Key Question Flashcards
Identify your key question
What are the implications for society if aggression is found to be caused by nature not nurture?
Describe the key question
(What is the nature vs nurture debate, what is aggression, why are the 2 sides important)
-nature suggests that aggression is due to a biological cause such as genetics, brain structure, hormones, evolution, or neurotransmitters whereas the nurture debate suggests aggression is learnt, through social learning theory, and classical and operant conditioning
-aggression is the intent to cause harm, either physically or verbally, usually towards other people or things
-if aggression is caused by nature, this is important for society as it would reduce the accountability of individuals who commit crime, as this suggests it is something they can not control, therefore they can’t easily change
-however if aggression is caused by nurture, it means we can educate parents on how to act and demonstrate good behaviour and punish bad behaviour. Allows society to make changes and precautions to protect children from unsuitable violent behaviour through putting age ratings on films or creating the watershed (no swearing on tv before 9pm)
Explain why it is wrong to assume biology (nature) is the only cause of aggression, and then why it is right to assume this
Wrong:
-deterministic explanation = bio explanations are the cause of aggression which we know isn’t true as Brendgen twin studies have shown physical aggression may have a genetic link, but social aggression is due to the influence of the environment
-act as a scapegoat for individuals = if individuals become aware that they have some sort of biological abnormality like an imbalance of hormones, this can be used to there advantage to commit aggressive crimes as they’d be less accountable since ‘it wasn’t their fault’
Right:
-it would allow more effective treatment for violent criminals= if biology is the cause of aggression, prison time is unlikely to do anything to stop this from reoccurring as they are not learning to change their behaviour because something internally is increasing their chances of reoffending, so treatment would be more beneficial at stopping crimes being repeated if target the biological cause e.g through drug treatment or hormone therapy
Explain how the bio explanation of hormones can explain aggression
-hormones are chemical messengers carried in the bloodstream that affect many processes like growth, development, mood and metabolism
-in males, if testosterone levels get too high this can cause aggression as it regulates social behaviour, and acts with androgen receptors in the brain affecting neural transmission and the amount of neurotransmitters that are released at the serotonin synapses, lowering the amount available, meaning people are less able to control their aggressive responses
-cortisol is a stress hormone, therefore people who have low levels of it feel less stressed and threatened by situations and the negative consequences
Explain how the bio explanation of evolution can explain aggression
-aggression developed through evolution as it was a way of ensuring individual survival and reproductive success. Competition arises when resources are limited and animals must compete in order to survive and reproduce. It can be considered an innate response due to natural selection, as those who were more aggressive survived and guaranteed reproductive success as male competition was eliminated, and aggressive traits were passed on. Males are likely to show aggressive behaviour because they are motivated to acquire high status since this gives them access to mates and resources for survival. Low status males have to engage in high risk strategies to enhance their chances of reproduction
Evaluate your key question, provide evidence to support the idea that aggression is caused by nature
1) Raine et al found differences in brain functioning on murderers who pleaded NGRI and non murderers using a PET scan. Murderers had lower activity on the left side of the amygdala and hippocampus, and in the prefrontal cortex, the corpus collosum, the cerebral cortex, and the limbic system, all areas linked to aggression
2) Charles witman = acted aggressively killing his wife and mother before doing a school shooting. Autopsy found that he had a lesion in his brain pressing on his amygdala which was likely to be the cause of his aggression
Evaluate your key question, provide evidence to support the idea that aggression is caused by nurture
1) Banduras social learning theory = children more likely to show aggressive behaviour after observing an aggressive role model, especially if same sex. Shows how aggression can be learnt through observation and imitation, as opposed to a biological explanation
