Hormonal Explanation For Agression

Question 1

What two hormones are responsible for aggression?

Answer 1

Serotonin and testosterone

Question 2

What is the role of serotonin on aggression?

Answer 2

• Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for the transmission of mood related information across neurones
• It also controls an individuals response to a situation.
• When the limbic system is activated (the centre of emotional processing), individuals with low levels of serotonin in their pre frontal cortex find it more difficult to control it.
• This means they cannot control their emotional response which can lead to aggression

Question 3

What is the role of testosterone?

Answer 3

• testosterone is an androgen. It is present in females as well but in lower levels.
• Increased levels of testosterone is thought to increase levels of aggression and aggressive responses, such as provocation.
• Aromatase (enzyme responsible for metabolising testosterone) is found in the limbic region such as the amygdala. So if there are reduced levels of aromatase in those areas the testosterone in those areas will not have enough enzymes for it to activate. This means testosterone will have less effect and the response of the amygdala to the environment will not prompt the reaction of testosterone meaning an aggressive act is less likely to occur.
• High levels of testosterone in the orbito frontal cortex of the brain cause the activity in that area to reduce. This means the that in an emotional situation there could be heightened emotionally aggressive response.
• Testosterone also influences the levels of serotonin in the brain and high levels of testosterone reduce the levels of serotonin and reduce serotonergic activity which results in an increase in aggression. Testosterone doesn’t work in isolation, it seems to control the effects of other biochemicals.

Question 4

What is aromatase?

Answer 4

An enzyme that metabolises testosterone

Question 5

AO3 for hormonal explanation?

Answer 5

• Wagner (mice)

- kreuz and rose

Question 6

Outline how Wagner supports the hormonal explanation for testosterone?

Answer 6

Wagner chemically castrated mice and their levels of testosterone reduced. He then found that their levels of aggression reduced. Wagner then injected testosterone into the mice and found their levels of aggression started rising back to its previous levels before they were castrated.

Question 7

Outline how Kreuz and Rose support the hormonal explanation for aggression

Answer 7

-They found higher levels of testosterone in criminals with a history of violent behaviour than those with a history of violence. This suggests that perhaps human aggression is caused by testosterone