What type of aggression is characterized as emotional and impulsive, usually in response to distress or pain?

Hostile aggression is characterized by emotional arousal and is often impulsive, arising in response to feelings of distress or pain. This type of aggression generally occurs when an individual feels threatened, offended, or provoked, leading to an immediate and often uncontrolled reaction aimed at harming another person. The key aspect of hostile aggression is that it is driven by emotions such as anger and is focused on causing pain or injury rather than on achieving a specific goal.

In contrast, passive aggression tends to involve indirect expression of hostility, such as sarcasm or procrastination, rather than direct emotional outbursts. Instrumental aggression is typically planned and goal-oriented, where harm is inflicted as a means to an end, such as gaining a reward or achieving a specific outcome. Verbal aggression involves using language to harm someone emotionally, which may not necessarily arise from the distress or pain that characterizes hostile aggression.

Thus, the defining feature of hostile aggression being emotionally driven and impulsive underlies why this choice is the most accurate representation of the type of aggression described in the question.