Individual differences and development (BP)

Question 1

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Strength

Answer 1

I - Damage to the brain may be affected by individual differences in case studies of brain damaged patients when it is assumed there are no individual differences.
J - Phineas Gage damaged involved both left and right prefrontal cortices which caused a defect in rational decision making and the processing of emotion. Leading to sudden chnage in heightened aggressive hehaviour

However, these findings are unique to Phineas Gage and may not be generalisable to other people due to individual differences, which might mean the same effects as a result of this biological damage are not observed in others.

Question 2

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Weakness

Answer 2

I - Moreover, we can assume from research that aggression is caused by the same brain dysfunction, so there are not individual differences between aggressive people.
J - Raine (1997) found differences in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala violent murderers and non-murderer which showed the cuntioning of murder’s brains was the same and differed from non-murderes in predicatable ways
E - This shows that perhaps brain functioning and therefore damage is not affected by individual differences.

Question 3

Devlopmental psychology - role of evolution in human development

Explain

Answer 3

I - Evolutionary theory suggests that those most suited for survival will survive – survival of the fittest, and that these individuals are more likely to have reproductive success and therefore pass on these advantageous genes. Genetic mutations will occur within a species, some of which will lead to an adaptive advantage leading to those genes being more likely to be passed on to the next generation, which explains how humans have developed as a species over several generations. In challenging environments, aggression would help our ancestors gain territory, resources and negotiate status.
J - Chester (2015) took smaple of female saliva and found positive correlation between a low functioning MA0A ‘warrior gene’ and aggression levels
E - Therefore, human behaviour such as aggression has been shaped by the processes of natural selection and the evolutionary advantages of exhibiting this behaviour, which can explain it’s prevalence in society today.

Question 4

Devlopmental psychology - role of hormones in human development

Explain

Answer 4

• The role of hormones in human development.
  Hormones also affect how we develop. For example, testosterone is needed to produce male features like muscle strength, body and facial hair and deeper voice. Testosterone also can lead to more aggressive, irritable behaviour.
  Cortisol is secreted to protect the body against the effects of stress and might be responsible for regulating aggression from stress. Cortisol seems to inhibit aggression.
• Virkkunen (1985) reported low levels of cortisol in violent offenders, means people couldn’t regulate aggression, leading to the devlopment of violent behaviour
• Dabbs et al (1995) - measured testosterone in saliva of 692 adult male prisoners. Found higher levels in rapists and violent offenders than in burglars and thieves. The same effects of testosterone were also found in women.
• This shows that hormone levels can lead to the development of aggressive behaviours.

Question 5

Freud view of the personality shows it develops individual differences

Explain

Answer 5

• According to Freud, childhood experiences throughout the development of the personality can lead to individual differences in adult personality eg an overdeveloped ID can lead to a very selfish and demanding personality (as it is the pleasure principle), whereas an overdeveloped superego (morality principle) leads to an adult personality which is overly moralistic and judgmental.
• This might also lead to individual differences in aggression, because if you have an overdeveloped ID, you are more likely to act on aggressive impulses.
• An overdeveloped super ego may suppress aggressive impulses, as they may justify their aggression towards others or themselves since it means that they are judgmental and aggressive towards self (e.g. self-harm) as expectations of them are not met.