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Biological Psychology > Explanations Of Aggression > Flashcards

Explanations Of Aggression Flashcards

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1
Q

How many different explanations of aggression are there?

A

4

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2
Q

What are the different explanations of aggression

A

Brain structure

Evolution

Freud (psychodynamic)

Hormones

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3
Q

What are the different brain structures identified in this explanation

A

Pre-frontal cortex

Limbic system:

Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus

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4
Q

What is localisation

A

The idea that different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions

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5
Q

What is neuroplasticity

A

The idea that when part of the brain is damaged, another part of the brain is able to perform the role that that original part is no longer able to do

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6
Q

What is one of the role of the pre frontal cortex and why could dysfunction here result in aggression

A

One of the pre frontal cortex roles is to choose the correct social behaviour to show in a certain situation

If dysfunction it could result in the wrong social behaviour being displayed and that incorrect behaviour could be aggression

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7
Q

What is the role of the hippocampus and why may damage here result in aggression

A

Involved in memory

If damaged could result in someone feeling trapped in the present and so individuals may be unable to see the long term outcome of their actions

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8
Q

What is the role of the amygdala and how can damage here result in aggression

A

The centre for emotions such as fear,
It’s role is to combine external stimuli with internal knowledge to create an instinctive response sometimes termed “fight or flight”

Dysfunction here could result in this instinctive response becoming overactive, leading to aggression

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9
Q

What is the role of the hypothalamus and how can damage here lead to aggression

A

The role of the hypothalamus is to maintain homeostasis, one way it does this is via the regulation of hormones. One of these is testosterone which is directly linked to aggression

If dysfunction here could result in abnormal amount of testosterone produced

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10
Q

What is Phineas Gage evidence for

A

Pre frontal cortex is implicated in aggression

He had a construction accident and family said he was abnormally aggressive after and couldn’t control his inhibitions

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11
Q

What is Raine evidence for

A

Pre frontal cortex is linked to aggression

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12
Q

What does Flynn provide evidence for

A

Amygdala part of aggression

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13
Q

Why is this useful to know?

A

Understanding of regions associated with abnormal function could lead to brain scans to predict someone who has potential to be aggressive

Brain scans

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14
Q

What is evolution

A

The process by which different kinds of living organisms are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth

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15
Q

What does evolution show about aggression

A

That is must have been a desirable trait and that it must be an evolved response

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16
Q

What is natural selection

A

Where the species that is most adapted to their environment survives

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17
Q

What is sexual selection

A

More about survival of off spring rather than themselves

Select a mate who is going to provide good genes and protect and provide for their offspring best

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18
Q

What is the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation (EEA)

A

Where humans will have adapted so that more desirable traits such as aggression in the hunter gatherer era

19
Q

How does evolution explain behaviours other than aggression

A

Over time we have adapted to learn lots of different behaviours in order to aid our survival and our offspring survival

20
Q

What did Gomez find that Supports aggression in natural selection

A

Studied infra specific violence in 1024 mammals and 600 human populations and found a death rate of 0.3% in non - humans and 2% in humans

Suggesting humans are more violently aggressive
Potentially due to greater selection pressures

21
Q

What did Harvey find that supports sexual selection

A

Sexual jealousy is often cited as a major cause of aggression as males may be biologically driven to protect reproductive resources from male competition, suggesting one cause of aggression could be sexual selection as you don’t know if that is your child as a male sort of thing

22
Q

Does the evolutionary explanation have good applications?

A

They are limited as you cannot change evolution and so if doesn’t give us a strategy to recuse aggression

Post hoc argument so can’t go back to EEA and do research

So good at furthering our understanding but not good at giving strategies to reduce aggression

23
Q

What is a hormone

A

A regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in blood to stimulate specific cells or tissues

24
Q

Where are hormones produced

A

Glands in the endocrine system

25
Q

What is a hormone that has been directly linked to aggression

A

Testosterone

26
Q

What is the direct effect of testosterone on the brain and aggression

A

It has an organising effect and sensitises specific neural circuits, e.g. Stimulates cell growth in the hypothalamus,

Therefore abnormal amount could result in dysfunction

27
Q

What is the indirect effect of testosterone on the brain and aggression

A

Testosterone also had an impact on neurotransmission, of NTs such as serotonin

Serotonin helps regulate mood, too much or too little can’t control mood which could result in aggression

28
Q

What does Dabbs illustrate

A

That men who committed violent crimes had higher testosterone than those who had committed non-violent crimes, supporting the idea that higher testosterone = higher aggression

29
Q

Is the hormonal explanation testable?

A

Yes as we can use brain scans to measure serotonin and blood analysis to measure testosterone
Which improves validity as we can assess whether we are measuring what we think we are measuring

However, we are to measure these during an aggressive act

30
Q

Does this explanation have useful applications

A

We could accurately measure someone’s level of testosterone at rest and assess how likely they are to be aggressive in order to prevent them from being aggressive in the future

31
Q

What are the two innate drives

A

Eros - life

Thanatos - death

32
Q

Freud proposed the mind consists of 3 parts

A

Conscious
Preconscious
Unconscious

33
Q

What are the three parts of personality

A

ID

EGO

SUPEREGO

34
Q

Describe the ID

A

Pleasure principle

First part of personality to develop

Driven by Eros and Thanatos

Explaining why someone may behave aggressively in order to satisfy basic urges

35
Q

Describe the EGO

A

Develops around age 2

Works on the reality principle

Individual does not truly understand right from wrong

There is some appreciation of societies rules and when it is appropriate/not to show aggression

36
Q

Describe the SUPEREGO

A

Develops between 3-6

Operates on morality principle

Full understanding of right from wrong

Meaning urges of the ID are delayed until an appropriate time

Af this point aggressive impulses should be well controlled

37
Q

What could an underdeveloped superego or overactive ID lead to

A

Aggression

38
Q

What is the defence mechanism known as where we suppress the IDs urges

A

Sublimation

39
Q

Sublimation involves catharsis

A

Releasing negative energy from the mind without actually resorting to violent behaviour

For example watching others be violent such as boxing

40
Q

Is Freud’s theory testable

A

No, can’t measure unconscious not easy way of measuring aspects

41
Q

Application of Freud

A

Good - led to development of cognitive treatments such as CBT

42
Q

Is Freud reductionist

A

Yes,

Reducing behaviour down to unconscious conflicts

43
Q

Is Freud deterministic

A

Yes,

States you are a slave to your own psyche

44
Q

What is a defence mechanism

A

In order to deal with large anxiety between the ID and SUPEREGO, the EGO develops a number of coping strategies such as sublimation

Biological Psychology (10 decks)

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