Aggression Flashcards
What is the limbic system?
A network of structures beneath the cortex. It involves- hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala
Describe the neural explanation of aggression in terms of structure
Amygdala- the emotional centre- how animals (humans included) respond to environmental challenges- it is a good predictor of aggression
Malfunction of amygdala- higher levels of testosterone= more likely to be aggressive
Hippocampus- forms long-term memories by putting current threat into context with past experiences
Impairment- prevents nervous system from doing so and amygdala responds inappropriately
What are the two evaluation points for structural neural explanations for aggression?
Amygdala support
Amygdalectomy (removal) reduces aggression
However, side effect=loss of emotion as it is involved in processing anger etc
Hippocampus support
MRI scans of “unsuccessful” and “successful” psychopaths
unsuccessful- hippocampus unbalanced impairing ability to work together
Memories processed influence behaviour
Explain the role of serotonin as a chemical neural explanation of aggression
Serotonin has a widespread inhibitory effect in brain
Normal levels= inhibits firing of amygdala which controls fear, anger etc
Low levels= removes inhibitory effect= indies not able to control aggression (serotonin deficiency hypothesis)
increases likelihood of violent suicide etc
Give three evaluation points about serotonins role in aggression
Vervet monkeys on tryptophan (high serotonin levels) showed decrease in aggression levels
low tryptophan= high aggression
anti depressant drugs- raise serotonin levels and reduce aggression= direct impact
meta analysis of 29 studies
consistently lower serotonin in aggressive children and adults
Explain the hormonal mechanisms as an explanation for aggression
Aggression= higher in males
Androgen group of hormones eg testosterone from testes was investigated
Testosterone associated with development of masculine features and aggression due to its action on brain areas involved in controlling
Basal Model- changes dominance levels
More testosterone= more competitive, anti-social behaviour
Women= positive due to competitiveness
Dual-hormone hypothesis= testosterone in status-relevant behaviour due to concentration of cortisol (stress)
Evaluate testosterone’s role in aggression
Measured saliva in criminals- high levels of testosterone in violent crime history, lower in non-violent
Gender bias- focuses on males, it can make women nicer depending on situation- doesn’t directly cause aggression but promotes status seeking behaviours
What are the generic evaluation points about neural/hormonal mechanisms?
ignores environmental factors, Banduras study showed social learning plays a role
deterministic, caused by amygdala, serotonin and testosterone is outside of our control
What are the genetic factors in aggression?
Aggression must be inherited through family lines
MZ+DZ comparison when one shows aggression
Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) gene regulates metabolism of serotonin - if gene is faulty= low levels
Low serotonin= difficult to inhibit emotional responses generated by amygdala= increased risk of impulsive aggression
What are the five evaluation points for genetic factors of aggression?
A defective MAOA gene in Dutch family with history of male violence
Research on mice- disabled the MAOA gene= male- aggressive, female- no effect and when restored function- males back to normal state- MAOA only in males CANNOT GENERALISE TO HUMANS
A study of 500 male children- a defective MAOA gene more likely to grow up to exhibit anti-social behaviour but only if maltreated when young
ignores environmental factors
Bandura- children aggressive towards bobo doll when previously seen adults doing so= imitation
Argument of biological determinism- we are pre-programmed and have no free will over aggression- wrong for legal system to find people responsible for aggression
What is the ethological explanation of aggression?
Study of animals in a natural setting, aggression may be innate/ adaptive- allows for dominance over others by giving access to resources
Lorenz- fights between same species= rarely physical- mostly ritual signals and signs eg displaying teeth
Have repertoire of stereotyped behaviours= no learning required
Tinbergen- innate behaviours= fixed action potentials produced by innate releasing mechanisms (built in by networks of neurons)
IRMs triggered by a sign stimulus (environmental factor eg facial expressions = threat)
Sign stimulus from IRM communicates with motor control circuits to release FAP (stereotyped, universal, ballistic, single purpose, specific triggers, unaffected by learning)
Male stickleback fish-mating season=red spot on underbelly, another male sees red (sign stimulus)= IRM to produce FAP, reduces eggs laid being fertlised by another male
Evaluate the ethological explanation of aggression
Male sticklebacks attack in same way regardless of shape, if red spot=attack, no red spot= not attack, do have a IRM triggered by sign stimulus
doesn’t generalise to humans, human behaviour flexible in modern times, ability to adapt is better than producing Fixed behaviours, humans more complex
ignores role of culture, North-South divide in USA homicide rates/ high in white males in north, caused by culture of honour as learned social norm, against unaffected by learning
criticism that behaviour patterns fixed, Lorenz underestimated environment, leaning and experience reacts with innate factors, species differ in duration of each behaviour, replace FAPs with “behaviour pattern”
criticism that same species use FAPs to avoid causing harm, make chimpanzees routinely kill members of another group- ritualistic in real life
What is the evolutionary explanation of human aggression?
Aggression evolved to solve challenges faced by distant ancestors through natural and sexual selection=wide spread gene pool
Adaptive- survival and reproductive issues eg defending resources, eliminating males rivals and deterring males from sexual infidelity
Sexual competition- ancestral males access to females- compete
Increases social status to protect mates= successful genes passed to offspring
Sexual jealousy- male aggression=paternal uncertainty
males never certain they are fathers of children
Cuckoldry risk= deceived into raising someones offspring
Show violence to prevent mate from straying
Evaluate evolutionary explanations of human aggression
Plausible account of gender differences, female with offspring=less aggressive+ not put child at risk, use verbal aggression to dispute conflicts
Socialisation- parents physically punish boys vs tell girls why actions wrong, girls learn to be less powerful, may be due to learning
Crime data- sexual jealousy most common motivation for domestic killing in USA, 17% of murders in UK, links sexual infidelity and aggression
Deterministic, male aggression in genetic make-up, adaptive, may justify violence
Gender bias, exaggerates differences in relationships, family conflict= equal rates of assault in genders, males not always main aggressor
explain frustration hypothesis as a social psychological explanation
Frustration causes anger and vice versa
Catharsis- process of releasing strong/repressed emotions to produce relief, goal achievements blocked eg bus driving past= frustration
Displacement- aggression not always expressed directly against frustration source (abstract, too powerful, risk punishment, unavailable)
Can be displaced onto alternative source eg object
Evaluate frustration aggression hypothesis as a social explanation
+ Swedish football teams performed worse than expected, fans threw missiles on pitch, aggression increased when expectations of good performance were frustrated
-not all aggression from frustration, pain and heat, increased temp in baseball game-batters threw ball at pitchers head, revised hypothesis= -ve feelings from unpleasant experiences
-catharsis reduces aggression, behaving aggressively= more aggression in future, behaviour keeps aggressive thoughts in memory, contradicts catharsis reduces aggression
Explain social learning theory as a social explanation f
Aggressive behaviour learned through observing and imitating role models
Behaviour repeated if observe positive reinforcement (vicarious)
Bandura- mediational processes= attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
Self efficacy- higher if children successful in aggressive acts and develop confidence, it is belief you can be successful when carrying out task
Evaluate social learning theory as a social explanation
+bandura bobo doll -children witness adult aggression showed themselves, observe and imitate role models
+scientific- bandura highly controlled, same aggression throughout, empirical, however= meditational cannot be observed-inferences
+prac apps- shape tv programming, watershed- no violent before 9pm, benefits society
Explain de-individuation as a social explanation
Psychological state of loss of identity and takes an identity of social group
Frees individual from constraints of moral responsibility= makes anti-social behaviour more likely
Factors= anonymity (uniform), shared responsibility, intoxication
Zimbardo found crowds of de-individuated people= less fear of -ve consequences and guilt, moral responsibility shifts
Evaluate de-individuation as a social explanation
Zimbardo hooded shock study- 4 female undergraduates deliver shocks, 1/2 hide faces and other normal clothes and name tag, de-individuated=2x as long, removes shared responsibility
Halloween night, 1300 children in USA, more likely to steal sweets in costumes and large groups (anonymity)
can be due to norms, replication of shock study, Klu Klux Klan uniform shocked more than nurse uniform, dependent upon norms of uniform
What is the dispositional explanation of institutional aggression?
characteristics of prisoners (bring aggression in)
Importation model- personal traits and social histories that prisoners bring in with them is aggression
-not blank slates
-attitudes developed in outside world
-low self-control, impulsivity and anger= aggressive characteristics
-gang membership- commit violent crimes in public- aggression in prison
(pre-prison gang membership=important predictor)
sub-cultures eg learned history+ background = aggressive or not
Evaluate the dispositional explanation of institutional aggression
no. of offenders related to learned history, lower levels of education, more time unemployed, criminal records= more aggressive, due to previous experience
evidence amongst juvenile offenders, best indicator= pre-institutional violence not situational factors, importation stronger than deprivation
criticism from inmates with history of gang membership, no more likely to be in prison violence, not always imported, However- lack of relationship= violent gang members isolated
Prac app, isolate known gang members, reduced rates of serious assault by 50% in management unit, helps reduce violence
Explain the situational explanation of institutional aggression
conditions and deprivation in prisons are aggressive
Deprivation model- result of prison environment (stressful conditions)- frustration so act aggressively to reduce stress and obtain desired resources
Liberty- freedom
Autonomy-choice
Goods and services
Heterosexual relationships- female company is male identity
Security
Evaluate the situational explanation of institutional aggression
+prison survey with overcrowding and no privacy, influences peer violence, deprivation of liberty
+prac apps, 2 units at HMP Woodhill= less claustrophobic, lower temps, radio station=masks prison violence, irradiated assaults, used to improve environment
-2 prisons in Mississippi, allowed partner visits for sex only, no link between involvement in visits and reduced aggression,
