Aggression Flashcards
Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms; Genetic Factors; Evolutionary Explanations; Ethological Explanations; Frustration Aggression Hypothesis; Deindividuation; Social Learning Theory; Media Influence; Institutional Aggression
What type of mechanism is the limbic system?
Neural
What is the limbic system?
Area of the brain that helps coordinate behaviours that satisfy motivational emotional urges
What are the two areas of the brain in the limbic system that are key to aggressive responses?
Amygdala
Hippocampus
What role does the amygdala play?
Assessing emotional importance
Forming a response to environmental threats
What originates in the amygdala?
Aggressive thoughts or behaviours
What is the role of the hippocampus?
Formation of LTM
Comparing between previous and current threats
What type of mechanism is serotonin?
Neural
What is the role of serotonin?
Inhibits neurons
Linked to greater behavioural self-control
Where have abnormal levels of serotonin been found?
Orbitofrontal cortex
What effect do low levels of serotonin have?
Increase aggression
Reduce self-control
Increase impulsive behaviours
Strength of neural (amygdala) - research support
Gospic
Created a laboratory method of assessing aggression and the amygdala
If treated unfairly, amygdala was activated (fMRI)
Strength of neural (hippocampus) - evidence
Raine et al
“Unsuccessful” psychopaths (caught, impulsive acts) compared to “successful” psychopaths (evaded law, cold and calculating)
MRI scans revealed hippocampus in either hemisphere differed in size in “unsuccessful” group
Asymmetry presumed to arise early in brain’s development
Leading individuals to process emotional information incorrectly
Strength of neural - practical application
Reducing aggression
Drug treatment to increase serotonin levels
What type of mechanism is testosterone?
Hormonal
What is testosterone?
Androgen that produces male characteristics
What gender is testosterone found in?
Males and females
What is the role of testosterone?
Observed that males are more aggressive than females so the belief is that testosterone is associated with aggression
Strength of hormonal - research support
Mehta and Johnson
Measuring testosterone before and after a loss
After they all lost, asked if they’d like a rechallenge
High testosterone = 73% rechallenge
Low testosterone = 23% rechallenge
Strength of hormonal - practical application
Reducing aggression
Chemical castration of violent offenders
Limitation of neural and hormonal mechanisms - legal system
This theory is biologically deterministic
Means that criminals aren’t guilty?
Legal system doesn’t believe in determinism
What has been found out about aggression in twin and adoption studies?
Genes have been associated with high levels of testosterone, dopamine and serotonin receptors
What is the MAOA enzyme?
Enzyme which breaks down other neurotransmitters once they have been activated
What does the MAOA enzyme affect?
Serotonin in the brain
What variant of MAOA gene is the warrior gene?
Low