Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression Flashcards
What does the amygdala do?
Source of emotions - takes in information and decides on an emotional response
How is the amygdala linked to aggression?
People who have more activity in the right amygdala tend to be higher in aggression
What does the hypothalamus do?
Responsible for controlling homeostasis in the body particularly levels of hormones e.g. testosterone (ties to aggression)
What does the prefrontal cortex do?
Controls emotions, self-control and regulates behaviour
How is the prefrontal cortex linked to aggression?
If you have a less activity/under-developed/smaller/damaged prefrontal cortex, you are less able to control behaviour and emotions
What does the limbic system do?
Role in self-preservation e.g. fight or flight response to danger - complex set of structures within the brain
How does the limbic system link to aggression?
If you are faced with a confrontation, the limbic system may create an anger response to the perceived threat
What does the periaqueductal grey area do?
Located in the midbrain
Links hypothalamus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex together
Coordinates and integrates behavioural responses
What is aggression?
Psychological or physiological expression of anguish or anger, showing forms of anti-social behaviour
How does Raine support the Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression?
Found NGRI murderers had higher activity in right amygdala and lower activity in prefrontal cortex so makes the theory credible as there is evidence to back up that brain activity differences causes aggression
Why is the Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression reductionist?
Too simplistic to put it down solely to biology, could be influenced by environment so activity in the brain is not the only factor to explain aggression
How is the Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression empirical?
We can use brain scans to study areas like the amygdala so we can get objective evidence of brain activity, making the theory more valid
Why might using brain scans be a weakness for the Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression?
Low in ecological validity as it takes place in labs so may not link to aggression in a real world setting
How does the Kluver-Bucy syndrome support the Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression (particularly the amygdala)?
Found that removing part of the temporal lobe in rhesus monkeys led them to become more tame, so suggests that the amygdala is linked to aggression
Why is using animal research a weakness of Brain Activity/Structure Explanation for Aggression?
Animals aren’t the same as humans (e.g. brain differences) so results about aggression don’t apply to humans making the theory less credible
