Aggression - Biological Explanation

Question 1

What is aggression?

Answer 1

Behaviour that is aimed at causing harm or pain

Question 2

What are the two biological explanations?

Answer 2

1) Neural and hormonal mechanisms

2) Genetic explanations

Question 3

Whats assumption of low/high serotonin?

Answer 3

Low serotonin- Associated with aggression, helps to explain why people get aggressive when hungry

• High serotonin - Appears to have calming effect

Question 4

What is serotonin?

Answer 4

A neurotransmitter that is important in mood regulation

Question 5

How is serotonin linked to aggression?

Answer 5

It is a neurotransmitter thats linked to the inhibition of emotional reactions to stimuli by inhibiting the amygdala

Question 6

What are normal levels of serotonin like?

Answer 6

Normal levels in the orbitofrontal cortex are inhibitory and are linked to reducing firing of neurons associated with greater behavioural self control

Question 7

How does low serotonin disturbs the mechanism of firing neurons?

Answer 7

Low serotonin disturbs the mechanism of firing neurons that are associated with self control meaning impulsive behaviours are increased such as aggression

Question 8

What evidence is there for low serotonin?

Answer 8

Mann 1990- Did an experiment where serotonin levels where artificially depleted using dexfenfluramine in 35 healthy volunteers and then gave participants a questionnaire to assess their hostility and aggression levels.

Question 9

What did Mann find?

Answer 9

Mann found that this drug increased their hostility and aggression - however this was only found to be case in men not women

Question 10

What is the limbic system?

Answer 10

An area of the brain that helps to co-ordinate behaviour,especialy emotion such as aggression and fear

Question 11

What are two key parts of the limbic system?

Answer 11

Amygdala

Hippocampus

Question 12

what is the amygdala?

Answer 12

Part of the brain that gives us anger and plays a key role in how we asses and respond to environmental threats
e.g if u artificially stimulate amygdala they will respond with aimless aggression

Question 13

What is the Hippocampus?

Answer 13

Primary responsible for memory which helps us respond to which stimuli is linked to aggression

Question 14

What is the theory of the limbic system and aggression?

Answer 14

• If this system has malfunctioned then this may lead to an increase in testosterone being released
• Limbic system should regulate testosterone but if its not relating properly too much testosterone will lead to aggression

Question 15

What is testosterone?

Answer 15

A hormone responsible for the development of masculine features
- Helps to regulate social behaviour via influences on areas of the brain involved in aggression

Question 16

What is the studies supporting testosterone theory?

Answer 16

Dolal et al - found a positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours in male offenders in UK max security hospitals

Question 17

What animals studies support high testosterone theory?

Answer 17

Giammanco et al - found experimental increases in testosterone are related to high testosterone
- Opposite is also true

Question 18

What a limitation for the role of testosterone?

Answer 18

There is mixed evidence from humans as some evidence shows other hormones are linked to aggression
- Mehtas study found that Testosterone causes aggression but only when cortisol is also low as high cortisol blocks aggression

Question 19

What evidence is there for the limbic system?

Answer 19

Sumer et al - 14 yr old girl who had severe anger issues was found to have tumour on her limbic system
- following treatment girls anger dropped suggesting tumour was effecting her limbic system that caused aggression.