Biological Explanations

Question 1

Why is selective breeding important in regards to genetics?

Answer 1

Specific breeds of animals e.g. dogs have been bred specifically for aggression purposes.

Suggests there are specific genes that determine the levels of aggression.

Question 2

What is the MAOA gene?

Answer 2

An enzyme involved in neurotransmitters e.g. Serotonin.

Low levels of the MAOA gene or serotonin have been linked to an increase in aggression.

Question 3

Outline what Hood and Cairns (1989) did and what they found?

Answer 3

Bred mice with significantly high levels of aggression.

This was reduced when raised with siblings

Cannot be generalised to humans

Question 4

What occurred in Cases et al (1995) study when observing the MAOA gene?

Answer 4

Disabled the MAOA gene and this led to the rats becoming more aggressive

Question 5

Describe what Brummer et al (1993) discovered when discussing levels of MAOA?

Answer 5

An aggressive family in the Netherlands was studied, found the MAOA gene at low levels led to high levels of aggression.

Question 6

What study would give contradictory research and what did it suggest?

Answer 6

Walters (1992) found high levels of serotonin caused high levels of aggression.

Question 7

What did Caspi et al (2003) suggest was the best explanation to this approach?

Answer 7

More likely a faulty MAOA gene plus environmental stress causes aggression.

Question 8

Give three evaluative points of the genetic explanation?

Answer 8

Inconclusive or oversimplified theory.

Is reductionist as it explains through the biological explanation

Never a 100% concordance rate in twin studies

Question 9

Explain what the Limbic System is briefly?

Answer 9

The amygdala is shown to have a strong connection with aggression

It appears the hypothalamus served a regulatory role in aggression

Question 10

Explain the role serotonin plays within aggression briefly?

Answer 10

Low levels of serotonin have been shown to increase levels of aggression

Has been implicated in the control of aggressive behaviour.

Question 11

Explain what Bard and Mountcastle (1937) found?

Answer 11

The destruction of the hypothalamus caused rage in cats

Question 12

What is Tryptophan?

Answer 12

An amino acid that releases serotonin that reduces aggressive behaviour in juveniles

Question 13

What did Brown et al (1979) find?

Answer 13

That low levels of serotonin are linked to aggression

Question 14

Give three evaluative points of the neural explanation?

Answer 14

Is not a complete explanation, as it does not effect everybody, as low levels of serotonin do not make everybody aggressive

Ignores social factors so is therefore overly reductionist

Deterministic as biology being a factor

Question 15

What is testosterone?

Answer 15

Is male sex hormone and is thought to influence aggression as it effects areas of the brain controlling aggression.

Is at its highest levels during puberty

Question 16

Outline what Dabbs et al found

Answer 16

Tested testosterone levels in criminals and found those with a high level of had a large history of violent crimes.

Whereas low levels had non violent crimes

Question 17

Explain the results of Lindman et al (1987)

Answer 17

Young males that acted aggressively when drunk had high levels of testosterone

Question 18

Wagner et al (1979) found what?

Answer 18

Reduced levels of aggression when dogs were castrated

Question 19

Give a piece of contradictory research regarding the hormonal explanation?

Answer 19

Klinesmith - Found high levels of aggression caused high levels of testosterone

Question 20

Give three evaluative points of the hormonal explanation?

Answer 20

Cannot relate animal studies to humans as they are qualitatively different

Reductionist as a complex idea is simplified to a simple theory

Supports nature when discussing the nature vs nurture debate

Lacks cause and effect