hormones and aggression Flashcards
endocrine system
a series of glands that produce and secrete hormones
oxytocin
a hormone released by the posterior pituitary glad which has been shown to increase trust between people
androgen
a chemical that develops or maintains male characteristics
how do hormones work
they bind to receptor proteins in target cells and change cell function
how may hormone secretion be triggered
by other hormones or by activity at the neuronal level
Dabbs et al. (1987) and testosterone levels
measured levels of testosterone in the saliva of 89 male prisoners involved in violent and non-violent crime
testosterone was higher in those who had been involved in violent crime
adrenaline
causes a temporary increase in activity and aggressiveness
fight or flight response is mediated by the release of adrenaline
testosterone
controls male sex drive
dual-hormone hypothesis
testosterone is involved in an interaction with cortisol to cause aggression
suggested that there is an interaction between the systems responsible to regulating aggression and the stress response
high levels of testosterone only lead to aggression when levels of cortisol are low (Carre and Mehta 2011)
cortisol
protects the body against the effects of stress
secreted by the adrenal glands
female aggression
some female aggression has been linked to hormone levels
PMS is due to hormonal fluctuation and some women can increase in irritability and hostility, and are more likely to commit a crime (Floody, 1968)
evidence to show that female aggression can be enhanced by testosterone - Dabbs and Hargrove (1997)
Dabbs and Hargrove (1997) - measured testosterone in the saliva of 87 female inmates of a maximum security prison
found that the degree of criminal violence used by the women was positively correlated with testosterone level
