Hormones

Question 1

Hormones role in aggression

A01- What are hormones

Answer 1

Hormones= Chemical messengers in the body, travel through bloodstream a lot slower than NT. Can affect things such a metabolism and mood, but also have a role in reproduction and sexual function.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM(eg Thyroid, PT gland, testes and ovaries)- responsible for making hormones
Work by binding to receptor proteins to target cells and changing cell function, cell responds in a particular way to the hormones
Secretion is triggered by other hormones or by activity at neuronal level. Behaviour affected by hormones based on when they’re released or concentration of them
Also triggered by environment eg flight or fight- response to stress

Question 2

Hormones role in aggression

A01- Affecting human behaviour

Answer 2

• Hormones can effect behaviour either directly eg sleeping, or indirectly affect moods- then effecting behaviour
• Can impact behaviour and cause physical changes, can be used a medication such as in contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• Could be a cause of aggression

Question 3

Hormones role in aggression

A01- Hormones

Answer 3

Adrenaline= Hormone released from adrenal glands , along with noradrenaline prepares body for fight or flight 
ACTH= Produced by PT gland, stimulates the production and release of CORTISOL from cortex of adrenal gland
Cortisol= Steroid hormone, in glucocorticoid class of hormones, produced by adrenal gland, released in response to stress no low blood glucose

Question 4

Hormones role in aggression

A01- Testosterone

Answer 4

Testosterone-
Generally accepted than men are more aggressive than women; this could be due the result of testosterone
Raine= 5% of males to be characterised by a pattern of anti social behaviour- these men said to commit 50-70% of all violent crime
Although both male and females produce testosterone, largely a male hormone, males experience greater exposure to this hormone in the womb and during puberty
Males engage in crime, especially violent crime more than females- involvement usually rises in early- mid teens= same time as testosterone levels rise

Question 5

Hormones role in aggression

A03- Supporting evidence= testosterone

Answer 5

Kalat (1998): Reported that in 15-25yr old men, those with highest levels of aggressive behaviour was found in those who also had highest levels of testosterone
Mazur(1983): Human studies mostly support link between testosterone and aggression- boys normally more aggressive than girls as have higher exposure to testosterone bot pre+ post natally. Increases in early teens, have positive correlation with aggressive behaviour and inter male fighting

Question 6

Hormones role in aggression

A03- Limitations to research= testosterone

Answer 6

Research on link between testosterone and aggression is difficult as we can only reliably measure the level of brain testosterone through a lumbar puncture; where a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine. This cannot be done for research purposes as it is risky and invasive. Therefore more unreliable methods using blood or saliva have to be utilised.

Question 7

Hormones role in aggression

A01- Female aggression

Answer 7

Female aggression-
Female aggression has been linked to hormone levels, research on pre menstrual syndrome shows that during this time where there is fluctuating levels of hormones, the increase in irritability some women experience can increase the likelihood of them committing a crime

Question 8

Hormones role in aggression

A03- Supporting evidence= Adrenaline

Answer 8

Haller + Kruk (2003)=
Describes how stress hormone- adrenaline + noradrenaline, influenced by the limbic system, can result in dysfunctional behaviour such as aggression

Kruk et al (2004)=
Positive correlation between ACTH and cortisol, suggesting long lasting or intense stressors could lead to aggressive behaviour

Question 9

Hormones role in aggression

A03- Limitations to research= Adrenaline and cortisol

Answer 9

Correlations which present relationships between hormones eg noradrenaline and adrenaline and cortisol and ACTH cannot infer causation as there is no proven link that the relationships directly cause aggression. It is difficult to determine whether the aggressive behaviour itself cause an increase in hormones or vice versa.