel less hostile towards people within their own group. Sometimes, leaders might even encourage conflicts with outside groups to make people in their own group feel more united.

Signs of Hostility Without Words

When someone is feeling hostile, their body often shows it without them saying anything. These are called non-verbal signs.

Common signs of hostility include grinding teeth or clenching fists. People might also make angry faces or shake their fists. Some experts would add stomping their feet or thumping things.

The Haka, a traditional dance from New Zealand, is an example of a ritual that uses these kinds of non-verbal signs to show strength and challenge.

Understanding Hostility in Psychology

The psychologist George Kelly had an interesting idea about hostility. He thought it happens when people try to force the world to fit their own ideas, even when those ideas are wrong.

Imagine someone has a strong belief about how things should be. If reality doesn't match their belief, instead of changing their mind, a hostile person tries to make reality fit their view. They might try to force or bully others to agree with them. This can be very tiring and can even cause harm.

In this way, hostility is like trying to make the world give you the answers you want, even if those answers aren't true. It's like someone trying to force a square peg into a round hole. They ignore evidence that shows their belief is wrong. They might even deny or suppress information that challenges their ideas.

While it's good to be persistent and not give up easily, hostility is different. It's about refusing to accept new information. It's about trying to keep your beliefs exactly as they are, even when they are clearly incorrect.

See also

In Spanish: Hostilidad para niños

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Death drive
• Narcissism of small differences
• Righteous indignation