Biological Key Question

Question 1

What is the key question of biological psychology?

Answer 1

What are the implications if aggression is due to nature or nurture?

Question 2

Describe the introduction of the biological key question

Answer 2

AO1- Aggression can be observed in two different ways, either physical aggression which causes violent behaviour or social aggression where individuals are verbally or emotionally aggressive.
As individuals age, social aggression increases while physical aggression decreases.
This is because individuals learn to regulate their behaviour as they get older.
Physical violence is seen as a more undesirable behaviour and is punished more than social aggression as it impacts society more leading to violent crimes and fear in society.
Social aggression is used more as people age.
0.9 million violent offenders in the year ending September 2023 within the UK

Question 3

Describe Paragraph 1 of the biological key question

Answer 3

Brain dysfunction is an explanation of aggression
AO1- The amygdala’s purpose is to interpret threatening stimuli in the environment, therefore an overactive amygdala causes the individual to continuously misinterpret threatening stimuli within the environment activating the fight of flight response.
The prefrontal cortex purpose is decision making and self control, therefore an under active Prefrontal cortex means the individual lacks self control and is more likely to make potentially dangerous decisions activating the fight or flight response.
The differences in brain function is a result of nature
Implications of the brain dysfunction in explanation of aggression:
Control? Brain dysfunction suggests a lack of free will and control over aggression
Treatment? Difficult to provide an intervention to reduce aggression as it is unethical
Impact? Therefore, individuals remain a danger to society to potentially cause harm to others, there is a risk of violent crime implementing fear within society.

Question 4

Describe Paragraph 2 of the biological key question

Answer 4

Psychodynamic explanation of aggression
AO1: This is due to conflict between the demands of the id and the restrictions of the super ego which the ego has to maintain.
Individuals are likely to be aggressive as a result of a dominant id, this is because the super ego has not been sufficiently developed within the first five years of a child’s life because of parents not teaching the appropriate moral values of acceptable behaviour.
This increases frustration leading to aggression
The Psychodynamic explanation is a result of nurture.
Implications of the Psychodynamic explanation :
Control? Individuals have a lack of control over the super ego which is a pre conscious element- determinist explanation of aggression
Treatment? Therefore, the only ways to overcome the behaviours is to implement strategies which provide consequences for the actions to help improve morals
Psychotherapy may also be used to help individuals explore their dreams and childhood trauma in order to recognise the defence mechanism they use. From this aggression is reduced because it helps people find inner peace and improve relationships.
Impact? The idea is socially sensitive as parents are blamed for not teaching the morals of the super ego.