Biological: Testosterone Flashcards
What kind of hormone is testosterone? Who produces more of it?
Steroid hormone: affects development and growth of sex organs. Adult men produce 10 times more than women
What is the Basal Model?
base level of testosterone causes aggression and dominance
What is the Reciprocal Model?
testosterone correlated with aggression as cause and affect
What is the Challenge Hypothesis?
increases in both testosterone and aggression are caused by challenged to social dominance
What is research into testosterone often criticised of?
Male participants so only learning about male aggression: beta bias
Which study involving women supports the basal model?
Pillay 2006: testosterone levels in saliva, soccer and wrestling more than softball or swimming
Which other study supports the basal model?
Kouri 1995 (in lab) and Pope 2000 (6 weeks): more denial of £ to other Pps when testosterone given
What evaluative points can be made about Kouri and Pope’s research?
not real aggression tested? Lab =control. IDA: free will vs determinism, testosterone takes away free will?
Who supports the challenge hypothesis?
Mazur and Booth 1998: 2000 air force vets, 4 medical in 10yrs, testosterone lower when married, higher when divorced -more challenge when single but only military
Who conducted a meta analysis into the testosterone and aggression relationship?
Book 2001: 45 studies, p=0.1 correlation, positive but weak
What are IDA issues related to testosterone and aggression?
holistic explanation better: integrates bio with other approaches, if aggression determined by bio can we be blamed for aggression?
What are methodological issues with testosterone and aggression research?
problems of correlation, hard to detect testosterone differences in women as smaller overall amount
What research disproves the basal model?
Bain 1987: testosterone same in men charged (not proven) with violent/non violent crimes - only those who were caught, not all may be guilty
