Interpersonal communication can be viewed in terms of an aggressive-nonaggressive continuum. Past research has often focused on nonaggressive forms of interpersonal communication, such as understanding how people get to know one another, how trust and intimacy develop, and the role of self-disclosure in relationship development. However, increasing interest has been directed toward aggressive forms of communication. Aggressive interpersonal communication involves either a physical or a symbolic attack. When aggressive communication is examined in terms of a constructive-destructive continuum, aggressive behavior may be viewed as constructive if it facilitates communication satisfaction and destructive if it produces dissatisfaction. The prevalent constructive types of physical aggression in interpersonal relationships are social, including sports and games; and task, urging other people to complete tasks more quickly. Types of physical aggression that are almost always destructive include violence against persons and violence against objects. Among the prevalent types of symbolic aggression are assertiveness, argumentativeness, hostility, and verbal aggressiveness. It is possible to construe a personality profile based on a person's aggressive behavior. Further study suggests that aggression leading to violence may be reduced by increasing an individual's level of argumentative competency. (DF)