Aggression: AO3

Question 1

Evaluate the genetic explanation of aggression

Answer 1

Supporting :
Godar et al : knocked out the MAOA gene in mice
- Shown increased serotonin and hyper aggro
- When give SSRI they reverted back to non aggro

Supporting :
Brunner et al : 28 Dutch family members who had history of violence
He found all men had the warrior gene

COUNTERPOINT
However, Frazzetto identified low MAOA is linked to aggro but only in individuals with early trauma

Question 2

Evaluate the ethnological explanation of aggression

Answer 2

Supporting :
Tinbergen : sticklebacks would attack a model of itself if it had a red spot
- Even if the model was an unrealistic representation of itself
- if it didn’t they were neutral

Limitation : Findings can’t be generalised to humans
- Lorenzo and Tinbergen tried to apply this to humans but lacks validity

Limitation : “fixed actions” have been criticised
- Hunt states Lorenzo underestimated the role of the environment

Question 3

Evaluate the social psychological explanation for aggression

Answer 3

Supporting : for environmental cues
Berkowitz : Ps were given electro shocks to induce frustration by a confed
They were then allowed to shock them in return
C1 had a gun on table and C2 didn’t
- he found those in C1 gave average: 6.07 shocks and C2; 4.60 shocks

Supporting : role of frustration
Green used a jigsaw puzzle where;
C1 - impossible
C2 - confed interfered
C3 - confed insulted ps
findings:
C3 gave the most shocks and C1 gave the least

Question 4

Evaluate the Neural and Hormonal explanation

Answer 4

Supporting : neural
Gospice - used fMRI scans on ps playing a lab based game that provoked aggro
He found that aggressive reactions were associated with a fast response from the amygdala

Supporting: Hormonal
Giammanco et aL showed increases in test tone are related to aggro

Question 5

Evaluate the evolutionary explanation of aggression

Answer 5

Supporting: for evolutionary
Sexual jealousy is reported to account for 17% of cases of murder in the uk

Supporting : evo accounts for gender differences in aggression
P: Males are stronger than women and so use aggro behaviours to assert dominance
E: women would rather protect children and so don’t use aggression as much

Question 6

Evaluate institutional aggression

Answer 6

Importation model: Support
DeLisi found a positive correlation between abuse and addictions being held by the prisoner and aggression shown in prison
The Deprivation Model: Support
Steiner did a meta analysis and found aggression was more common in run down prisons