Genetic Explanations

Question 1

In order to study whether aggression is inherited or the product of social learning researchers use

Answer 1

Twin studies. Psychologists use monozygotic and dizygotic twins. It monozygotic twins are more alike in terms of aggression then it should be day to genetic causes

Question 2

Twin study

Answer 2

Rhee and Waldman conducted a meta analysis of twin and adoption studies on anti social behaviours that include aggression. Identical twins were more alike in terms of anti social behaviour than fraternal twins. This suggests that aggression is, to some extent inherited

Question 3

Problem with twin study

Answer 3

It may simply be that identical twins are treated more similarly which leads to them acting in a more similar manner

Question 4

Psychologists also use

Answer 4

Adoption studies. It has been found that if adopted children’s behaviour correlates with their biological parents there is a possibility that aggression is inherited

Question 5

Adoption study

Answer 5

Hutchings and Mednick studied 14,000 adopted boys in Denmark and found that a significant number of the boys with criminal convictions shared parents with criminal convictions. Indicating a possible biological cause

Question 6

Problems with adoption study

Answer 6

Gender bias

Culturally bias

Question 7

Sex hormones as an influence of aggression study

Answer 7

Van Goozen. Transsexuals were studied broth and three months after treatment. Make to female transsexuals showed decreased aggressive tendencies, female to make transsexuals showed an increase in aggressive tendencies

Question 8

Genes

Answer 8

.. Have also been linked to brain chemistry. MAOA is an enzyme that breaks down noradrenaline, serotonin and other amines

Question 9

Genes study

Answer 9

Bruner found that MAOA deficiency is genetic and this deficiency was found in four generations of men in a Dutch family - all of whom also had very aggressive tendencies

Question 10

Criticism of genes study

Answer 10

The makes in question were very unusual, their abnormal levels of aggression did not relate to everyday aggressive behaviours and therefore don’t contribute much to the understanding of aggression
CORRELATIONAL

Question 11

Caspi study

Answer 11

500 male children. In this longtidual study it was found that those with low levels of MAOA were more likely to grow up exhibiting aggressive tendencies

Question 12

Problems with studying aggression

Answer 12

• self reports are biased

- observations cause DC

Question 13

Replication of bandura bobo doll?

Answer 13

Found NO difference in the correlations between monozygotic and dizygotic twins

Question 14

It is very difficult to determine the role of genetic factors because

Answer 14

More than one gene usually contributes to a behaviour
Manny non genetic factors also influence aggression
These influences may interact - genetic influences may influence which environmental factors cause aggression

Question 15

Studies into role of genetics are

Answer 15

Controversial and unethical