Aggression Flashcards

Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms; Genetic Factors; Evolutionary Explanations; Ethological Explanations; Frustration Aggression Hypothesis; Deindividuation; Social Learning Theory; Media Influence; Institutional Aggression

1
Q

What type of mechanism is the limbic system?

A

Neural

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2
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

Area of the brain that helps coordinate behaviours that satisfy motivational emotional urges

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3
Q

What are the two areas of the brain in the limbic system that are key to aggressive responses?

A

Amygdala

Hippocampus

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4
Q

What role does the amygdala play?

A

Assessing emotional importance

Forming a response to environmental threats

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5
Q

What originates in the amygdala?

A

Aggressive thoughts or behaviours

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6
Q

What is the role of the hippocampus?

A

Formation of LTM

Comparing between previous and current threats

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7
Q

What type of mechanism is serotonin?

A

Neural

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8
Q

What is the role of serotonin?

A

Inhibits neurons

Linked to greater behavioural self-control

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9
Q

Where have abnormal levels of serotonin been found?

A

Orbitofrontal cortex

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10
Q

What effect do low levels of serotonin have?

A

Increase aggression

Reduce self-control

Increase impulsive behaviours

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11
Q

Strength of neural (amygdala) - research support

A

Gospic

Created a laboratory method of assessing aggression and the amygdala

If treated unfairly, amygdala was activated (fMRI)

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12
Q

Strength of neural (hippocampus) - evidence

A

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

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13
Q

Strength of neural - practical application

A

Reducing aggression

Drug treatment to increase serotonin levels

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14
Q

What type of mechanism is testosterone?

A

Hormonal

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15
Q

What is testosterone?

A

Androgen that produces male characteristics

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16
Q

What gender is testosterone found in?

A

Males and females

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17
Q

What is the role of testosterone?

A

Observed that males are more aggressive than females so the belief is that testosterone is associated with aggression

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18
Q

Strength of hormonal - research support

A

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

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19
Q

Strength of hormonal - practical application

A

Reducing aggression

Chemical castration of violent offenders

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20
Q

Limitation of neural and hormonal mechanisms - legal system

A

This theory is biologically deterministic

Means that criminals aren’t guilty?

Legal system doesn’t believe in determinism

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21
Q

What has been found out about aggression in twin and adoption studies?

A

Genes have been associated with high levels of testosterone, dopamine and serotonin receptors

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22
Q

What is the MAOA enzyme?

A

Enzyme which breaks down other neurotransmitters once they have been activated

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23
Q

What does the MAOA enzyme affect?

A

Serotonin in the brain

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24
Q

What variant of MAOA gene is the warrior gene?

A

Low

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25
Does having the MAOA gene mean that you are immediately aggressive?
No Must have low MAOA
26
What gene is the MAOA chromosome on?
Mutation on X chromosome
27
Strength of genetic - Brunner et al
Dutch family case study 28 male family members repeatedly involved in impulsively violent criminal behaviours (rape, attempted murder, assault) Men had both abnormally low levels of the enzyme MAOA in their brains and the MAOA-L variant (the "Brunner" syndrome)
28
Counterpoint genetic - Brunner et al
Problems with case studies Cannot be generalised
29
Is the evolutionary explanation human or animal?
Human
30
What is mate competition?
Men are worried about cuckoldry Want to ensure that the child is theirs but can never be 100% sure Use aggression to ward off any potential males who may try to take their partners
31
What physical differences do men have due to physical fights?
Stronger jawlines, brow bones and skulls
32
What is cuckoldry?
Having to raise another man's offspring
33
What are mate retention strategies?
Men will be aggressive towards their partners as well Negative inducements and direct guarding
34
What are negative inducements?
When a partner says negative things to say the other is not good enough for the relationship and doesn't deserve to be loved
35
What are examples of negative inducements?
Emotional blackmail Lowering partner's self-esteem
36
What is direct guarding?
Controlling behaviours
37
What are examples of direct guarding?
Checking their phone Restricting
38
Strength of evolutionary - practical application
Education about healthy relationships Charities, support, resources for domestic violence
39
Limitation of evolutionary - temporal validity
If only reason is cuckoldry Paternity tests should remove that And homosexual relationships Adoption, donors
40
Strength of evolutionary - can explain gender differences
Campbell Suggests women don't display aggressive behaviour as it would be maladaptive (not beneficial) as it would put her and her child's survival at risk Why females are verbally aggressive
41
Counterpoint evolutionary - can explain gender differences
Females can be physically aggressive
42
AO3 of evolutionary - nature vs nurture
Is it biological? Is it societal pressures/norms?
43
Are ethological explanations human or animal?
Animal
44
What does the ethological explanation believe?
Aggression is adaptive Promotes survival by protecting resources and establishing dominance
45
How is aggression used in protecting resources?
When animals are defeated, they will leave the group and spread out Reducing competition for resources
46
How is aggression used in establishing dominance?
Used as a way of establishing the troop's hierarchy And as such allocation of resources
47
What is ritualistic aggression?
Many aggressive behaviours within animals do not involve physical violence and instead are aggressive displays
48
What are examples of ritualistic aggression?
Snarling Showing claws
49
What does ritualistic aggression do?
Improve survival chances
50
What does IRM stand for?
Innate releasing mechanisms
51
What are innate releasing mechanisms?
Neural mechanisms triggered by specific stimuli in the environment and resulting in FAP
52
What does FAP stand for?
Fixed action patterns
53
What are FAPs characterised by?
Stereotyped Universal Independent of individual experience Ballistic Single purpose Specific triggers
54
What does it mean that a FAP is stereotyped?
Behaviour always occurs in the same way
55
What does it mean that a FAP is universal?
Behaviour is the same in all species
56
What does it mean that a FAP is independent of individual experience?
Behaviour is not learned and occurs regardless of individual experience
57
What does it mean that a FAP is ballistic?
Once the behaviour is triggered, it cannot be stopped before completion
58
What does it mean that a FAP is single purpose?
Behaviour only occurs in specific situation
59
What does it mean that a FAP has specific triggers?
IRMs are triggered in response to a specific sign stimulus
60
Strength of ethological - Tinbergen
Fish have a red spot when males are ready to mate Sign stimulus is seeing the red spot Fish went and attacked the model with the red spot but didn't attach model without red spot
61
AO3 of ethological - extrapolation
Animals and humans are both aggressive about mates and food Both use ritualistic aggression - animals = claws, snarling - humans = haka ONLY humans fight over religion and politics
62
Limitation of ethological - Goodall
Chimps were battling against each other If the losing side would show defeatist symbols, the winning side would still continue Goes against the theory as they are putting themselves at risk
63
What are the three social psychological explanations?
Frustration aggression hypothesis Deindividuation Social learning theory
64
What is catharsis?
The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions
65
What does the frustration aggression hypothesis beleive?
Aggression is a biological drive like hunger Frustration ALWAYS leads to aggression and aggressive behaviour Cathartic as the frustration is satisfied
66
What does the frustration aggression hypothesis believe is the sole cause of aggression?
When our goals are blocked
67
What are the displacement factors in the frustration aggression hypothesis?
Abstract Punishment Unavailable
68
How do environmental cues affect aggression?
If we see aggressive environmental cues, we are more likely to become aggressive when frustrated
69
Strength of frustration aggression hypothesis - practical application
Federal laws Not having open carry guns
70
Strength of frustration aggression hypothesis - Berkowitz and LePage
Once students became frustrated in a lab task, were more likely to give a (fake) electric shock when they could see a weapon next to them Weapon effect shows frustration only creates a readiness for aggression Cues increase likelihood of actual aggression
71
Limitation of frustration aggression hypothesis - Bushman
Study on boxers When letting out anger through boxing, participants became more angry Like adding petrol to a fire
72
What happens when we are individuated?
Comply with social norms
73
What happens when we are deindividuated?
Lose our identity (private self-awareness) and become disobedient
74
What is private self-awareness?
Less attention to our own actions and focus on the events, making us less critical
75
What is public self-awareness?
Less attention to how others view our actions and feel less accountable
76
What are the different ways a person can be made to feel anonymous?
Mask Internet Crowds Labels/identity/social roles Unknown Behalf of someone else Hidden vote Dark
77
What is a "mob mentality"?
Not thinking as an individual but as a group
78
Strength of deindividuation - Zimbardo SPE
Prison guards Mask - dark sunglasses Crowds - part of the prison guard crowd Social roles - prison guards Unknown - in a basement Dark - not well lit
79
Counterargument deindividuation - Zimbardo SPE
Unknown - parents visited Dark - CCTV
80
Strength of deindividuation - Zimbardo female study
Groups of 4 female participants Group 1 = large name tags Group 2 = large hoodies to wear Asked to shock another participant Group 1 = less severe shocks for a shorter time Group 2 = more severe shocks for longer
81
Strength of deindividuation - Dodd's study
Asked 229 psychology students "if you could do anything humanely possible with complete assurance that you would not be detected or held responsible, what would you do?" Students knew the answers were anonymous 36% = antisocial behaviour 26% = actual criminal acts ("rob a bank" most commonly) 9% = prosocial behaviour
82
Limitation of deindividuation - gender differences
Cannavale Found male and female groups responded differently with deindividuation conditions Findings suggested that males may be more prone to disinhibition of aggressive behaviours when deindividuated than females
83
Strength of deindividuation - practical application
Explain internet trolls and why there is a rise of aggressive comments as the trolls are anonymous Douglas and McGarty found a strong correlation between anonymity and "flaming"
84
What does SLT believe about aggression?
We all observe and imitate our role model's aggression
85
How does vicarious reinforcement affect aggression?
If see a role model being rewarded for being aggressive, more likely to imitate the aggression If see a role model being punished for being aggressive, less likely to imitate aggression
86
What are the mediational processes in relation to aggression?
Attention - observe role model's aggressive behaviour Retention - remember the aggressive behaviour Motor reproduction - see if can also do aggression Motivation - imitate aggressive behaviour if have motivation
87
Strength of SLT - bobo doll study
Young children observed male or female being aggressive or non-aggressive If saw aggression, behaved aggressively if didn't see aggression, didn't behave aggressively Boys = higher physical aggression Girls = higher verbal aggression
88
Counterargument SLT - bobo doll study
SLT can't explain differences in gender but hormonal aggression can
89
Counterargument SLT - counterargument to bobo doll study
Factors outside the experiment could explain gender differences
90
Strength of SLT - practical application
Weymouth and Howe Created a programme called ACT against violence which teaches parents about SLT Helped create positively parenting and be used to decrease aggressive behaviour
91
Limitation of SLT - secondary factor
Poulin and Boivin Boys who were aggressive would make friends with other aggressive boys, reinforcing each other's behaviours Would approve of each other's bad behaviours and gain respect Nature influences nurture
92
Strength of SLT - can explain cultural differences
!kung San tribe No aggressive behaviour showed in the whole tribe As adults, no one shows aggressive behaviours If children show aggression behaviour, they are taken away from each other to calm down
93
Counterargument SLT - can explain gender differences
If there are no aggressive role models, why do the children fight/act aggressive?
94
What is desensitisation?
Regularly playing violent games leads to a reduction of normal physiological response to violent stimuli
95
What is cognitive priming?
Repeated exposure to violent computer games gives a script leading to readiness to act aggressively when see cues in real life
96
What is disinhibition?
Anonymity of gaming increasing aggression and makes aggression seem normal
97
Strength of media influence - practical application
Two older boys took a toddler, bribed him to come with, it eventually ended with the toddler dying Blamed aggressive behaviour on horror video "Child's Play 3" Ratings of BBFC
98
Strength of media influence - research support
Carnagey Participants played a violent or non-violent video games for 20 minutes then watched 10 min clip of real-life violence whilst heart rate and skin response was measured Those who played violent video game showed lower response levels
99
Counterpoint media influence - research support
Can create prosocial behaviour too Greitemeyer and Mugge found in meta-analysis
100
What are dispositional factors for institutional aggression?
Importation model Gang membership
101
What is the importation model?
Bring outside factors into the prison: Low-self control Impulsivity Age - young (18-25/35) Anti-social personality disorder Anger Race - white Sex - male
102
How does gang membership affect institutional aggression?
Drury and Delisi 2011 Studied over 1000 inmates in USA prisons Significantly more likely to commit crimes in prison such as carrying weapons if in a gang Pre-prison gang membership seems to be an important factor of prison aggression Several studies found gang members show higher levels of violence compared to non-gang members
103
What are the situational explanations of institutional aggression?
Deprivation model Overcrowding
104
What is the deprivation model?
Inmates don't have certain things: Freedom Material goods Relationships Independence Safety
105
How does overcrowding affect institutional aggression?
Government report 2014 stated reason for increased violence in prisons was due to overcrowding
106
Strength of dispositional/limitation of situational - Mears et al
Measured street code belief system and prison experience of inmates Found a 'code of the street' belief system affect inmate violence Effect particularly pronounced among those inmates who lack family support and are involved in gangs prior to incarceration
107
Strength of dispositional/limitation of situational - Poole and Regoli
Best indicator of violence among juvenile offenders was pre-institutional violence Regardless of any environmental factors in the institution
108
Strength of situational/limitation of dispositional - McCorkle et al
Major study of 371 US prisons Overcrowding, lack of privacy and lack of meaningful activity all significantly influenced inmate on inmate assaults and inmate on staff assaults
109
Strength of dispositional/limitation of situational - Harer and Steffensmeier
Collected data from more than 24000 inmates from 58 prisons across US Included variables such as race, criminal history, staff to prisoner ratio and security level Tested which variables predicted the individual likelihood of aggressive behaviour while in prison Race, age, criminal history were only significant predictors in prison violence
110
Strength of situational/limitation of dispositional - HMP Woodhill
Created two areas for violent prisoners Less claustrophobic (had view of outside), played radio music and had lower temperatures Virtually stopped all violence from prisoners
111
Limitation of situational and dispositional - cause and effect
Problems of showing cause and effect Difficult to carry out controlled research manipulating the prison conditions