Aggressivity and sex; Homo- or heterosexuality

Question 1

conspecific aggression

Answer 1

part of reproduction
establishemnt of dominance status
access to resources

Question 2

violence/inappropriate aggrestion

Answer 2

intent to harm and cause injury
assult
murder

Question 3

types of aggression

Answer 3

anti-predator aggression
defensive aggression (fear induced)
predatory aggression
dominance aggression (inter-male aggression)
maternal aggression
sex-related aggression
territorial aggression (resindent-intruder)
irritable aggression (shock induced)

Question 4

fetus and testosterone

Answer 4

responsible for masculinizing male genitalia
testosterone binds to androgen receptor for masculine genitalia
female disorders- to much testosterone

Question 5

increased testosterone

Answer 5

testosterone crosses blood- placental barrier and masculinizes female genitalia in female fetus’s intersexed appearance
testosterone is undergoing aromatizaiton to masculinize the brain

Question 6

Serotonin and aggression

Answer 6

inhibitory
pharmacology: 5HT1a and 5HT1b receptor
genetics: knockout mouse
human impulsivity and hostility 
there is an inverse relationship between serotonin function and aggression

Question 7

vasopressin

Answer 7

a facilitator of aggression

established link to aggression
testosterone dependent
interface with serotonin system

Question 8

vasopression biological diversity- physiology

Answer 8

fluid regulation
carbohydrate metablism
thermoregulation
reproductive function

Question 9

vasopressin: biological diversity – vertebrate behavior

Answer 9

communication
sexual behavior
pair bonding
paternal/maternal care
social memory
aggression
stress-related disorders

Question 10

hunger and aggression

Answer 10

low blood glucose levels can make it harder to concnetrate and do simple tasks
it can also make it more difficult to behave within society acceptable norms

Question 11

neuropeptide Y

Answer 11

released when nutrient levels drop and body gets hungry
functions including increasing food intake
produced in various parts of teh brain, including the hypothalaus, and acts on a variety of receptors
increase in neuropeptide Y increases appetite and is thought to produce an associated change in aggression and aggresive behavior

Question 12

Pheromones

Answer 12

molecules used for communicatin within a species
orignally defined as chemical substances released by one member of a species causing specific reactions in other members of the same species

Question 13

volatile pheromone

Answer 13

The volatile pheromone is perceived by the olfactory epithelium.

Impulses are relayed through the olfactory lobes and cerebrum to the hypothalamus.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormones in the hypothalamus are conveyed over the hypophysial portal veins to the anterior pituitary.

The releasing hormones regulate the output of pituitary gonadotrophins.

Gonadotrophins condition the production of steroid hormones by the ovaries.

The ovarian hormones are deficient or of the wrong kind and a pregnancy-type uterus cannot be developed and maintained.

Young embryos fail to implant, thus terminating pregnancy.

Question 14

homosexuality among animals

Answer 14

necking and rubbing to sexual excitement is common among male giraffes
common among pygmy chimpanzees
greylag geese can have homosexual unions that last up to 15 years

Question 15

having older brothers

Answer 15

they say you are more likely to be gay due to a change in hormonal balance in mothers uterus with each additional child
fraternal birth order effect

Question 16

family studies of homosexuality

Answer 16

homosexual females more likely to have homosexual brothers

brothers concordant for homosexuality were similiar in childhood gender noncoformity

gender nonconformity inherited traight for both males and females

90% of gay or bisexual males had sons who were straight

Question 17

hormone and prenatal evidence for homosexuality

Answer 17

Prenatal
exogenous hormone administration
DES
H-Y antigen
maternal stress
testosterone levels
handedness
finger lengths, 2d:4d
Testosterone levels in adulthood

Question 18

physical differences between gays and straights

Answer 18

Simon LeVay (1991)
The third interstitial nucleus = INAH3 (located in the hypothalamus )
is normally larger in men than in women
in his sample of gay men, the third interstitial nucleus was about the same size as in women
Hypothalamus plays a role in sexual motivation
Critics: it can’t be as black/white as this because of the idea of a continuum

Question 19

nature and nurture

Answer 19

EBE = “Exotic Becomes Erotic” theory
Sandra Bem: Sexual orientation is a combination of in-born temperament and experiences with other children
Temperament
male typical: aggressive, activity focused
Female typical: relationship-oriented, non-aggressive
temperament guides children toward “Gender conforming behaviors”
Experiences
boys playing sports, “rough and tumble” play, girls play with dolls, pretend activities
Homosexuality results when:
children with a temperament that doesn’t match gender-typical activities are drawn toward opposite sex activities and same sex children are seen as “exotic”
In adolescence, these feelings of the same sex being different, naturally turn to feelings of attraction
Critics: not much empirical support