Aggression

Question 1

How is the limbic system associated with aggression?

Answer 1

The limbic system is associated with the regulation of emotions and emotional behaviour. It is comprised of the cingulate gyrus, thalamus, hippocampus, hypothalamus and amygdala. The amygdala is thought to be particularly important in regulating emotional behaviour,

Question 2

Outline Gospic’s study:

Answer 2

• The ultimatum game
• The researchers found that when participants rejected an
  unfair monetary reward, there was a sudden increase in amygdala
  activity, as measured using an fMRI.
• These ‘spikes’ were less drastic when benzodiazepines were used.
• Suggests there is a strong link between amygdala activity and
  aggression.

Question 3

What is the role of serotonin in aggression?

Answer 3

Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter (less likely to fire at the post-synaptic neuron) and is associated with the regulation of impulsive behaviour when present at normal concentrations in
the orbitofrontal cortex.

Question 4

Outline Virkkunen study:

Answer 4

• Found that impulsive violent offenders in Finnish prisons had lower
  serotonin levels (as measured by 5-HIAA levels, a serotonin
  metabolite) compared to controls.
• Suggests low serotonin levels increase aggression and that higher
  serotonin levels decrease aggression.

Question 5

Outline Berman’s study:

Answer 5

• Randomly assigned 80 subjects (40 with a history of aggression, 40
  without) to receive either a drug that increases serotonin activity
  (paroxetine) or placebo.
• Among participants with a history of aggression, those who had
  been given paroxetine behaved less aggressively than those given
  placebo (as measured by the severity and frequency of electric
  shocks when playing a game).

Question 6

What is the limitation of all studies into neural mechanisms?

Answer 6

All studies are correlational (suggesting a negative correlation between serotonin and aggression and a postivive correlation between amygdala activity and aggression).
Correlation does not equal causation.
The serotonin/amygdala activity could be caused by aggression, or there could be a 3rd extraneous variable e.g. genetics

Question 7

What is the role of testosterone in aggression?

Answer 7

Testosterone is an androgen present in significantly larger concentrations in men, compared to women, and is responsible for the production of male facial characteristics and reproductive organs, being secreted from the pineal gland. There may be a link between decreased testosterone levels and decreased levels of aggressive behaviour (positive correlation).

Question 8

Outline Dolan’s study:

Answer 8

• Further support for the positive correlation between testosterone and aggression
• Showed that violent prisoners in maximum security prisons displayed higher levels of testosterone than their non-violent
  counterparts.

Question 9

Outline Giammanco’s study:

Answer 9

• Animal castration studies
• Aggression decreased with low testosterone
• Injected animals with testosterone
• Aggression increased again
• Shows the positive correlation between testosterone and aggression

Question 10

What is the difference between situational and dispositional explanations of institutional aggression?

Answer 10

Dispositional = aggression is due to the personal characteristics of prisoners

Situational = aggression is due the prison environment

Question 11

Describe the importation model as an explanation for institutional aggression:

Answer 11

Aggression is imported/ brought into prisons as a result of the prisoners’ personalities. Imported subcultures such as race, level of education and gang membership can also affect the likelihood of a prisoner behaving aggressively.

Question 12

Describe the deprivation model as an explanation for institutional aggression:

Answer 12

Institutions deprive people of things they have in the outside world, which reinforce feelings of rejection and causes them to be more aggressive. Such as liberty, autonomy, goods and services,
sexual relationships. This deprivation causes stress and frustration, which leads to aggressive sub-cultures. This applies to places with harsh conditions and is less likely to be a problem if the deprivation is for a good reason.

Question 13

Outline Delisi’s study:

Answer 13

*Found that juvenile delinquents who had a history of substance abuse, anger, childhood trauma and violent behaviour committed more acts of physical violence in institutions compared to a control group.
*Supports the importation model

Question 14

Outline Camp and Gaes’ study:

Answer 14

*Violent prisoners either in a low security or higher security prison.
*No difference in aggression amongst inmates with similar histories
*Supports the importation model because the personality of the prisoner was more important in causing aggression in prisons than the prison itself.