Explaining human aggression

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

Gradual development or change that occurs in living organisms to enable them to adapt to the environment to ensure their survival

Question 2

How evolution explains aggression

Answer 2

• males successful at mating were physically bigger and stronger allowing them to protect their mate
• males who were aggressive had an advantage over non aggressive ones as they would be prepared to attack other males to protect their family
• females would choose mates who provided good genes so aggressive men were more favoured

Question 3

How prefrontal cortex explains aggression

Answer 3

• involved in social interactions

- damage could lead to problems with anger management, irritability and impulsivity

Question 4

How does periaqueductal grey matter explain aggression

Answer 4

• deals with responses we have to stressors both internal and external eg threat and pain
• rats with lesions show aggression towards unfamiliar males brought into cage

Question 5

How does the amygdala explain aggression

Answer 5

• responsible for controlling instinctive emotional response
• right amygdala is excitatory and left is inhibitory
• if balance not maintained will lead to aggression

Question 6

How does the hypothalamus explain aggression

Answer 6

• hypothalamus controls hormones such as testosterone

- males naturally produce more

Question 7

evaluation of evolution

Answer 7

supporting evidence - Thornhill and Palmer - males evolved adaptations eg rape to obtain females - advantage - supports nature
Difficult to show natural selection - disadvantage - difficult to falsify
individual differences - in modern other world other factors may affect it- disadvantage -may not be accurate
Scientific - Mazur found males fight less as they grow older because have mate by late 20’s- advantage - supported by empirical evidence therefore scientific, objective way to describe.

Question 8

What do hormones cause?

Answer 8

• pituitary gland releases oxytocin which increases trust of others
• Testosterone is an androgen which develops and maintains male characteristics
• overproduction can cause aggression

Question 9

Evidence to support hormonal cause of aggression

Answer 9

• Dabbs - 89 male prisoners found those with higher levels of testosterone commited violent crimes- 10/11 crimes had high testosterone
• Hawke - cases of violent sex offenders who following castration displayed lower levels of aggression

Question 10

Evaluation of hormones

Answer 10

nature/ nurture - effects prenatal brain - supports nature - able to predict
Reductionism - androgen and effects the development of amygdala - suggests only hormones are responsible
science- 10/11 violent male offenders have testestorone - quantitive data - objective