[A] Neural factors

Question 1

What is the amygdala involved in?

Answer 1

Processing emotions associated with aggression such as anger and frustration.

Question 2

What did Potegal et al find>

Answer 2

Stimulation of the corticomedial amygdala in hamsters increases aggression whereas lesioning reduces aggression.

Question 3

What did Groves and Schlesinger find?

Answer 3

Amygdalectomy in humans reduces aggression but has side effects of loss of emotion, initiative and enthusiasm.

Question 4

What did Rane find?

Answer 4

Individuals with psychopathic characteristics who faced a moral dilemma had lower activation of the amygdala.

Question 5

Evaluate the amygdala’s role in aggression.

Answer 5

1. Lots of supporting research.
2. Animal studies are unethical.
3. Research suggests amygdala simply processes and not controls aggression.

Question 6

What does the hypothalamus do?

Answer 6

Control aggression.

Question 7

What did Flynn find?

Answer 7

Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus in cats causes predatory aggression, whereas stimulation of the medial hypothalamus elicited rage-type aggression.

Question 8

Evaluate the hypothalamus’ role in aggression.

Answer 8

1. Flynn’s research shows different parts do different things.
2. Animal research is not generalisable to humans.
3. Humans have more complex social systems, so a higher brain area is likely to be involved.
4. There is no cultural evidence to support the hypothalamus’ role in aggression.

Question 9

What are the frontal lobes’ and prefrontal cortex’s role?

Answer 9

Involved in activities requiring decision making, such as social behaviour, motor functions, impulse control and personality.

Question 10

What did Harlow find?

Answer 10

Phineas Gage, who had a tamping iron blasted through his skull and suffered damage to the frontal lobes, was more aggressive, obstinate and impulsive after the accident.

Question 11

What happened to Albert Fish and how did this affect him?

Answer 11

Albert had an accident when young, damaging his frontal lobes, which led to him becoming one of America’s most prolific killers.

Question 12

What did Raine find?

Answer 12

Patients who suffer damage to the underside of the frontal lobes are psychopathic, and murderers had lower brain activity than controls.

Question 13

What did Amen find?

Answer 13

The brains of non-aggressive and aggressive psychiatric patients showed differing levels of activity in different areas.

Question 14

Evaluate the frontal lobes’ role in aggression.

Answer 14

1. Support from Phineas Gage and Albert Fish.
2. Gage’s research is historical and may not be accurate compared to modern medical standards.
3. Amen’s patients were psychiatric, not applicable to general population.
4. Deterministic/reductionist.

Question 15

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 15

Chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin.

Question 16

How is serotonin activity measured?

Answer 16

Levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA are measured in a patient’s cerebrospinal fluid.

Question 17

What did Lloyd et al find?

Answer 17

Suicide victims had lower levels of 5-HIAA compared to controls.

Question 18

What did Stanley find?

Answer 18

Compared 5-HIAA concentrations in aggressive and non-aggressive psychiatric patients and found that aggressive patients had lower concentrations.

Question 19

What did Popova et al (1991) find?

Answer 19

Russian silver foxes bred for tameness had higher levels of 5-HIAA than wild foxes.

Question 20

What did Linnoila et al find?

Answer 20

Impulsive violent offenders had lower 5-HIAA levels than premeditated violent offenders.

Question 21

Evaluate the role of neurotransmitters in aggression.

Answer 21

1. Support from a variety of different people.
2. Assumes suicide is inwardly-directed aggression.
3. Animal research is unethical.
4. Research from psychiatric patients is not generalisable.