Biological - Evidence

Question 1

Evidence to support catharsis

Answer 1

Doobs+Wood
3 groups: 1. electric shock 2. watch shock 3. Confederate wasn’t hurt
All ps were given chance to shock
Found: ps who were annoyed hurting the confederate decreased numbers of shocks
Catharsis reduces aggression

Question 2

Contradicting evidence of Catharsis

Answer 2

Geen et al
ps who had shocked the confederate delivered greater shock intensities
This shows catharsis doesn’t always reduce aggression

Question 3

Evidence to support hormones

Answer 3

Dabbs et al
Testosterone measured in saliva of inmates
9/11 with low test = committed non violent crimes 10/11 inmates with high test = committed violet crimes
Shows correlation between level of test and aggression
Albert
Castraded rats less testosterone less aggressive - when testosterone injected in to them = more agressive

Question 4

Contradicting evidence of hormones

Answer 4

Dabbs et al
What about the 2/11 low test
What about the 1/11 high test
Study doesn’t explain outliers

Question 5

Evidence to support evolution

Answer 5

Campbell
Gang members show higher aggression for social status
Mednick
Showed aggression is heritable
child with bio father who committed violence also committed violence

Question 6

Evidence to support genetics

Answer 6

Mednick
14,000 adoptees - Convicted parent
Adoptive father = 14.7%
Bio father = 20%
If neither = 13.5%
Shows that its mainly genetic
Brendgen
Researched twins
Found that 60% PA + 20% SA is inherited

Question 7

Contradicting evidence of genetics

Answer 7

Raine
low levels of glucose in frontal lobe of murders
Inverted activity in amygdala of murders
Brendgen
What about the other % - envirnoment must play a role

Question 8

Evidence to support Brain structure

Answer 8

Grafman et al.
Brain injured veterens were reported to be more aggressive
Raine et al.
NGRI’s compared to control
Found inverted activity in amygdala in NGRI’s
Glucose levels higher in NGRI’s
Williams
60% NGRI murderers have tbi