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Psychology - Paper 3 > Aggression > Flashcards

Aggression Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 hormonal mechanism in aggression?

A

Testosterene and Progesterone

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2
Q

What is testosterone?

A

An androgen responsible for the development of masculine features

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3
Q

What is the role of testosterone?

A

Regulating social behaviour

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4
Q

What is the role of progesterone?

A

Aggression in women
low levels of progesterone have increased aggression in women

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5
Q

What enzyme does the MAOA gene produce?

A

monoamine oxidase A

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6
Q

What does the MAOA gene do?

A

Regulates serotonin

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7
Q

What are the 2 neural mechanisms in aggression?

A

The Limbic system
The Orbitolfrontal cortex and serotonin

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8
Q

What 3 parts of the brain is the limbic system made up of?

A

Amygdala, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus

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9
Q

What is serotonin?

A

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood

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10
Q

What study did Dolan et al do between testosterone and aggression?

A

60 male offenders
past of aggressive impulsive behaviours
positive correlation with testosterone levels and aggression

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11
Q

What is the correlation between progesterone and aggression?

A

Negative correlation

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12
Q

What is the correlation between
testosterone and aggression?

A

Positive correlation

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13
Q

What are 2 evaluations of the hormonal mechanisms of aggression? (+-)

A

+ Evidence from animal studies
- Injecting female rats with T increased mouse-killing behaviour
- Castration of male rats reduced aggressive behaviour during mating season

  • Dual Hormone hypothesis
  • More than just testosterone linking to aggression
    High T leads to aggression only when cortisol levels are low
    High cortisol, Ts influence on aggression is blocked
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14
Q

What are 2 evaluations of the neural mechanisms of aggression? (+-)

A
  • Other brain structures
    - not just the limbic system are involved in aggression
  • The orbitofrontal cortex also plays a role and that not in the LS

+ Serotonin and drugs
- serotonin increasing drugs reduce aggression
Berman et al - Shocks to responses with a placebo and drug group
Those with drug gave fewer shocks than placebo
Link between serotonin and aggression

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15
Q

What are the 4 genetic factors of aggression?

A

Twin studies
MAOA gene
Adoption studies
Gene x Environment

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16
Q

What do twin studies say about genetics in aggression?

A

MZ twins are more likely to share aggressive behaviours compared to DZ twins as they share 100% of genes

Concordance rates
Direct physical assault - 50%MZ 19%DZ
Verbal aggression - 28%MZ 7%DZ

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17
Q

What do adoption studies say about genetics in aggression?

A

Link between an adopted child and their biological parent

Rhee and Waldman et al -
- meta analysis of adoption studies
- on direct aggression and antisocial behaviour
found variance rates of genetic influence on 41%
(Similar results to twin studies)

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18
Q

What does the MAOA say about genetics in aggression?

A

Regulates the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body, serotonin plays the role of impulsive aggression.
Low levels of the MAOA gene can lead to high levels of aggressive behaviour

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19
Q

What was Brunner et al’s study on the MAOA gene in aggression?

A
  • 28 men from a large dutch family who had high levels of aggressive, violent criminal behaviours
  • They had abnormally low rates of the enzyme MAOA
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20
Q

What does the gene x environment say about genetics in aggression?

A

Genes can not function in isolation.
It appears the MAOA gene variant activity is only related to adult aggression with early traumatic life experiences.
- Suggesting more of a diathesis - stress mode

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21
Q

What was Frazzeto et al’s study on gene x environment in aggression?

A
  • Link between high antisocial aggression and MAOA variant in men who had significant trauma in the first 15 years of their life
  • Those with no early childhood trauma did not really have high aggression levels as adults even with the MAOA variant.
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22
Q

What are 2 limitations on the genetic explanations of aggression?

A

Mertin money distributing task said they felt social norms

Complex MAOA link

Twin studies lack validity

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23
Q

What is a strength of genetic explanations of aggression?

A

Mertin et al-
Found more evidence to support the link between the MAOA - L variant and high levels of aggression
Men with high and low levels of MAOA gene took part in a money distributing game
Men with high MAOA variants were more cooperative and made fewer aggressive moves than those with the low MAOA variant.
Supports the relationship between the MAOA gene and aggression giving the explanation increased validity and credibility

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24
Q

What are the 4 factors in the ethological explanations of aggression?

A
  • Innate releasing mechanism
  • Adaptive function
  • Ritualistic aggression
  • Fixed action patterns
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25
Q

What does it mean by ritualistic aggression?

A

Aggressive signalling

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26
Q

What are innate releasing mechanisms?

A

hard-wired brain networks that respond to specific
signs by initiating a fixed action pattern, a set sequence of behaviours.

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27
Q

What is meant by fixed action patterns?

A

adaptive sequence of
ritual behaviours that is universal within a species

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28
Q

What are the 6 features Lea et al found in FAPs?

A
  • Unchanging behaviours
  • Universal behaviour
  • Same response by individuals regardless of experiences
  • Behaviours can not be altered before it is completed
  • Only occurs in a specific situation, single purpose
  • Response to a specific sign
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29
Q

What was Tinbergen’s procedure into the ethological explanation?

A

Male sticklebacks are highly territorial during spring mating season, They develop a red spot under their belly

When another male entered their territory a sequence of high stereotypes aggressive behaviours begin

The sign stimulus that triggers the IRM is the sight of the red spot

He presented sticklebacks with a series of wooden models of different shapes

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30
Q

What was Tinbergen’s findings into the ethological explanation?

A
  • Regardless of the shape, the red spots formed more aggressive behaviours from the stickleback and even attack it
  • When no red spot, there was no aggression even when the model looked like a stickleback

Found that these aggressive FAPs were unchanging

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31
Q

What way was adoption studies studied?

A

Meta-analysis
Adoption studies on direct aggression and anti-social behaviour

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32
Q

What are the 2 male retention strategies?

A

Direct guarding
Negative inducements

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33
Q

What are 3 evaluations of the evolutionary explanation of aggression?

A

Real World Applications to stop bullying

Increases understanding on differences between gender aggression types

However, culture difference and !Kung San people
BUT
research has shown them to have a high homicide rate
(Observer bias)

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34
Q

What is self-efficacy?

A

The extent to which we believe our actions will achieve our desired goals

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35
Q

How does self-efficacy link to aggression?

A

Social Learning Theory
- As a child learns aggression can be rewarded, their confidence in their aggressive ability grows

A child’s SE grows with each successful outcome

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36
Q

What does the frustration aggression hypothesis suggest?

A

All aggression is a result of frustration and frustration is necessary for aggression

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37
Q

4 media effects on aggression?

A
  • Excessive TV watching
  • Violent film watching
  • TV/Film effects weak
  • Gaming
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38
Q

What was the study into excessive TV watching?

A

ROBERTSON

  • TV viewing hours for over 1000 New Zealanders up to age 26

Found more watching in childhood was a good predictor of aggressive behaviours in early childhood
(reduced social interactions and poor educational achievements)

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39
Q

What was the study into violent film content?

A

BANDURA

  • Study replication with video produced similar results
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40
Q

What was the study into TV/film effect weak?

A

Comstock and Paik

  • Meta - analysis, positive correlation between watched and aggression
    HOWEVER, difference of only 1%-10%
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41
Q

Who did the 2 studies on gaming in aggression as media influence?

A

Matt DeLisi
Anderson and Bartholow

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42
Q

What was Matt DeLisi findings on media influence on aggression from gaming?

A

PC on gaming and many forms of aggression
- Public health issue

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43
Q

What was Anderson and Bartholows study on aggression from gaming?

A

TRTT (white noise) to opponent

  • Mortal Kombat v PGA tour (golf) for 10mins

Higher volume in violent game

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44
Q

What is the dispositionial explanation of aggression in prisons?

A

The importation model

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45
Q

What is the situational explanation of aggression in prisons?

A

The deprivation model

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46
Q

What is de-individuation?

A

A psychological state where individuals lose their personal identity and identifies with a social group

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47
Q

What is the link between crowd behaviour and de-individuation?

A

We lose self-identity and responsibility
Responsibility becomes shared in a crowd, less guilt forms

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48
Q

What did zimbardo establish in de-individuation?

A

Distinguished between individuated and de-individuated behaviour

49
Q

What is 2 characteristics of individuated behaviour?

A

rational and normative

50
Q

What is 3 characteristics of de-individuated behaviour?

A

emotional, disinhibited, impulsive

51
Q

What De-individuated conditions promote aggression? (4)

A

Drugs, alcohol, masks, anonymity

52
Q

What did Dixon and Mahendran say on De-individuated condition ‘anonymity’ for aggression?

A

“anonymity shapes crowd behaviour’

53
Q

Who said “anonymity shapes crowd behaviour’?

A

Dixon and Mahendran

54
Q

Why does anonymity shape crowd behaviour?

A

Provides fewer opportunities for others to judge us negatively

55
Q

What are the 2 types of self-awareness that cause de-individuation?

A

Private and public

56
Q

Who established the 2 types of self-awareness that cause de-individuation?

A

Dunn and Rogers

57
Q

What is private self-awareness?

A

Attention to our own feelings and behaviours

  • Less focus in group settings makes us less self-critical
58
Q

What is public self-awareness?

A

How much we care about what others think of our behaviours

  • Crowd setting realise we are one amongst many
    less likely to be judged, reduces accountability
59
Q

Who did research into de-individuation?

A

Dodd

60
Q

What was the PROCEDURE of Dodds research into de-individuation?

A

229 psych undergrad in 13 classes
ANONYMOUS
“if you could do anything humanly possible with no individual responsibility what would you do?

61
Q

What was the FINDINGS of Dodds research into de-individuation?

A

Only 9% were prosocial behaviours
36% antisocial behaviours
26% criminal acts

62
Q

Who did the counter eval as darkness and imitation for de-individuation?

A

Gergen

63
Q

What are 3 external media influences?

A

Desensitisation
Disinhibition
Cognitive Priming

64
Q

What is the role of disinhibition?

A

Restraints on violence loosen after repeated exposure to violent media

  • Creates a social norm that violence is okay (through SLT)
65
Q

What is the role of desensitisation?

A

When aggression is repeatedly viewed we become used to it

  • Weaker physiological impact
  • Psychologically changes beliefs to view violence as socially acceptable
66
Q

What was Weisz and Earls study on desensitisation?

A

P - Straw dogs (graphic r scene included) and then re-enactment of rape trial

F - Compared to neutral film watchers, Males who watched the violent film had greater acceptance of rape myths , SA and less sympathy for victims

67
Q

When is disinhibition enhanced?

A
  • When minimal effects are portrayed to victims
  • When violence is rewarded
  • When consequences are seen as minimal
68
Q

What is cognitive priming?

A

A way a person thinks is triggered by a ‘script’ which makes us ready for a certain response

69
Q

What did Huessman say about cognitive priming?

A

We form a ‘script’ in our memory so we are ‘ready’ to be aggressive

70
Q

What triggers our aggressive script in cognitive priming?

A

A perceived aggressive cue

71
Q

What was Fischer and Greitemeyers study on cognitive priming?

A

P - Men listen to derogatory song lyrics on women

F - Compared to neutral lyrics, they recalled more women negative qualities and were more aggressive to a woman confederate

Similar replicated results with women and ‘men-hating’ lyrics

72
Q

What is catharsis?

A

The emotional release achieved by engaging in aggressive behaviours/thoughts

73
Q

What did Dolard et al say about the frustration and aggression link?

A

All aggression is a result of frustration and frustration is necessary for aggression

74
Q

What was Berkowitz procedure on weapon effect?

A

Lab setting where A confederate angered participants by giving them shocks

Participants sat at table with a shotgun and revolver on it (was told they were part of another experiment)
Control group had a table with badminton racquets and shuttlecocks

Participants decided what electric shock level to give to the confederate that angered them

Participants who saw the guns on the table were more aggressive than those who saw the sports items
Guns

(6.07 average shocks)
Sports items (4.67 average socks)

75
Q

In one word what was Geens frustration hypothesis study with?

A

Jigsaws

76
Q

What was Berkowitz adapted theory for the ‘frustration hypothesis’?

A

‘Negative affect theory’ argues that frustration is only one of many aversive stimuli that creates a negative feeling

77
Q

What does the deprivation model suggest about aggression in prisons?

A
  • Withdrawal of G+S
  • Harsh prison regimes

Increase inmate competitiveness and causes frustration creating aggression as an adaptive response

78
Q

What does the importation model suggest about aggression in prisons?

A

Violence amount in prisons is based on the lives of inmates before prison

  • Product of individual characteristics
79
Q

What did McManimom and Thomas say about the importation model?

A

‘People who prey on others in the street also prey on others in prison’

80
Q

What was the study by DeLisi on the importation model?

A

Californian inmates

  • Past negative history inmates were importing these characteristics into prisons
    More likely to engage in misconduct compared to control group (NNB)
81
Q

What was the study by Steiner on the deprivation model?

A
  • 512 US prisons

Inmate on inmate violence was higher in female led, overcrowded prisons

82
Q

What is the link between the Orbitalfrontal cortex and aggression?

A

Serotonin in the OBC
- Serotonin deficiency reduces self-control resulting in impulsive behaviours

83
Q

What is the link between the Limbic system and aggression?

A

Amygdala reactivy predicts aggressive behaviours
- Key role in how we assess and respond to environment threats

84
Q

What is an IRM

A

A physiological process (bunch of neurons)

85
Q

What 2 types of changes occur during desenstisation?

A

Physiological
Psychological

86
Q

What Media did Fischer and Greitemeyer look at for CP?

A

Song lyrics - derogatory words

87
Q

based on the importation model of aggression in institutions, how can aggression be reduced? (2)

A

Staff training
Therapy sessions

88
Q

based on the deprivation model of aggression in institutions, how can aggression be reduced? (2)

A

Improve staff behaviour
- To show respect

Manage Resources Well
- fair distribution to avoid competition/resentment

Improve living conditions
- Comfortable and safe, with access to basic needs

89
Q

Nickname of the MAOA gene?

A

Warrior gene

90
Q

Why is the MAOA gene also known as the warrior gene?

A

possessed by 56% of New Zealand Maori men (they were known as ferocious warriors)

91
Q

What triggers an IRM?

A

An environmental stimulus

92
Q

3 reasons why male bullying occurs

A

To other males to assert dominance and look after themselves

To appear more tough

Appear more attractive to females as they would want someone with the strongest genetics

93
Q

2 reasons why female bullying occurs

A

To their partners in order to control them so they don’t leave

A way of securing their fidelity so that they continue to provide resources for them and their child

94
Q

What topic is the kung san people in?

A

Evolutionary explanation of aggression

95
Q

What was Berkowitz study on weapon effect?

A

Participants given a real electric shock by a confederate then asked to give a shock back to them

Found that those with guns present on the table in front of them chose a higher number of shocks compared to the group with no weapons in front of them

96
Q

3 evaluations of FA hypothesis?

A
  • Research support - Meta analysis
  • Other factors cause aggression
  • HOWEVER, negative affect theory
97
Q

3 evaluations of SLT

A

Biological influences

RWA

Research support
- Aggressive boys became friends with other aggressive boys (age 9-12)

98
Q

De-individuation 4 evaluations

A

Other impacts
- Dark room led to lust rather than aggression

RWA
- Explains aggression in ‘baiting crowds’

Role of Norms (L)
- Acceptance of norms rather than non rejection
- We are actually conforming to social roles

Support
- Online chatrooms, found correlation between anonymity and flaming (Online trolls)

99
Q

2 evaluations of the importation model

A

Research support
- Californian similar criminal history inmates
- some in low/high security prisons
- found no sig differences in aggression rates (33-36%)

Ignores key factors
- Diluilio proposed ACM, poor managed prisons increase inmate aggression

100
Q

What is a limitation of the limitation of FA model?

Cathartic

A

Aggression may not be cathartic

  • Bushman, people who vented their anger through punchbag hitting became more aggressive than less

Like petrol putting out a fire

101
Q

What can the evolutionary explanation not explain?

A

Cultural differences

(Kung san people)

102
Q

What is needed in the dual hormone hypothesis for testosterone?

A

Cortisol influence

103
Q

What was the lab experiment on computer games?

A

TCRTT - taylors competitve reaction time task

  • participants blast chosen loudness white noise at opponents
  • Mortal kombat v golf game
  • MK had significantly higher volume
104
Q

What does TCRTT stand for?

A

Taylors competitve reaction time task

105
Q

How does the amygdala link to aggression?

A

amygdala’s reactivity is a predictor of aggression

heightened activity correlates with increased aggression.

106
Q

What has amygdala research shown?

A

amygdala response spikes during provocation, and benzodiazepine intake reduces both amygdala activity and subsequently aggression.

107
Q

What is serotonin?

A

A neurotransmitter

108
Q

3 evaluations of TV/Games effects?

A

Explaining findings
- All can be explained through SLT

Defining aggression
- Violence v Aggression

HOWEVER,
Meta-analysis fix this issue
- Various aggression definitions

RWA

109
Q

What was Fischer and Gretiemeyers study on cognitive priming?

A

Men listened to songs with derogatory lyrics about women, compared to listening to neutral song lyrics they recalled the derogatory ones better and were more aggressive to a women confederate.

110
Q

Does disinhibition have a study?

A

No

111
Q

2 evaluations of the role of desensitisation?

A

RESEARCH SUPPORT
- V and NV films and measured physiological arousal through skin conductance to habitual violent movie watchers
(Found V had L arousal)

ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS
- Cant link low arousal, watching and reactive aggression
- Catharsis is a better psychodynamic explanation

112
Q

2 strength evaluations of the role of disinhibition?

A

RESEARCH SUPPORT
- Vengeance film watchers gave more fake shocks to confederate
(Vengeance aggression seems justified)

CARTOON VIOLENCE
- Children dont learn specific aggression from this but rather that aggression is acceptable (Socially normative)

113
Q

2 evaluations of the role of cognitive priming?

A

RWA
- Those who watch more can access their aggressive scripts quicker

COUNFOUNDING VARIABLES - COMPLEXITY
- Complexity of violent video games may influence aggression
- RS found when complexity in games were controlled the effects of violent video games disappeared

114
Q

What is the research support for the dispositional explanation?

A

Californian inmates with similar criminal history

Split in low and high security prisons

2 years found no sig differences in aggressive conduct (33-36%)

Shows prison setting has little influence

115
Q

What was used against FH H in the role of catharsis?

A

A punching bag to release frustration

116
Q

RS Evaluation of de-individuation that can be critiqued

A

Support
- Online chatrooms, found correlation between anonymity and flaming (Online trolls)

However,
Darkness and lust

117
Q

What is the study in the importation model?

A

DeLisi

Californian juvenile offenders with negative background
- They imported these characteristics into their prisons

These ‘negative’ inmates were more likely to engage aggressively (suicidally) than control group/normal inmates

118
Q

What is the study in the Deprivation model?

A

512 US prisons showed inmate on inmate aggression was higher when women controlled and overcrowded prisons

119
Q

What is the main deprivation in the deprivation model?

A

Lack of heterosexual contact leads to aggression (There being no conjugal visits)

Psychology - Paper 3 (4 decks)

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