Aggression Flashcards
what enzyme does the MAOA gene code for and what does this enzyme regulate?
MAOA enzyme
controls metabolism of seretonin
what are the 2 variations of MAOA gene- what does the low activity one lead to?
MAOA-H and MAOA- L
-MAOA-L leads to abnormal activity of MAOA enzyme= abnormal seretonin levels= abnormal seretonin is asssociated with aggression
what were findings of dutch family study?
male members behaved in violent manner and most had been involved in serious crime. These men were found to have abnormal levels of MAOA enzyme, thus low serotonin levels (they had the MAOA-L gene). Was passed on from X chromosome of mothers.
why does the effect of the MAOA-L gene only affect males?
-The problem only affects males as they only have one X chromosome. Women don’t show these traits as they have second X chromosome carrying good copy of gene.
why are gene influences on aggression socially sensitive (jail sentence reduced)?
suggests no freewill over our behavior- leads to implications for crime and punishment
- In 2007, a man admitted to stabbing & killing a man & received sentence of just over 9 years. However, an appeal court judge in Italy, cut the sentence by a year after finding out he had genes linked to aggression.
how does evidence from twin study support that genes dont 100% influence aggression?
mz twins share 100% of genes, thus if mz twins are more alike in aggressive behaviour then it is due to genes not environment. O’connor- concordance rates for aggression among mz= 72% whereas 42% for dz (reared together) suggests genes have role as mz % is higher than dz but not 100% genes.
Why does research findings into genes causing aggression vary?
meta-analysis of 51 twin and adoption studies found that self-report studies found higher genetic influence than studies which used parent/teacher reports. Thus, difficult to draw valid conclusions about the role of genetic factors.
what is the role of the amygdala and where is it located?
part of limbic system- involved in emotion, how we respond to threats
One on each side of brain in temp lobes
Over-activity= linked to aggression
what is the role of the PFC and where is it located?
In frontal lobes, connected to limbic system
Involved in planning and moderating behaviour
Regulate amygdala emotional responses to maintain emotional control
Damage to pfc= loss of control
what is the role of seretonin and where is it located?
Inhibits amygdala
Low serotonin= no inhibitory effect= less control of aggression
Serotonin deficiency hypothesis
4 evaluation points of neural explanation (reduction, support for each function)
+: support for role of amygdala- Whitman killed 14 people in mass university shooting. He left suicide note asking for autopsy, to see if there was biological reason for his actions. Found tumour pressing on amygdala
+: support role of prefrontal cortex- Raine et.al PET scan of 41 murderers. Found reduced glucose metabolism in pfc. Damage to pfc= increased aggression
+: support for role of seretonin- meta-analysis found neg. Correlation between seretonin levels and aggression. (low serotonin= higher aggression). However, strength of correlation differed when self-report was used compared to others reporting aggression
-: reductionist- reduces aggression to function of brain structures ignoring nurture and SLT. Aggression is likely to be combination of both (diathesis stress model)
how is testosterone linked to aggresssion?
Aggression increases with increased levels of testosterone during puberty. In animals, when mice are castrated aggression decreases
what are ethical issues of carrying out hormone research on humans?
Androgens can’t be administered to humans to see if changes in aggression occur as they would need to be administered over a period of time, which carries a health risk
describe dabbs study investigating relationship between T and crime and prison?
Measured testosterone in saliva in 692 adult male prisoners and found positive relationship between level of violence and in a crime and levels of testosterone. Those thta have comitted more crimes involving sex and violence and broke more prison rules had higher testosterone levels than inmates that comitted crimes such as burglury and theft
4 evaluation points of hormones influencing aggression? (gender bias, correlational, determinism, reductionism)
Androcentric- work carried out on males. Effects of testootserone are said to be the same for males and females. Dabbs looked at testosterone of 84 female prisoners. Found testosterone levels were related to criminal violence. Testosterone highest in unprovoked violence and lowest in cases of defensive violence
It could be that aggression causes testosterone to increase instead of testosterone causing aggression to increase. Research shows this could be the case in status conflicts. Testosterone increases in winners and declines in losers, thus testosterone responds to behaviour as well as causes behaviour
Argues aggression is determined by levels of hormones. Socially sensitive as it led to some suggesting chemical castration reduces aggression. High levels of testosterone linked to aggression, thus castrating males should reduce aggression, however there could be other factors causing aggresssion
Reduces complex human behaviour of aggression down to testosterone. Emphasises role of nature and ignores theorys such as SLT. Diathesis stress model may be better explanation
what is emotional and sexual jealousy?
Emotional jealousy- when someone is jealous of an emotional connection their partner has with someone else (trust)
Sexual jealousy- someone is jealous of a sexual/ potentially sexual relationship their partner has with someone else
what is sexual infedelety and direct guarding?
Sexual infedelity is a cue that triggers sexual jealousy causing them to become aggressive and prevent their partner from ‘straying’. This helps a man protect his genes, ensuring his resources will be put into his offspring.
Direct guarding- when male is vigilant over partner’s behaviour. This is linked to violence. Women who reported this behaviour were twice as likely to suffer phys. Violence
2 eveluation points of sexual/ emotional jealousy? (supporting research)
+: supporting research- Young (1978) asked students to describe reactions to a jealousy inducing situation shown in film where someone else chats up their partner in front of them. Men= respond angrily and become drunk and threaten their rival. Women= pretending not to care or trying to increase their attractiveness to regain the attention of male. Thus, sexual jealousy triggers aggression in males.
+: supporting research- study of abused women living at women’s refuge, two thirds reported their husbands were jealous. Another study investigated 100 cases of spousal violence. In majority of cases husbands reported frustration over inability to control their wives with accusations of infidelity the most common complaint. Therefore, this shows that sexual jealousy triggers aggression in males. Although sexual jealousy may be the prime motive, alcohol and drug abuse, along with low socio-economic status, all correlate highly with abuse of a spouse.
what is warfare?
formation of coalitions to attack others within the same species. Intelligent species opt for this as it may lead to injury or death.
Success may lead to the male be more attractive, increasing reproductive success, thus increasing genetic line
2 evaluation points of warfare? (supporting evidence/ reductionist)
+: Supporting evidence- aggression is innate comes from universal nature of warfare worldwide. Many hunter-gatherer tribes fight for food, women and status. Research found a correlation between killing & reproduction. Males who killed the most men had 2x as many wives and 3x as many children as non-killers. suggest that the aggression of men is a product of evolution to increase reproductive success.
-: reductionist- reduces aggression to evolutionary instincts and the passing on of genes therefore focusing on nature. Many argue that evolutionary explanations neglect social factors. In reality, instincts will be modified by culture.
what is ethology and what are benefits of aggression for resources/ status?
Ethology- Study of animal’s behaviour in natural environment. Ethologists state aggression is innate instinct triggered by releasers.
Aggression helps animals survive via distribution of resources; aggression can also help establish dominance in hierarchies
Ethologists argue animal findings can be genralised to humans as dominance in humans brings about benefits of power/ access to resources
what is IRM and FAP?
IRM- In built psychological process (network of neurons in brain)
Env. Stimulus triggers IRM which causes specific sequence of behaviours (FAP)
what are 3 characteristics of FAP?
Ballistic- FAP’s can’t be changed/ stopped
Stereotyped- behaviour always occurs in same way
Univeral- found in every individual species
what is the procedure and findings of the 3 spined stickleback experiment?
Researcher presented fish with 3 different wooden models of different shapes and 2/3 had red under-belly.
Found that regardless of shape, if the wooden model had red under-belly the fish would display aggressive behaviour
what is deindividuation and why do people behave abnormally in groups?
Deindividuation- individual looses awareness of themselves as an individual
Festinger claim people obtain a release and behave in abnormal ways when in groups as they are freer from restraints.
when is deindividuation more likely and what were 4 important factors?
Zimbardo- deindividuation more likely when group is larger
Anonymity- being anonymous= feel less responsible for actions
Social arousal- arousal of the situation
Decreased self-awareness- not thinking of own actions but fulfilling role in group
Diffusion of reposibility- not individually responsible, all members of group share blame.
4 evaluation points of deindividuation? (support of anonymity, supporing evidence and demand characteristics)
+: supporting of anonymity- p’s tried to find as many uses for a brick, either identified by name or anonymous on answer sheet. No. of socially acceptable/ unacceptable answers measured. P’s that were identified had more socially acceptable answers.
+: supporting evidence- female undergrads gave electric shocks to another student. Half of students were deindividuated (anonymus- wore hoods to cover face). Other half individuated = normal clothes and nametag. Found deindividuated group pressed shock for twice as long. When p’s saw pleasent/obnoxious person individuated= shocked obnoxious more
-: demand characteristics- p’s clothing looks like KKK, may have led p’s to behave like KKK acting under demand chracteristics. When p’s wore surgical masks, they recieved less shock. Clothing rather than deindividuation
-: demand characteristics not deindividuation- zambardo study result of demand characteristics rather than deindividuation. One gaurd said he based performance on cool hand luke
what is the frustration aggression hyp,?
frustration always leads to aggression (physical/fantasy). Frustration is felt when we are stopped from gaining what we want.
Aggression is cathartic as we feel a release making us feel better.
what are the 3 situations we cant retaliate in?
-risk of punishment
-the cause is abstract
-the cause of frustration isn’t available at the time
what is the kicking the dog effect?
cant retaliate, thus, we displace it onto something else
jigsaw study frustration aggression?
-male uni students did a jigsaw
-levels of frustration manipulated
1.imposiible puzzle
2.run out of time due to interruption
3.p’s insulted for failure
Control- normal jigsaw/conditions
-p given opportunity to shock confederate when they made mistakes
f- all groups gave higher shock than control- insulted p’s gave highest shock
what is the situational factors of aggression in prisons and what is the deprivation model?
Deprivation model- behaviour due to environment people are placed in. Deprivation of resources causes aggression
cooke study- 3 circumstances leading to aggression?
-over-crowding- higher rates of murder/ assault due to overcrowding
- heat and noise- leads to raised tempers. Students in hot rooms with high pop. Density= negative emotion
-job burnout- staff= care less= higher violence to prisoners
what are 2 evaluation points of situational factors (support/ contradiction)
+: support- homicides of 35 inmates were over drugs and personal possesions. Environment= aggression
-: contradiction- no link between conjugal visits and reduced aggression. Contradicts that deprivation from relationship increases aggression. However other env. Factors may be more important.
what is the dispositional factors of aggression in prisons and what is the importation model?
Importation model- personality rather than situation. Personality imported into prison leads to aggression.
what does the study about pre-prison gang members suggest they will do in prison?
pre-prison gang members more likely to commit aggressive misconduct in prisons.
what are 2 evaluation points of dispositional factors of aggresion in prisons (support/ reduction)
+: support- 561 male inmates matched on criminal history. ½ in low security prison, ½ in high security prison. 33% in low security prison and 36% in high security prison committed aggressive misconduct in 2 years. Personality rather than environment.
-: contradiction- reduction- simplifies prison aggression to personalities. Ignoring role of poor management (unofficial rules, weak leaders). Dispositional fa ctors not as important as first suggested.
what is desensitisation? (exp. of aggression)
you see violence in the media so much and it becomes normalised, thus less physiological response. It is psychological too; repeated exposure to violent media= belief that violence for resolving conflict is socially acceptable.
evaluation study support of disensitisation? (habitual viewers of violent media)
-Compared p’s who were habitual viewers of violent media to those who weren’t.
-showed violent/non-violent film clips and measured physiological arousal using skin conductance.
-found frequent viewers= less arousal and reported high pleasant arousal.
-p’s who scored lower levels of arousal= more likely to show unprovoked aggression in a noise blast task
-thus, watching violence seems to desensitize people, making aggression more likely
what is disinhibition? (exp. of aggression)
We become inhibited to aggression as we view it as antisocial and harmful, we learn it (slt)
-however after viewing violent media, inhibitions are loosened as it is seen as normal and unpunished in this case
evaluation study supporting disinhibition? (boxing match)
showed p’s film of boxing match. One ending= no consequence. Other= the loser died. P’s shown first ending= more likely to be aggressive after fight.
what is cognitive priming and song lyric study? (exp. of aggression)
-constant exposure to violent media provides them with a scipt of how violent situations will play out. This is stored in our memory for when we encounter an aggressive situation
when male p’s listened to aggressive lyrics towards women they acted mpre aggressively to a female confederate. Similar results when females listend to ‘male-hating’ lyrics
evaluation study of cognitive priming? (reacton time to aggressive words)
Undergrads shown 15 min clip of violent/ non- violent film. P’s took part in reaction time task pressing key when aggressive/non- aggressive words flashed on screen. P’s watching aggressive film had faster reaction to aggressive words.
3 genral evaluation points of exp. of aggression?
real world app., participant differences, reduction
+: real world application- desensitization helped military understand troops are more effective in combat if desensitized to horrors of war. Can also help to explain bystander effect
-: younger people may be easily influenced by aggression as they dont consider consequences as much
-reductionist- suggest that exposure to media violence will lead to aggression, ignoring free will
