The frustration-aggression hypothesis suggests that frustration, which occurs when a person is blocked from achieving a goal, can lead to aggressive behavior. This theory posits that when individuals experience obstacles, their emotional response may manifest as anger or aggression towards others, often as a way to cope with their feelings of helplessness. According to this hypothesis, the level of aggression is proportional to the intensity of the frustration. For example, if someone is denied a promotion at work, they may express their frustration through aggressive actions or words, potentially targeting colleagues or even inanimate objects, rather than addressing the source of their frustration directly.