aggression- Genetic factors

Question 1

what is the 2nd theory in the biological explanations of aggression

Answer 1

1st was neural and hormonal
2nsd is the genetic factors e.g. twin studies

Question 2

What is the name of the researcher who studied twin studies
what was the gender of the sample

Answer 2

Coccaro et al 1997
male ppts

Question 3

What were Coccaro et al 1997 findings

Answer 3

Concordance rate of
50% in MZ (100% share genes)
19% in DZ (50% share genes)
Coccaros research supports the role of genetics in aggression as they mz twins that are 100% were more likely to display criminal Behaviour than Dz twins

Question 4

what’s a limitation of Coccaro et al

Answer 4

a limitation is that it is hard to separate nature and nurture as they grow up in the SAME environment

Question 5

What is the supporting evidence for twin studies that is researched by ______ and _____ 2002 using adoption study

Answer 5

Rhee and Waldman 2002 who did a meta analysis of 52 twins and adoption studies

Question 6

what were the findings of Rhee and Waldman

Answer 6

That environmental factors can only be an explanation for aggression if the specific factors are already present

Question 7

what is a strength and weakness of Rhee and Waldman 2002

Answer 7

strength - high reliability as it is meta analysis and it is secondary data
weakness- adopted children may have past traumatic experiences

Question 8

define what the MAOA gene is

Answer 8

MAOA is an enzyme that breaks down important neurotransmitters in the brain ( serotonin, dopamine)

Question 9

what controls the production on this enzyme

Answer 9

the MAOA gene

Question 10

What happens if there is a disfunction in the operation of this gene

Answer 10

may lead to abnormal activity of the MAOA enzyme which affects levels of serotonin as lower levels lead to aggression

Question 11

how does the MAOA gene turn into the warrior gene

Answer 11

If theres low activity- then theres less production of an enzyme forming MAOA-L

but high activity forms MAOA-H

Question 12

how is activity levels of the MAOA gene affect aggression

Answer 12

warrior gene is a variant of MAOA gene and if theres low MAOA activity in the brain
it associated with aggressive behaviour

Question 13

name the researcher who studied the warrior gene

Answer 13

Brunner et al 1993

Question 14

what was Brunner’s procedure in studying MAOA gene

Answer 14

study a family who were repeatedly involved in aggressive behaviour
5 generations of a dutch family
procedure:
- 8 males - measured MAOA enzyme and did genetic screening
-took a personality test - and physical test
-interviewed for behavioural traits and history

Question 15

what was Brunner’s findings in studying MAOA gene

Answer 15

Found that they had abnormally low levels of the enzyme
- All had MAOA-L
-low IQ

Question 16

what is a weakness of Brunner’s study

Answer 16

Brunner et al.’s (1993) research has been criticised for using a case study method therefore lack representativeness. This matters because it is difficult to apply the results beyond the family in question, since the genetic make-up is unique to them.
- A correlation doesn’t mean causation
- reduces population validity
- finding out their IQ doesn’t relate to aggression

Question 17

what were the strengths of Brunner’s study on MAOA in a family study

Answer 17

• different types of data collected, increases the validity of the research
• it is research support

Question 18

what is the other section of genetic factors, which isn’t MAOA gene

Answer 18

The Gene-Environment (GxE) interactions
whic is the diathesis stress model

Question 19

what is the researcher who studied the (GxE)

Answer 19

Frazzetto 2007

Question 20

what did Frazzetto suggest

Answer 20

suggested to take a more interactionalist approach

Question 21

what did Frazzetto find

Answer 21

found that low MAOA levels only lead to aggression when accompanied with traumatic childhood events in the first 15 years of their life
this is because the genetic mutation of the MAOA gene associated with the environmental stressor of childhood trauma lead to aggression

Question 22

what are the two strengths of the genetic factors of aggression

Answer 22

strength - objectivity as there’s research using meta-analysis, brain scanning
however, sampling issues reduce this as Brunner used one family and Frazzetto only uses male ppts
strength- external reliability as nit explains gender differences (Coccardo, Rhee and Waldman, Brunner)

Question 23

what are the two weakness of the genetic factors of aggression

Answer 23

weakness- it is reductionist as the genetic side in GxE is overemphasised
weakness- hard to established cause and effect so cannot distinguish between nature and nurture as it is difficult to measure aggression