Aggression A01 - Year 13 Jan Mock - 1st 2 bullet points on spec Flashcards
Neural - serotonin, limbic system, Hormonal - Testosterone, Genetic - MAOA gene etc
What is aggression?
Any physical/non-physical behaviour that is threatening or intends to harm others/objects
What are the three parts of the brain that involve aggression?
hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus
What are the three parts of the brain collectively called?
The limbic system
What is the role of the hypothalamus in aggression?
it activates the sympathetic nervous system and therefore activates the fight or flight response
What are some effects of the flight and fight response?
- increased pupil dilation
- increased muscle tension
- increased sweating
- increased heart rate
- increased breathing rate
- deceased salivation
- decreased digestion
How does the hypothalamus trigger aggressive behaviour?
nerve impulses are either sent to motor neurones (punch/slap)/ speech production (shout/yell)
How does the hypothalamus know it is danger/ not in danger?
it works with the amygdala to determine a good/bad situation as it deals with the emotional response
What is the role of the amygdala in aggression?
determine the emotional meaning in an environment and therefore whether the event is good or bad and depending on that a response is carried out aggression/ no aggression
What does the amygdala activate?
It activates the hypothalamus which then activates the fight or flight response
What is the role of the hippocampus in aggression?
The hippocampus stores LTM and therefore send the info of the stored memory to the amygdala in which it can then be determined whether the event was good/ bad and how they should react
What is the role of the frontal cortex in aggression?
Frontal cortex sends electrical signals that inhibit neurons in the amygdala. This causes neurones in the amygdala to generate fewer nerve impulses and therefore stops nerve impulses to be sent to the hypothalamus - when aggression inappropriate
What happens if the frontal cortex is damaged?
Frontal cortex sends electrical signals that lead to less inhibition of the neurons in the amygdala. This causes the nerve impulses to continue as normal and be sent to the hypothalamus and therefore lead to more aggression
What is serotonin?
A neurotransmitter
What is the role of serotonin?
is released in the limbic system and causes negative electrical charge to flow into neurones and therefore inhibit fewer nerve impulses
How do the levels of serotonin affect someone’s aggression?
More serotonin = less aggressive
Less serotonin = more aggressive
What is an MRI?
A brain imaging method that produces an image of the brains structure
How does the activity levels of the amygdala affect aggression?
More activity = higher levels of aggression
Less activity = lower levels of aggression
What is a hormone?
Chemical messengers which are released into the bloodstream
How does the level of testosterone affect aggression?
More testosterone = more aggressive we are
Less testosterone = less aggressive we are
Why are men more likely to show aggression than women?
Because they have 7x higher levels of testosterone
What is testosterone?
A hormone which increases the tendency to be aggressive
Where is testosterone produced?
produced and released by the adrenal gland and sex glands
What is tryptophan?
A substance essential for serotonin production
What is the basic assumption of the biological approach within psychology?
That all behaviour is due to genes
What are the 3 possible biological causes of aggression?
- genes
- brain structure
- chemistry
What does MZ/DZ stand for?
Monozygotic = identical Dizygotic = non-identical
What is a concordance rate?
the extent to which 2 genetically - related/unrelated individuals share the same characteristic/disorder/behaviour usually represented with a % or in probability terms (ie. ‘chance’)
What are 3 ways psychologists could investigate the genetic basis of aggression?
- family studies
- twin studies
- adoption studies
- gene mapping study
What methods could bio-psychologists use to investigate aggressive behaviour?
- fMRI scans
- PET Scans
What is one weakness/strength of the biological approach?
Strength = sceientfic/practical applications Weakness = Reductionist/ Deterministic
What does the genetic explanation of aggression suggest?
It suggests that individuals are born with a genetic predisposition, or vulnerability, to aggressive behaviour. In other words, aggressive behaviour has been inherited.
Why are gene mapping studies used?
to identify whether there is a specific gene abnormality/variant that Is linked to aggressive behaviour.
How does the XYY chromosomal abnormality link to aggression (not in spec)?
One genetic explanation of aggression is the XYY chromosomal abnormality, also known as the ‘super male syndrome. Most people inherit 23 pairs of chromosomes from each parent, with males inherited XY sex chromosomes and females XX. However, it is possible for males to inherit an extra Y chromosome - correlated with inc levels of aggression. Research found those with XYY abnormality were more likely to be hospitalised for aggressive behaviour.
How does the MAOA gene link to aggression (in spec)?
MonoAmine Oxidase A gene
Controls levels of the enzyme MAOA responsible for breaking down neurotransmitters in the brain, like serotonin and dopamine. Humans form mutations of the gene therefore there are different levels of enzyme activity. MAOA - L = low activity, MAOA - H = high activity produces more of the enzyme. Scientists suggest individuals with MAOA - L are more likely to be aggressive. As MAOA enzyme regulates serotonin activity and the low activity of MAOA will lead to dysfunction in serotonin levels (low levels of serotonin) and therefore higher levels of aggression.
