Aggression A01 - Year 13 Jan Mock - 1st 2 bullet points on spec

Question 1

What is aggression?

Answer 1

Any physical/non-physical behaviour that is threatening or intends to harm others/objects

Question 2

What are the three parts of the brain that involve aggression?

Answer 2

hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Question 3

What are the three parts of the brain collectively called?

Answer 3

The limbic system

Question 4

What is the role of the hypothalamus in aggression?

Answer 4

it activates the sympathetic nervous system and therefore activates the fight or flight response

Question 5

What are some effects of the flight and fight response?

Answer 5

• increased pupil dilation
• increased muscle tension
• increased sweating
• increased heart rate
• increased breathing rate
• deceased salivation
• decreased digestion

Question 6

How does the hypothalamus trigger aggressive behaviour?

Answer 6

nerve impulses are either sent to motor neurones (punch/slap)/ speech production (shout/yell)

Question 7

How does the hypothalamus know it is danger/ not in danger?

Answer 7

it works with the amygdala to determine a good/bad situation as it deals with the emotional response

Question 8

What is the role of the amygdala in aggression?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What does the amygdala activate?

Answer 9

It activates the hypothalamus which then activates the fight or flight response

Question 10

What is the role of the hippocampus in aggression?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the role of the frontal cortex in aggression?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What happens if the frontal cortex is damaged?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is serotonin?

Answer 13

A neurotransmitter

Question 14

What is the role of serotonin?

Answer 14

is released in the limbic system and causes negative electrical charge to flow into neurones and therefore inhibit fewer nerve impulses

Question 15

How do the levels of serotonin affect someone’s aggression?

Answer 15

More serotonin = less aggressive

Less serotonin = more aggressive

Question 16

What is an MRI?

Answer 16

A brain imaging method that produces an image of the brains structure

Question 17

How does the activity levels of the amygdala affect aggression?

Answer 17

More activity = higher levels of aggression

Less activity = lower levels of aggression

Question 18

What is a hormone?

Answer 18

Chemical messengers which are released into the bloodstream

Question 19

How does the level of testosterone affect aggression?

Answer 19

More testosterone = more aggressive we are

Less testosterone = less aggressive we are

Question 20

Why are men more likely to show aggression than women?

Answer 20

Because they have 7x higher levels of testosterone

Question 21

What is testosterone?

Answer 21

A hormone which increases the tendency to be aggressive

Question 22

Where is testosterone produced?

Answer 22

produced and released by the adrenal gland and sex glands

Question 23

What is tryptophan?

Answer 23

A substance essential for serotonin production

Question 24

What is the basic assumption of the biological approach within psychology?

Answer 24

That all behaviour is due to genes

Question 25

What are the 3 possible biological causes of aggression?

Answer 25

• genes
• brain structure
• chemistry

Question 26

What does MZ/DZ stand for?

Answer 26

Monozygotic = identical 
Dizygotic = non-identical

Question 27

What is a concordance rate?

Answer 27

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’)

Question 28

What are 3 ways psychologists could investigate the genetic basis of aggression?

Answer 28

• family studies
• twin studies
• adoption studies
• gene mapping study

Question 29

What methods could bio-psychologists use to investigate aggressive behaviour?

Answer 29

• fMRI scans

- PET Scans

Question 30

What is one weakness/strength of the biological approach?

Answer 30

Strength = sceientfic/practical applications 
Weakness = Reductionist/ Deterministic

Question 31

What does the genetic explanation of aggression suggest?

Answer 31

It suggests that individuals are born with a genetic predisposition, or vulnerability, to aggressive behaviour. In other words, aggressive behaviour has been inherited.

Question 32

Why are gene mapping studies used?

Answer 32

to identify whether there is a specific gene abnormality/variant that Is linked to aggressive behaviour.

Question 33

How does the XYY chromosomal abnormality link to aggression (not in spec)?

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

How does the MAOA gene link to aggression (in spec)?

Answer 34

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.