Aggression

Question 1

What are the neural and hormonal mechanisms in aggression?

Answer 1

Role of the limbic system

Serotonin and Testosterone

Genetic factors in aggression, including the Maoa gene.

Question 2

What is the limbic system?

Answer 2

The brain’s limbic system coordinates basic motivational/emotional states such as fear and aggression

Question 3

What does the limbic system contain?

Answer 3

It contains the amygdala and the hippocampus both have been associated with aggression.

Question 4

What is the amygdala?

Answer 4

The amygdala evaluates the emotional importance of stimuli and producers appropriate response.

Question 5

What evidence is there supporting that the amygdala is associated with aggression?

Answer 5

Kluver ‘37 found that removal of a dominant monkey’s amygdala caused it to lose its place at the top of the group hierarchy.

Electrical stimulation of the amygdala will cause animals to automatically exhibit aggressive responses e.g. cat hissing.

Question 6

What evidence is there supporting that the amygdala is associated in accurately evaluating emotional stimuli and that lower amygdala volume may make inappropriate aggressive responses more likely?

Answer 6

Pardini ‘14
A longitudinal study was carried out on males from childhood to adulthood. Aged 26, MRI scans revealed a negative correlation between aggression and amygdala size, i.e high levels of aggression smaller amygdala size. This was true even with other potential confounding variables were taken into account.

Question 7

What is serotonin?

Answer 7

Serotonin is thought to inhibit behaviours. Therefore, if a person is provoked it will play a role in preventing the expression of an aggressive response.

Question 8

What happens if you have low levels of serotonin?

Answer 8

Low levels of serotonin are linked to impulsive behaviours including aggression and violent suicide.