Aggression Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 5 biological explanations for aggression?

A
The lambic system has malfunctioned
Low serotonin
High testosterone
Mutations in the MAO-A gene
It's inherited
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2
Q

What is the function of the limbic system?

A

Function of processing emotion

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3
Q

Why do too low levels of serotonin lead to aggression?

A

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter important in mood regulation
Too low levels of serotonin cause irritability
Low levels of serotonin weakens connections between the pre frontal cortex and the amygdaloid so more likely to act on angry feelings when levels become higher

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4
Q

Evaluate the serotonin theory

A

Individual differences
Deterministic
Situational factors influence the impact
Led to treatment

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5
Q

Evaluate the testosterone theory

A

Does raise competitiveness but not aggression directly
Many different types of aggression
Aggression levels not always higher in men than women
Deterministic
Socially sensitive

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6
Q

Why do mutations in the MAO-A gene lead to aggression?

A

Mutations in the MAO-A gene leads to aggression as it breaks down serotonin and dopamine usually. The build up of neurotransmitters make people vulnerable to aggression.

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7
Q

Evaluate the genetic explanation for aggression

A

Deterministic
Socially sensitive
Practical applications - in order to breed an aggressive dog use male and female which appear aggressive

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8
Q

Name a social psychological explanation for aggression

A

The social learning theory

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9
Q

What 4 factors lead to social learning?

A

Attention
Remember
Ability to replicate
Motivation

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10
Q

Evaluate social learning theory

A

Good-
Lots of research
Can explain individual differences of levels of aggression
Bad-
Cannot explain who will or won’t be aggressive
Overly simplistic
Ignores other factors such as biology

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11
Q

What is ethology?

A

Ethology is the study of animals

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12
Q

What does the ethological explanation involve?

A

Innate releasing mechanisms
Sign stimulus
Fixed action patterns

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13
Q

What are innate releasing mechanisms ?

A

Innate releasing mechanisms are specific neural circuits hardwired into the brain which monitor the drive to release aggression

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14
Q

What is a sign stimulus?

A

The aggression will be release when sign stimuli are present

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15
Q

What is a fixed action pattern?

A

The aggression can be released by fixed action patterns. Fixed action patterns are standardised across species

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16
Q

Evaluate ethnological explanations

A
  • aggression is seen in nearly all species so is likely to be innate
  • generalising from animals to humans is problematic
  • not all humans are aggressive
  • unethical to study animals
17
Q

What are the two explanations for institutional aggression?

A

Dispositional explanation - importation model

Situational explanation - deprivation model

18
Q

What is the importation model/ dispositional explanation?

A

Violence within institutions is a result of people bringing it in from their previous lives.
People not only bring it in their biological make up but they bring it in their learned behaviour

19
Q

What is the deprivation model ?

A

It suggests that it is the conditions in the prison itself which causes aggression
Sykes –
Deprivation of goods and services
Deprivation of freedom
Deprivation of autonomy
Deprivation of heterosexual relationships
Deprivation of security

20
Q

Evaluate the importation model

A
  • this theory can be used as a way of predicting offenders in prison
  • doesn’t provide any implications as how to prevent prison violence
21
Q

Evaluate the deprivation model

A
  • less deterministic

- violence is not occurring on a regular basis but environment is constant

22
Q

What is the popcorn model?

A

It is a mix of importation and deprivation
Institutional aggression needs people with the potential to explode but this will only happen if situational heat is applied

23
Q

What are 3 explanations for media aggression?

A

Desensitisation
Disinhibition
Cognitive priming

24
Q

What is desensitisation?

A

Once you have been exposed to something for a long period of time you will end up becoming less affected or shocked by it

25
Q

What is cognitive priming?

A

Cognitive priming is the idea that cues from the media may be stored as memories. These “scripts” are then available when they are placed in a potentially aggressive situation

26
Q

What is disinhibition?

A

When someone is disinhibited they are acting free from pressures from others. This uncharacteristic behaviour is largely due to the fact that the individual is anonymous.

27
Q

Evaluate the media and aggression

A
  • difficult to determine cause and effect
  • does have implications - reduce exposure to video games
  • deterministic
28
Q

What is deindividuation?

A

A person loses their identity. They take on the ideals of the group they are in. This can make people act in ways which is in direct conflict with their own morals and values, making them violent or anti social

29
Q

How does deindividuation occur?

A

Anonymity
Suggestibility
Contagion

30
Q

What is anonymity?

A

Being unidentifiable can let people act in ways that they wouldn’t otherwise since they will not be negatively evaluated by others

31
Q

What is suggestibility?

A

Where you are ready to take on the suggestions and influences of others

32
Q

What is contagion?

A

This is when a behaviour or mindset spreads like a contagious disease amongst a crowd

33
Q

Evaluate de individuation?

A

Could excuse people from their crimes
Hard to assume cause and effect
Steps can be taken to reduce feeling of anonymity
Pro social consequences - atmosphere at music festivals

34
Q

What are evolutionary explanations for aggression?

A

Sexual jealousy

Aggression in warfare

35
Q

What is sexual jealousy?

A

Men cannot be certain that they are the parent of their child. Their best chance at certainty is to maximise the certainty that their partner has not slept with another man.
This can be done through jealous acts such as direct guarding and negative inducements

36
Q

What is aggression in warfare?

A

War is a universal human trait and has been forever. Therefore, it must have some adaptive value to have lasted.

37
Q

Evaluate evolutionary explanations

A
  • similar behaviour seen cross culturally
  • behaviour can be traced through observation of animals
  • most research concerns correlational data
  • animal research cannot be 100% generalised
  • no fossil record for behaviour
38
Q

What is the frustration aggression hypothesis

A

Being frustrated leads to aggression
Proximity to the goal - the closer you are to a goal the more likely you are to be aggressive
Whether aggression will remove the barrier that is causing the frustration - if the result of aggression will cause more frustration then less likely to be aggressive
Can’t get something you want
Kicking the dog effect

39
Q

Evaluate the frustration aggression hypothesis

A
  • anecdotal evidence
  • issues defining aggression
  • different types of aggression
  • some people remain calm despite being frustrated