Agg

Question 1

Define aggression

Answer 1

any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming another living being

Question 2

What are the 3 biological explanations of aggression?

Answer 2

Neural mechanisms- limbic system, serotonin
Hormonal mechanisms- testosterone
Genetics- MAOA gene

Question 3

What are the 2 suggestions about the amygdala and aggression?

Answer 3

Hyperactivity in amygdala causes aggression

Reduced amygdala volume causes aggression

Question 4

What did LeDoux (1996) do that supports the role of the amygdala in aggressive behaviour?
One limitaton is…

Answer 4

Stimulated amygdala of rats which caused rage response

Used rats so cant generalise to humans

Question 5

What did Pardini (2014) do that supports the idea that reduced amygdala volume causes aggression?

One limitation is…

Answer 5

Longitudinal study of men using MRI scanners predicted develop men of persistent aggressive behaviour.

Only carried out on males, cant generalise to women

Question 6

Why would serotonin, being an inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduce aggression?

Answer 6

It inhibits responses to emotional stimuli that may lead to aggression

Question 7

What research evidence is there for serotonin reducing aggression?

Answer 7

Mann 1990

Gave 35 ps dexfentamine which reduces serotonin, found through questionnaires they were more aggressive

Question 8

Strengths of neural mechanisms explanation of aggression

Answer 8

Le doux rats amygdala stimulated cased aggression

pardini longitudinal study showed reduced volume of amygdala had persistent aggressive behaviour

Question 9

Strengths of neural mechanisms explanation of aggression (2)

Answer 9

Le doux rats amygdala stimulated cased aggression

pardini longitudinal study showed reduced volume of amygdala had persistent aggressive behaviour

Question 10

Limitations of neural mechanisms explanation of aggression (2)

Answer 10

Reductionist that amygdala alone results in aggression
Prefrontal cortex also linked to aggression (phineas gage) shows amygdala not only cause
Animal research sin generalisable to humans

Question 11

What evidence supports testosterone causes aggression? (2)

Answer 11

Wagner found more biting attacks in mice pre castration than post castration.
Dabbs violent criminals has higher testosterone levels, non violent (e.g. tax crimes) had lower levels

Question 12

How do twin studies support the idea that aggression is genetic?

Answer 12

There is a greater association in aggressive behaviour between MZ twins than DZ twins

Question 13

What did Coccaro et al find when studying concondance rates between MZ and DZ twins?

Answer 13

50% MZ

19% DZ

Question 14

What 2 things does the genetics explanation for agression include?

Answer 14

twin studies

the role of the gene MAOA

Question 15

What did Brunner et al discover about the MAOA gene?

Answer 15

a ‘low activity MAOA gene’ was found in aggressive men

Question 16

What does the MAOA gene do?

Answer 16

Removes excess neurotransmitters

Question 17

Why would a faulty MAOA gene cause aggression?

Answer 17

because it removes excess serotonin

if serotonin stays

Question 18

What were the findings of the hot chilli experiment

Answer 18

those with the MAOA-L gene were more likely to give punishement

Question 19

Give limitations of the genetics explanation for aggression. (3)

Answer 19

reductionist- reduce behaviour to genes
interaction between nature and nurture- MAOA-L gene may lead to aggression under certain circumstances
determinism- behaviour result of genes so no free will. used as convenient excuse in criminal justice system, people might be discriminated against for having gene

Question 20

What are the two key elements of the ethological approach to explaining aggresiion?

Answer 20

aggression is an instinct- occurs in all species without need for learning + mostly genetically determined

it is studied in non-human animals and extrapolate findings to humans- becasue all subject to same force of natural selection.

Question 21

What is an IRM, and what does it stand for?

Answer 21

IRM= Innate releasing mechanism

biological structure or process thats activated by an external/sign stimulus that triggers a fixed action patter (FAP)

Question 22

What are the 6 features of FAPs?

Answer 22

stereotyped- behaviour occurs in same form
universality- b is found through species
unaffected by learning- b isnt learnt
ballistic– cant be changed, follows unalterable inevitable path
single purpose- b occurs in one context only
sign stimuli- b is triggered by known stimuli

Question 23

What does the hydraulic model attempt to explain about FAPS?

Answer 23

each FAP has reserve of action specific energy
thaat builds up over tim e
this initiates the FAP
the fap cant be performed again till the ASE has built up again

Question 24

What did tinbergen find in his stickleback study?

Answer 24

sticklebacks develop red spot in mating season and when another male enters a fap is activated
he found regardless of the shape of the fish he introdued, the fish would only attack if it had a red spot

Question 25

how is the stickleback study supported by the genetic explanation for agression?

Answer 25

both suggest aggression has an innate cause.

Question 26

What did lorenz observe about animals of the same species and their aressive encounters?

Answer 26

there is a period of ritualized aggression

Question 27

what does Lorenz argue is a wolfs sign stimulus that triggers an appeasment FAP?

Answer 27

exposing its neck in submission