ag2 Flashcards
state the 3 biological explanations for aggression.
neural mechanisms
hormonal mechanisms
genetic factors
state the 2 components of the neural mechanisms explanation for aggression.
The limbic system (amygdala)
serotonin
what does the limbic system explanation for aggression suggest?
hyperactivity + reduced volume of the amygdala is linked to aggression
(anygdala= emotion, fear, rage)
what does the serotonin explanation for aggression suggest?
reduces aggression by inhibiting responses to emotional stimuli
decreased serotonin increases susceptibility to impulse behaviour
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the limbic system (amygdala) explanation for aggression?
ledoux 1996 electrically stimulate rats- produced fear/rage + stimulated womens amygdala + she smashed her guitar
animal studies cant generalise + unethical
preforntal cortex also relevant- 41 murderers had reduced prefrontal cortex activity
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the serotonin explanation for aggression?
mann (1990) gave 35 ps drug that depletes serotonin= increased aggression questionnaire score + high tryptaphan diet monkeys exhibited low aggression
small sample + animal study cant generalise
amygdala also plays role
state the component of the hormonal mechanisms explanation of aggression.
testosterone
what does the testosterone explanation for aggression suggest?
(androgen) men are often more aggression and they have more testosterone
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the testosterone explanation for aggression?
wagner found rats had more biting attacks pre-castration + history of violent crime often hgh testosterone
amygdala+serotonin also impact
animal study cant generalise
what is the genetics explanation for aggression? (plus the extra one)
MAOA gene
twin studies
What does the MAOA gene explanation of aggression suggest?
MAOA gene regulates MAOA enzyme which breaks down excess NTs
problems with this result in either less enzyme=more serotonin so build tolerance OR more enzyme= less serotonin so more aggression
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the MAOA explanation for aggression?
greater association in aggresive behaviour between MZ than DZ
twins often share same env so similarities in agg could be due to env not genetic
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the twin studies explanation for aggression?
greater association in aggresive behaviour between MZ than DZ
twins often share same env so similarities in agg could be due to env not genetic
state the 2 components of the ethological explanations of aggression
innate releasing mechanisms (irm)
fixed action patterns (fap)
what does the innate releasing mechanisms explanation of aggression suggest?
an innate system within an animal that responds to a stimulus
triggers the fixed action pattern
(the red dot for a stickleback)
what does the fixed action pattern explanation of aggression suggest?
the response (attack) which is innate and found through the species, and is a result of an IRM
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the ethological explanation for aggression?
regardless of shape, study found stickleback would always attack a red spot (only males have these, and is a way of defending area) red spot=irm attack=fap + genetic explanation also suggests behaviour has innate basis
hard to generalise to humans + amygdala and testosterone also cause aggression
what is the evolutionary explanation for aggression?
sexual jealousy to ensure own paternity-warn off others from stealing mate
aggressive ones mate, aggressive genes passed on
defend resources e.g. mates/territory
establish status
females look for men with resources- agg men more successful
females compete for best mates through low risk strats e.g. gossiping to disarm others
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the evolutionary explanation for aggression?
accounts for gender differences in aggression
socially sensitive stereotype men as aggressive + neural mechanisms + hormones also relevant
state the 3 components of the social psychological explanations for aggression.
dollards frustration aggression hypothesis
social learning theory
deindividuation
what does dollards frustration aggression hypothesis suggest about aggression?
goal is obstructed, causing frustration, relieved in cathartic way i.e. displaying aggression. Aggression not always expressed- likely if were close to achieving goal or if aggression will help obtain it
psychodynamic bc catharsis+ displacement=defence mechanism
what is 1 strength and 1 limitations of the dollards frustration aggression hypothesis explanation for aggression?
Green found as frustration increases (impossible task, ran out of time bc confederates, confederate insulted them) number of shocks increased
lacks mundane realism
frustration doesnt always lead to aggression
what does the social learning theory explanation suggest about aggression?
learn aggression through observation
banduras bobo doll exp shows when children watched video of adultplay violent with doll, they imitated the behaviour
process=attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the slt explantion for aggression?
applybto society, reduce childs exposure to violent material online for example
doesnt account for bio explanations
what does the deindividuation explanation for aggression suggest?
once in crowd, lose sense of individuality + become part of crowd so go against norms if others do.
the anonymity lowers the personal consequence of aggression, increasing likelihood of being aggressive
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the deindividuation explanation for aggression?
zimbardo prison study supports bc group of guards acted aggressively + deindividuated bc glasses and uniform
biology also causes aggression
state the 2 explanations of institutional aggression
situational explanation (deprivation model) dispositional explanation (importation model)
what does the situational explanation for institutional aggression suggest?
deprivation model
situational factors of prison circumstance cause aggression (e.g. loss of freedom, possessions, overcrowding)
what does the dispositional explanation for institutional aggression suggest?
importation model
dispositional factors people bring into the prison causing aggression e.g. history of violent behaviour
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the situational explanation for institutional aggression?
may lead to more concern and effort invested in changing prison env for the better to decrease prison attacks
doesnt account for biological explanations
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the dispositional explanation for institutional aggression?
criminal history of violent crimes did show increased liklihood of aggression in prison in comparison to theft crimes
doesnt account for biological explanations
what is the explanation for media influences (violent video games) on aggression?
what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of this
tv/computer game violence can cause agg behaviour
bartholomew found those who played vioent vid games played higher volume of white noise as opposed to those playing golfing game
lab study so no fear of consequence of agg + only examines short term effects
state the 3 explanations of why media (violent video games) causes aggression?
desensitisation
disinhibition
cognitive priming
what does the desensitisation explanation of media influences of aggression suggest?
(about emotional responses)
the more media violence ones eposed to the less sensitive they become to it
less sensitivity means more aggression, so is seen as normal/acceptable
studies use physiological responses (e.g.hr) to demonstrate arousal
what is one strength and one limitation of the desensitisation explanation of media influences of aggression?
reduction in hr when people had watched real violence after media violence + measuring physiological responses so no demand effects- scientific
physiological changes dont neccessarily mean psycho changes
what does the disinhibition explanation of media influences of aggression suggest?
(about social responses)
exposure to violence changes our view about it/its acceptability
legitimises violence and undermines sanctions
what is one strength and one limitation of the disinhibition explanation of media influences of aggression?
bartholomew those who played violent game gave higher volume of white noise
?
what does the cognitive priming explanation of media influences of aggression suggest?
aggressive images in media (e.g. guns out) act as cues for SCRIPT/ schema agg b
exposure to cues in similar context triggers memory leading to reproduction
either specific aggressive action or specific aggression
what is one strength and one limitation of the cognitive priming explanation of media influences of aggression?
slt supports the idea of scripts as children copied violent behaviour perhaps because of script forming???????/
ignores biological factors leading to aggression
