[A] Genetic factors Flashcards
What do genes affect?
Testosterone levels and how quickly it circulates around the body, as well the sensitivity of testosterone receptors.
What is super male syndrome caused by?
When an individual has an extra Y chromosome, so their karyotype is XYY.
What are the characteristics of those affected by super male syndrome?
Very tall and thin, and affected by behavioural problems and learning difficulties.
What did Theilgaard find?
The only thing linked between 100 males with the XYY karyotype was their height, levels of aggression fluctuated.
What is the violence related version of the MAOA gene?
MAOA-L.
What did Caspi et al find?
Those with the MAOA-L gene were only likely to be more aggressive if they were abused as children.
Where do people with the MAOA-L gene have less activity?
In the anterior cingulate cortex, which is responsible for regulating impulses.
What did Brunner et al find?
All of the males who had a mutant form of the MAOA gene in a large Dutch family suffered from borderline retardation and acted aggressively when fearful, frustrated or angry.
What did Moffitt et al find?
Those who were abused as children and had a defective gene were more prone to violence.
Evaluate the role of genes in aggression.
- Focuses on male aggression only.
- Does not consider other biological causes.
- Does not consider environmental causes.
