Agression Flashcards
EVALUATION - role of the amygdala in aggression
Pardini et al - reduced amygdala volume can predict development of severe and persistent aggression.
Longitudinal study of male participants.
MRI scans.
Relationship remained after confounding variables controlled.
EVALUATION - role of hippocampus in aggression
Raine et al - studied two groups of criminals (unsuccessful psychopaths and successful psychopaths).
Unsuccessful showed asymmetries of hippocampus - leads to impulsive aggressive behaviour.
This is why they were caught.
EVALUATION - inconsistent evidence of hormonal influences
Positive correlations found between levels of testosterone and self-reported levels of aggression among prison inmates.
Positive correlation between testosterone levels and likelihood of behaving aggressively to provocation.
No correlation between testosterone levels and actual violent behaviour.
EVALUATION - need to distinguish between aggression and dominance
Mazur - aggression is a form of dominant behaviour.
In animals, increase in testosterone levels on dominance behaviour may be shown through aggressive behaviour.
In humans, influence of testosterone on dominance is likely to be expressed in more subtle ways - status seeking behaviour.
Increased testosterone in women make them act nicer in some situations.
EVALUATION - issues in sampling for genetic factors in aggression
Studies focus on those convicted for violent crimes.
Many are not convicted therefore represents a small minority of those involved in aggressive behaviour.
Those designated as ‘violent’ by conviction are not necessarily most violent - classed as violent if had whole life free of violence except for one murder.
EVALUATION - difficulty determining the role of genetic factors
More than one gene contributes to a behaviour.
Environmental factors as well as genetic factors.
Genetic and environmental factors may interact with each other.
EVALUATION - problems of assessing aggression
Many studies of aggression have relied on parental or self-report.
Miles and Carey - meta-analysis showed that studies using these techniques found strong correlations between genetics and aggression. Studies using observation found more of a correlation with environmental influences.
Difficult to accurately assess contributors to aggression.
EVALUATION - evidence for MAOA gene
Tiihonen et al - studied Finnish prisoners
Found MAOA-L genotype with another gene to be associated with extremely violent behaviour.
No evidence for these genes among non-violent offenders.
EVALUATION - MAOA gene in explaining gender differences in aggressive behaviour
Niehoff - differential genetic vulnerability in males and females of MAOA gene.
Carried on X chromosome.
Males only have one X chromosome so are more likely to inherit the gene.
Females have two so may be carriers and not express it.
