I've observed that, when males attack, they want to assert their domnance. They live in a world where their position is important to them. They rarely want to share the same social position, even with a close friend. If they feel their position is being undermined, they will try to find a way to ressert it. It may simply be banter, perhaps even cruel banter. It may extend to agressive talk, threats, squaring off, or it may extend to violence.
At each stage, if they find their opponent is a match for them or stronger, they will usually stop that line. Only later, attempting to move to the next, in their effort to reassert themselves. Sometimes, depending upon the individual, once they meet their match at any stage, they may decide to accept that. Also, if the opponent matches the attacker, but restrains themselves, not asserting any further, the attacker will usually accept his situation.
Equally, they may entirely leave the peer group. I tend to believe this is the principal reason many walk away from their jobs.
It is also important to note that the other males in the peer group will generally fit in with the relative positions, established between two men.
Males, generally, will stop attacking, once they feeling their dominance has been acknowledged or they have suffered entire defeat.
When females attack, they want to humiliate. Generally they have little problem with sharing their social position with others. Most females acknowledge others as equals within the peer group.
But they resent what seems to them, to be anyone asserting themselves over them or seeking to undermine them. Also, if they believe their own position puts them above others, they will attack those they believe, have failed to acknowledge their seniority.
Females seem to have an objective on the amount of humiliation they feel they need to impose. But when they do get to that point of humiliation, they will usually stop. Though they will generally regard the person, as having a lower status to them, from that point and will attack again if that is not acknowledged.
In my own experience, I usually have little problem with males. I am generally happy to acknowledge them as dominant. Though I found, when I was younger, that some very insecure males might become overtly sexual. In these cases, I usually needed to assert some level of my own position.
Females are a bit more difficult. They generally expect me to act like a male, to some extent at least. Once I have allowed them to assert themselves, my own situation in relation to them remains subordinate.
Other females, in the peer group will usually remain unaffected. But some may seek to assert themselves individually.
Where females physically attack, this generally is a much more serious situation. If I don't defend, they will continue to attack until they have achieved the level of humiliation they seek. This is generally quite extreme.
If I defend, since I'm am percieved as male, they will almost invariably end up summoning assistance from an assertive male. Failing that, they will summon other females, especially subordinate females. In that case, my position will end up being subordinate to the least subordinate.
I appreciate the notions that violence is never justified. Fine words but not a lot of help when you're being attacked.
Personally, if I feel there is any risk of violence, I leave.
