Hormones and Genes

Question 1

What is determinism

Answer 1

• Free will does not exist

- Behaviour is pre-determined and predictable

Question 2

What is the reductionist approach?

Answer 2

-reducing explanations to their simplest form (e.g attri. behav. to the brain,etc.)

Question 3

What is the MAOA gene?

Answer 3

• a gene with encodes an enzyme which

- breaks down serotionin

Question 4

Why does low MAOA increase aggression?

Answer 4

• MAOA breaks down serotonin
• Serotonin associated with aggression
• low levels of MAOA= higher levels of sero.

Question 5

Describe Brunner(1993)’s study

Answer 5

• study of 28 members of a large dutch family;

- involved in crime

Question 6

Describe the findings of Brunner’s study

Answer 6

-overall, had abnormally low levels of MAOA + activity of the MAOA gene

Question 7

What hormone inhibits testosterone according to Dabis et al?

Answer 7

-Cortisol

Question 8

Why does cortisol affect aggression levels?

Answer 8

• inhibits testosterone

- inhibits aggression

Question 9

What did Vukkenen 1985 find?

Answer 9

-violent offenders or children= low levels of cortisol

Question 10

Explain Vukkenen’s findings

Answer 10

• because cortisol inhibits testosterone(thus aggression)
  -low levels= low inhibition of testosterone
  -=more testosterone
  =more aggression

Question 11

Evaluate research on the MAOA gene

Answer 11

-Concerns about the impact on society(e.g: furthering gen. engin.)
-Ethics: could lead to chem. castration
: labelling of ppl due to their genes
-Too deterministic
-Conflicting evidence: Caspi et al(2002): genes + nurture affect aggression
:e.g: abused boys with low MAOA more likely to be aggr.

Question 12

Evaluate research on hormones

Answer 12

• SE: Animal studies(Giammanco et al): reducing test. thru castr.=less aggression
• CE: Carne + Mehta: agg. only high when test high + cortisol low
  - not j test. also in tan. with other hormones
• E:Cause and effect- hard to identify whether it is a c or e
• CE: (Highley et al.)- high test=exhibit signs of agg. but not aggresive acts
  - social factors at play

Question 13

What did Carne and Mehta conclude?

Answer 13

• aggressive behav. only occurs when testosterone is high
  
  • +cortisol levels are low
    
    • multiple hormones involved and not j testosterone

Question 14

Which study concluded that aggression was only high when testosterone and cortisol levels were high?

Answer 14

-Carne and Metah

Question 15

Which study found that there were low levels of cortisol in habitual violent offenders and violent school children?

Answer 15

-Vukkenen 1985

Question 16

Which study found that genes(MAOA) and environmental factors affect aggression

Answer 16

-Caspi et al

Question 17

What did Caspi et al conclude?

Answer 17

• If boys which low MAOA were abused,more likely to be aggressive
  
  • genes + nurture affect aggression

Question 18

Which study found that those with more testosterone showed aggression but not aggressive ACTS?

Answer 18

-Highley et al

Question 19

What did Highley et al conclude?

Answer 19

• those with elevated levels of testosterone rarely commit aggressive acts
• social + cog. factors play mediating(intervening) role