Brain structure as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour

Question 1

Prefrontal Cortex - P1, A01

Answer 1

The pre frontal cortex’s role is in higher cognitive functioning such as decision making
damage to this leads to a lack of self-control and an inability to regulate impulsive and aggressive behaviour

Question 2

Strength of Brain functioning as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour
supporting evidence - Prefrontal cortex P1, A03

Answer 2

One strength of using brain functioning as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour is that there is case study evidence.
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain which makes decisions
Damage to this can cause impulisvety and personaity change
Phinease gage was involved in a train accident where a pole penetrated his skull and damaged his prefrontal cortex
following this accident, it was observed that he experienced personality changes and behan to act impulsively and aggresively
therefore, this means that there is case study evidence to show damage to the pre-frontal cortex can cause aggression

Question 3

The limbic system involving amygdala - P2, A01

Answer 3

The amygdala has a central role in how we assess and respond to threats in our environment.
the reactivity of the amygdala in humans is proven to be an important predictor of aggressive behaviour
the association between amygdala reactivity and aggression is especially meaningful becuase an angry facial espression is an ecologcially valid sign of threat - it exists in the real work
reactivity or overactivity of the amygdala leads to aggression

Question 4

Strength of Brain functioning as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour
supporting evidence - amygdala P2, A03

Answer 4

One strength of using brain functioning as an explanation of aggression is that there is case study evidence
The amygdala is the seat of aggression in the brain and damage to this can cause aggression
Charles Whitman had a damaged amygdala
He shot 20 Texam people from a clock tower of a texan university including his mum, so there is a clear link between the amygdala and aggression
It was found that he had a tumour pressing on his amygdala causing it to be damaged
therefore, this means that there is case study evidence to show that damage to the amygdala can cause aggression

Question 5

The hypothalamus - P3, A01

Answer 5

the hypothalamus influences various kinds of emotional responses accompanied by physiological arousal
The ‘fight or flight’ emergency response is the preparatory process of the body for appropriate kind of action in response to various stimuli and is regulated by the autonomic nervous system under the control of the hypothalamus
Once a threat has been determined by the amygdala, the hypothalamus triggers the fight response, causing adrenaline to be released.

Question 6

Strength of Brain functioning as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour
supporting evidence - The hypothalamus P3, A03

Answer 6

One strength of this theory is the evidence from the 1920s when Hess conducted a series of studies on cats.
He electrically stimulated the hypothalamus which immediately called hissing an arched box, further stimulation caused the cats to attack an invisible threat.
Also, in the 1960s Flynn tested and found that stimulating the medial hypothalamus led to affective aggression, fighting, and the lateral hypothalamus led to predatory aggression, hunting.
Further evidence comes from Delgado and his studies with the bull. He implanted a remote-controlled electrodes in the bulls brain, on the hypothalamus, and when not activated the bull was aggressive and charging at him, stimulation caused and immediate stop in charging and aggression and the bull became passive.
This evidence provides support for the role of the hypothalamus as an explanation for human aggression.

Question 7

COUNTER ARGUMENT TO - Strength of Brain functioning as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour
supporting evidence - The hypothalamus P3, A03

Answer 7

However, this research was done on animals in the 1920s and 60s so we cannot always generalise to humans because human behaviour is governed by social conventions and animals rely more on instincts.
Furthermore, this theory is reductionist as it only focuses on the biological caused of aggression and ignores other theories such as social learning theory which was tested by Bandura in the 1960s. Therefore, this means that we can use the hypothalamus as an explanation of human aggression. Good keep going – how is SLT an alternative explanation for aggression and can it be supported with experimental evidence.