Aggression

Question 1

Neural AO1

Answer 1

Limbic system
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
Active = aggressive
Serotonin low = aggression

Question 2

Hormonal AO1

Answer 2

Testosterone
Male hormone - increases during puberty, peaks at 17
Habitual offenders = high T

Question 3

Neural and hormonal AO3

Answer 3

(N)+ Ultimatum game: heightened response in amygdala when given unfair offer (scan- objective)
- Amygdala may be for all emotions, may just be upset

(H)+ Practical application benzodiazepine (+study)
- SSR: ‘boys will be boys’, castration, legal system

–> compare to SLT
–> determinism

Question 4

Genetic AO1

Answer 4

MAOA gene produces MAO-A enzymes
Enzymes ‘mop up’ excess NTM
Low MAO-A = build up of NTM
–> Twins/families/adoption

Question 5

Genetic - family studies

Answer 5

Twins:
- Physical (50%, 19%)
- Verbal (28%, 7%)

Adoption: genetic influence 41%

Question 6

Genetic AO3

Answer 6

+ Dutch family
–> could be SLT, interactionist
+ PA: drug treatment, gene screening, counselling
- Socially sensitive: blame
- impact on legal system

Question 7

Ethological AO1

Answer 7

IRM - cognitive process to seeing trigger/cue and instruction to start FAP
FAP - sequence of set behaviours that has to be completed
Sticklebacks (SSS red spot)
Male seeking mate –> FAP
Headbutt/body slam –> highly territorial
Ritualistic (non-violent displays of aggression)

Question 8

Ethological AO3

Answer 8

Extrapolation:
+ Fight for same reasons
+ Ritualistic = Haka
- Humans more cog. complex: war, politics, religion

+ PA zoos can look after animals better (avoid competition, keep keepers safe)
- deterministic –> FIXED –> modal action pattern (monkeys fight to protect)

Question 9

Evolution AO1

Answer 9

Survival
Cuckoldry
Mate retention strategies: direct guarding/neg. inducements

Question 10

Evolution AO3

Answer 10

• Temporal: paternity testing, adoption, step-fathers
  –> step-fathers most likely to murder
  + PA against domestic violence
  + Can explain gender differences: women verbal as maladaptive, prevent partner from straying
• SSR: excuse to be aggressive in romantic relationships

Question 11

SLT AO1

Answer 11

Imitation
Modelling/role model
Reinforcement
Mediational processes
LINK TO AGGRESSION

Question 12

SLT AO3

Answer 12

+ Bobo doll
–> testosterone
+ Educate parents (ACT)
- SSR: blame parents/monitor media
- Cultural bias: Kung San tribe Africa

Question 13

Frustration-aggression AO1

Answer 13

Psychodynamic - unconscious drive
Defence mechanisms (displacement)
Abstract, punishment, unavailable
Frustrated = must be aggressive to find catharsis
Weapon effect

Question 14

Frustration-aggression AO3

Answer 14

• Catharsis leads to more aggression - punching bag
  + Fake shocks, number of shocks to confederates higher when guns on table
  + Puzzle (shock)
  + PA: gun law policies - open carry of weapons

Question 15

Deindividuation AO1

Answer 15

Zimbardo
Public/private self-awareness
Anonymous/less self-responsibility
Hoodie/mask/internet
Prison experiment

Question 16

Deindividuation AO3

Answer 16

+ Zimbardo: name tag less likely to shock than hoodie
+ PA: protests, economy, police, online safety
- Not always bad: concerts/charity donations –> deviance in the dark
+ Dodd (229, 13 - ‘humanly possible’)

Question 17

Dispositional AO1

Answer 17

Importation model
L I A R S
Gang membership

Question 18

Situational AO1

Answer 18

Deprivation model
F M R I S

Question 19

Dispositional/situational AO3

Answer 19

+ Delisi: juveniles with negative backgrounds
- Lack of PA
+ 561 males, 2 years, 33%/36%

+ 512: female staff, overcrowding, more inmates
- Ignores key factors: ACM
+ PA

–> determinism: rehabilitation/punishment?
making prison environment more aggressive: not helping them
no change when they are released

Question 20

Media AO1

Answer 20

Desensitisation: reduced response
Disinhibition: normalises aggression
Cog. priming: cue created by game, if we see again, behaviour is repeated due to creation of aggressive schema

Question 21

Media AO3 (3 studies)

Answer 21

Studies:
+ Dis: cartoon violence
+ De: violent/non-violent game for 20 mins, 10 min violence clip (HR/skin response)
+ Cog: 15 min clip, faster reaction to aggressive words

Question 22

Media AO3 - other

Answer 22

+PA : game ratings, content changed, more prosocial
–> research bias: funded by gaming companies

• Naturally violent = catharsis

+ Face validity: people in real world have admitted to have committed crimes based on games
–> cause and effect