When defining aggression it is essential that the number of incidents, the type of aggressive behaviour, and the severity of the impact be identified. The number of incidents will be a function of how aggressive behaviour is defined and how it will be recorded. The identification of the types of aggressive behaviour, as defined by Buss (1961, 1995), can help to:
• establish appropriate prevention and intervention policies and procedures;
• provide a framework for contracts between patients and their families, and health care providers regarding their conduct;
• set parameters for course training standards; and
• modify the physical environment.
Being aware of the severity of the impact on primary, secondary and tertiary victims can facilitate the development of strategies that may be adopted within health care professions such as counselling, critical incident stress debriefing or therapy.
A comprehensive and consistent definition of aggression can help to establish a more encompassing and accurate database of the number and severity of incidents of aggressive behaviour ( Lanza 1991). This is essential if the problem of aggression and violence within health care professions is to be addressed. Although under a ‘zero tolerance’ policy a single act of aggression is unacceptable, it is unlikely that health care professions will achieve this objective in the immediate future, given the aggressive nature of human beings and increasing trends towards violence in our society. Nonetheless, if aggressive behaviour cannot be clearly defined, the magnitude of the problem cannot be addressed and resources allocated towards appropriate resolution.