Biological Key Question Flashcards
what is our key question?
What are the implications for society if aggression is found to be caused by nature not nurture?
briefly describe the key question
Aggression in humans might be nature or nurture driven – they may behave aggressively due to genetic causes or environmental ones. If behaviour is nurture driven, then people can avoid aggressive triggering environmental factors and therefore avoid being aggressive. If behaviour is nature, then this is more complicated and their element of choice to avoid is reduced because it is part of them biologically. If we cannot control our biology then aggressive behaviour caused by it cannot be our fault, however some would argue that you can learn to control biological aggression.
describe some applications to our key question
Luis Suarez became famous in 2014 in Brazil after being accused of biting an opposing player for the third time in his football career.
· Footage appears to show him bit the shoulder of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a clash in the match between Italy and Uruguay on 24th June 2014. Chiellini lowered his top to the referee to reveal what appeared to be teeth marks in his shoulder, but no action was taken during the game. HOWEVER, Suarez later received a 4 month ban from all football as punishment for his alleged actions.
· He is not the first football player to have an outburst of impulsive aggressive behaviour during a word cup game. In 1998, David Beckham was sent off after kicking out at Diego Simeone.
· France’s, Zinedine Zidane received a red card during the World Cup final in 2006 after head butting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest.
should we blame these successful footballers for their aggressive behaviour and punish them
If we should not be blamed for our aggression that is nature, then using imprisonment to prevent aggression might not be ethical. If imprisonment is a punishment, the question for society is whether someone should be punished for something they cannot help doing. This is a moral issue for society. In these cases, just because they are footballers with successful careers based on their impulsive tendencies does not mean they should be treated leniently when they lash out.
David Beckham was ostracised by many for his outburst on the pitch as it was seen as out of character and despite many praising his talents, they were outraged by the behaviour he showed. Some psychologists argue that impulsivity is a behaviour trait that people learn to control by experiencing the urges in different situations.
But the World Cup for any footballer can prove to be such a high-pressure situation that the ability to control impulsivity is hindered. While normally able to channel their impulsive urges into their game, the stress felt in a match with high importance could interrupt this causing an aggressive outburst.
Anxiety and depression get attention from society and treated, whereas anger and aggression are punished. There is a suggestion that they are all linked to emotions therefore one sort of emotion is treated and brings sympathy whilst another sort of emotion leads to blame and seems unfair of society.
describe brain and aggression in animals for the concept applications
Brain and Aggression (animals) – animal studies have shown that certain parts of the brain can be provoked into producing aggression eg, hypothalamus or other limbic system parts – through electrical stimulation,
Adelson (2004) found that rats showing activity in the aggressive parts in their brain also showed a hormonal stress response. The researchers stimulated the rats aggression controlling centres in the brain which resulted in a hormonal response, measured by levels of hormone in the blood. Therefore, raising the stress hormones went with raised stimulation of the aggression centre in the brain and lowered stimulation went with a lower level of stress hormones. In humans, this could explain why stress in humans eg, World Cup games for footballers, can lead to aggression and why aggression in humans can lead to stress.
This suggests that aggression comes from our brain functioning, and this is our biology, our nature. The animal cannot be blamed for the aggression as it was stimulated so perhaps people may have similar actions to brain stimulation and they too should not be blamed. These studies suggest that at some level at least aggression comes from our nature and our biology rather than our environment
describe brain aggression in humans for concept application
Brain Aggression (humans) - Charles Whitman in 1966 killed may people in the US and it was discovered he had a brain tumour pressing against his limbic system. This is an example of aggression coming from nature and not being someone’s “fault”, and it is also evidence that there is an aggression centre in the brain, the limbic system specifically. This supports Adelson (2004) animal’s studies. Raine et al (1997) found brain differences (using PET scanning) in people charged with murder and pleading not guilty by reasons of insanity (MGRI) compared with non-murderers. This is evidence that aggression comes from nature. The idea of getting evidence that murder might come from brain differences and that a plea of non-guilty by reason of insanity can follow – supports the view that society does not hold people responsible for aggression as it is part of their nature.
describe high testosterone and low cortisol (hormones) for concept application
High testosterone and low cortisol (hormones) - can be linked to aggression as found by, Dabbs et al (1995) who studied 692 male prisoners (saliva) and found high levels in those who committed homicide and rape, indicating a link between the severity of the crime and increased testosterone levels. This suggests that hormones are implicated in aggression – again our biology and nature driven.
However, cortisol is the stress hormone and is triggered by stressors in the environment, and also when animal’s brains are stimulated showing aggression in the limbic system, this can be seen as coming from the environment – nurture. Using this argument, aggression is triggered by environmental factors, which perhaps gives the individual some control over their behaviour. For examples, they could avoid stressful situations life the World Cup game.
The above cases all refer to male sportsmen and perhaps the same hormone that makes them driven to compete in sport, also makes them more prone to aggression.
describe natural selection for concept application
Natural selection helps explain aggression, males might react aggressively to protect offspring or to protect their mate, both of these behaviours helping in some way to protect that male’s genes. Therefore, genes in someone with this aggressive tendency survive to be passed on through reproduction. This would be a biological explanation and would be nature. From this viewpoint, society would not blame someone for being aggressive whilst playing in a football match would not be useful. Punishment such as imprisonment is intended to teach someone a lesson, but if aggression is in someone’s nature they cannot unlearn it.
describe maoa gene for concept application
MAOA gene often referred to as the “warrior gene” because it links with aggressive and impulsive behaviour can be used to explain aggression, especially in footballers. Research has found that people with a version of this gene show low activity, or low expression, may be more likely to react to provocation by showing aggression, McDermott et al (2009). Other research has found that people with this “low expression” version of MAOA gene, who also have high levels of testosterone, are more likely to be aggressive, especially if they have suffered a poor upbringing.
describe the however (non-biological) for concept application
However – non-biological
There are suggestions that if aggression is part of someone’s nature then they might need support or treatment BUT if aggression comes from something someone can do something about (environmental), society may view punishment to be worthwhile.
· Operant conditioning suggests that if someone is reworded for a behaviour they will repeat it, and if punished they will stop the behaviour. This is about learning not to do a behaviour that is aggressive. So if someone has learned aggression because they have been rewarded for it, such as getting their own way at school or in the family, then punishment might work to stop the learned behaviour. This is nurture – behaviour that comes from nature cannot be punished as it cannot be unlearned.
describe social learning theory for an alternative application for concept application
Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura)
Social Learning Theory posits that aggression is largely a learned behavior, acquired through observation, imitation, and reinforcement. It highlights environmental influences and emphasizes nurture over nature.
Learned Aggression and Punishment:
If someone has learned aggression by observing role models (e.g., parents, peers, or media figures) who exhibit aggressive behavior and are rewarded for it, then punishment might help stop the behavior. For example, a child who sees a sibling being rewarded for aggressive actions might imitate that behavior to achieve similar rewards.
Punishment, in this case, can disrupt the reinforcement cycle and discourage the learned behavior. However, this only works if the punishment is consistent and the individual sees non-aggressive behavior being rewarded instead.
Nature vs. Nurture:
Since Social Learning Theory emphasizes that aggression is learned from the environment, it assumes that punishment or intervention can help reshape behaviors. This is nurture.
If aggression were biologically ingrained, it would be less susceptible to modification through punishment alone, as the behavior would not be learned but inherent.
Support or Treatment:
Support might involve providing alternative role models, encouraging prosocial behaviors, or teaching conflict-resolution strategies. This reinforces non-aggressive behaviors and weakens the learned aggressive patterns.
describe freud as an alternative non-biological explanation for concept application
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud’s theory suggests that aggression stems from internal conflicts, largely shaped by early childhood experiences. While it recognizes biological drives (nature), it also emphasizes the role of nurture through the influence of upbringing and the resolution of psychological conflicts.
Innate Aggression (Thanatos):
Freud believed in the existence of a death drive (Thanatos) that could manifest as aggression, indicating a biological component. Aggression arising from this instinct would not be responsive to punishment, as it is not learned but intrinsic. Treatment (e.g., psychoanalysis) might help manage such impulses by uncovering unconscious motives and conflicts.
Learned Aggression and Punishment:
Aggression can also result from unresolved conflicts in early childhood, particularly frustrations or imbalances between the id (instinctual desires), ego (rational self), and superego (moral conscience). For example, a child might learn that aggressive outbursts bring attention or resolve feelings of frustration.
In this case, Freud might argue that punishment alone could suppress the behavior temporarily but would not address the underlying psychological issues. Instead, addressing the root conflict through therapy would be necessary.
Nature vs. Nurture:
Aggression from Thanatos represents nature, making it resistant to punishment.
Aggression shaped by childhood experiences (e.g., neglect or inconsistent discipline) represents nurture. This type of aggression could potentially be mitigated through environmental changes or psychoanalytic intervention.
Support or Treatment:
Freud’s approach would emphasize treatment rather than punishment. Psychoanalysis could help individuals explore repressed feelings or experiences that contribute to aggression, promoting healthier ways of coping.
describe the conclusion for our key question
The implications for society, if evidence suggests that aggression is caused by nature rather than nurture – can we really find the criminal responsible for their actions? Suarez for example may not be able to control his impulsive behaviour to perceived threats as he may have biological features that make this difficult. This would mean punishing him could be seen as unfair as his
biological make-up is beyond his control. Perhaps more should be done to investigate treatments for biological predisposition rather than a punishment.
This may also change the way that society views aggression, if a person’s biology causes aggression then this is beyond their control - so aggression may be a form of illness or a symptom of a disorder.
In addition people could be identified before they show any aggressive behaviour, meaning that an implication of research in this area might be developing mechanisms to pred
