aggression Flashcards
The Limbic System - Key Definition
subcortal structures in the brain, closely involved in regulating emotional behaviour eg aggression
The Limbic System - AO1
Papez tried linking the limbic structures to emotional behaviour eg aggression
They identified the limbic system of consisting of cingulate gyrus, amygdala hypothalamus etc
Amygdala is the most important structure as it plays a key role in assessing responses to threats and changes
The Limbic System - Study: Gospic et al
The Ultimatum Game
- 2 prospers offer to split money in a certain way w responder, if they accept, it splits but if they reject they both get nothing
- during this, their brains are being scanned by a FMRI, highlighting activity
- when rejected, brain revealed fast and heightened response in amygdala
- the benzodiazepine drug decreased activity in amygdala
The Limbic System - AO3 Phineas Gage
The Phineas Gage study provides evidence that brain damage may have an effect on personality including aggression. Thus, the limbic system has shown to play an important role in aggressive behaviour
The Limbic System - AO3 Coccaro et al
OFC activity is reduced in those psychiatric disorders that feature aggression. This activity disrupts the OFC’s impulse control function which in turn causes aggressive behaviour; neural regulation of aggression is more complex than theories focusing on amygdala support
Serotonin - Key Definition
A chemical which acts as a neurotransmitter with widespread inhibitory effects throughout the brain
Serotonin - AO1
Normal levels of serotonin in the orbitofrontal cortex are linked with reduced firing neurons and this is associated w a greater degree of behavioural self control
Denson et al found that decreased serotonin may well disturb the mechanism, reducing self control and leading to an increase in impulsive behaviour (aggression)
Serotonin - Study: Virkkunen et al
- compared levels of serotonin breakdown product in cerebrospinal fluid of violent impulsive offenders
- levels were significantly lower in impulsive offenders and they also suffered from more sleep irregularity (significantly bc serotonin regulates sleep patterns)
- disruption of this pattern implies some disruption of serotonin functioning, supporting the role of serotonin
Serotonin - AO3 Research to support
Berman et al found that participants given a serotonin-enhancing drug gave fewer and less intense electric shocks to a confederate than people in a placebo group - Gives evidence of a link between serotonin function and aggression that goes beyond correlational findings.
Serotonin - AO3 Biological Reductionism
We cannot consider that such a complex phenomenon can be explained by the levels of biochemical, we must consider genetic factors and the contribution of environmental factors such as the role of learning – Peoples actions can be blamed on the mechanisms which is immoral as they should be taking responsibility for their own actions.
Testosterone - Key Definition
a hormone mainly in male testes associated with aggressiveness
Testosterone - AO1
Males are generally more aggressive so attention has focused on sex hormone
Test also has a role in regulatory social behaviour via its influence on certain areas of the brain implicated in aggression
Animal studies w/ Glammarico et al demonstrated experimental increases in test are related to greater, aggressive behaviour in several species
Testosterone - Study: Dolan et al (2001)
- found a correlation between test levels an aggressive behaviours
- 60 male offenders in UK max security hospitals
- these men mostly suffered from personality disorders eg psychopathy and had history go violent behaviours
Testosterone - AO3 Affecting factors
Dabbs and Morris (1990) ‘Blocked pathways to success’ study: When a rich boy with high testosterone came home from the army he was less likely to get into trouble, but when a poor boy with high testosterone came home he was more likely to get into trouble This suggests testosterone doesn’t simply cause aggression, but it makes aggression more likely as a response to frustration.
Genetic Research on MAOA gene - AO1
Involved in breaking down neurotransmitters in the synapse esp serotonin. Aggressive people with variants of this gene produce lower levels of the enzyme, causing certain neurotransmitters to remain longer in the synapse, causing brain dysfunctions
MAOA Gene - AO1 Studies (New Z, Europe)
- MAOA gene was present in 56% of New Zealand’s Maori men, nicknamed the ‘warrior gene’ - criticised by Poa as seen as unethical (racist term).
- The gene is present in 58% of African American men and 36% of European men, so it is actually a mainstream genetic variation with adaptive advantages associated with risk taking.
MAOA Gene - AO3 Research to support (+)
Brunner (1993) looked at a very large Dutch family with 28 males who had a history of rape, violence and impulsive aggression were associated with low levels of the MAOA gene. Thus, the research supports the positive correlation between aggressive behaviour and low levels of MAOA gene.
MAOA Gene- AO3 Deterministc (-)
Deterministic – Argues that our aggression is pre-programmed and ignores the human characteristic of free will – Can have serious implications on the justice system as people may not take responsibility for their actions and blame it on their biology.
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games (Background)
To what extent do the use of computer games reinforce aggressive behaviour
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Experimental Studies
Bartholow and Anderson
- lab study, students either played a violent game. or golf for 10m
- they all did the Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Task (TCRTT), students delivered blasts of white noise at chosen volume to punish non existent opponent
- those who played the violent game selected higher noise levels (average 5.9 and 4.6 decibels respectively)
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Experimental Studies AO3
- controlled enviro
+ reliable matched pairs
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Correlational Studies
Delisi et al (2013)
- 227 offenders w history of serious aggressive behaviour
- strutted interviews: found that genders behaviour ws significantly correlated with how often they played and enjoyed them
- researchers argued that the link is well established (a public health issue eg hiv and aids
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Correlational Studies AO3
- not applicable, external factors of genders in comparison to ppl outside prison
+ wide range of ppts
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Longitudinal Studies
Robertson et al (2013)
- link between TV viewing in childhood and aggressive behaviour in adulthood
- 1037 ppl in New Zealand measured TV viewing as regular intervals (26 years)
- results: time spent watching TV was a reliable predator of aggressive behaviour in adulthood, more likely to be diagnosed w antisocial personality disorder and aggressive personality traits
- conclusion: amount of TV watched may be most influential factor rather than whether its violent or not
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Longitudinal Studies AO3
+ high temporal validity
- lack generalisability
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Meta Analyses
Anderson et al (2010)
- 163 studies, 3 types of methodology
- exposure to violent camp games was associated with increased aggressive behaviour/ thoughts/ feelings (males and females)
- researchers claim that the effect of violent games playing on aggressive behaviour is greater than the effects f second-hand smoking on cancer
- the analysis showed no indication that publication bias influenced the results
Media Influences - Effects of Computer Games: Meta Analyses AO3
- lacks temporal validity
+ large sample size/ variety
Media Influences - Desensitisation Definition
Repeated exposure to violence reduces normal levels of arousal associated w/ anxiety, making aggressive behaviour more likely
Media Influences - Desensitisation AO1
- we experience psychological arousal when witnessing violent actions but the more frequent a child watches aggression on tv/ games, the more habituated effects were
- stimulus is aversive, has a diminishing impact resulting in a reduction of anxiety and psychological arousal
- violent media promotes a belief that using aggression as a method of resolving conflict is social acceptable. negative violence to violence weaken + less empathy (Funk et al)
Media Influences - Desensitisation Study: Weisz and Earls
Weisz and Earls (1995)
- showed ppts straw dogs containing a prolonged graphic scene of rape - then watched a re-enactment of a rape trial
- male viewers of the film showed greater acceptance of rape myths + sexual aggression in comparison to ppl watching non sexual violence film
- they exposed less sympathy for victim in the trial, less likely to find the defendant guilty
Media Influences - Disinhibition Definition
normal social constraints against certain behaviours can be weakened by environmental triggers. these behaviour then appear temporarily socially acceptable therefore more likely
Media Influences - Disinhibition AO1
- violence and aggression are viewed as antisocial and harmful
- there are powerful social and psychological inhibitions against using aggression to resolve interpersonal conflicts learnt directly and indirectly (SLT)
- usual restraints are loosened after exposure to social media. aggressive behaviour is often made to appear normative and socially sanctioned in media, esp portrayals minimise the effects of violence on its victims
- its not unusual for video games to show violence being rewarded at the sam tie as its not consequences are minimised or ignored, creating a new social norm
Media Influences - Cognitive Priming Definition
Violent images provide us w ready made scripts about aggression which are stored in memory and triggered when we perceive aggressive dies in a situation
Media Influences - Cognitive Priming AO1
- repeated viewing of aggressive media can provide us with a ‘script’ about how violent situations may ‘play out’
- Hilesmann ‘the script is stored in memory and so we become ‘ready’ or primed to be aggressive’
- the process is mostly automatic; it can be direct behaviour w/o us even being aware
- script is triggered when we encounter cues in a situation that we perceive as aggressive
Media Influences - Cognitive Priming Study: Greitemeyer
Greitemeyer (2006)
- looked at priming of aggressive scripts in memory by investigating a neglected form of media violence (song lyrics)
- male ppts listened to songs ft aggressively derogatory lyrics about women compare dot neurtal lyrics
- ppl recalled more negative qualities about women and behaved more aggressively towards female confeds
Media Influences AO3 - Disinhibition Strength
supporting research, Berkowitz and Alioto found that ppts who saw a film depicting aggression as vengance gave more electric shocks of longer duration to the confederate, suggesting media violence may disinhibit aggressive behaviour when its presented as justified. this is because vengeance is a powerful justification for violence, and justified violence is more likely to b seen as socially acceptable. thus has validity as it demonstrates the link between removal of social constraints and subsequent aggressive behaviour, at least in the case of justified aggression
Media Influences AO3 - Desensitisation fails to explain all types of aggression
Krahe et al failed to find a link between media viewing, lower arousal and provoked aggression, suggesting that desensitisation may not explain the impact of violent media exposure on all forms of aggressive behaviour. an alt explanation may be catharsis, the psychodynamic theory that viewing violent media acts as a safety value mechanism allowing people to release aggressive impulses without the need to behaviour violently, decreasing internal validity
