Key Question

Question 1

What is the Biological Psychology key question?

Answer 1

What are the implications for society if aggression is caused by nature and not nurture?

Question 2

What are the 4 AO1 statistics you can use in your key question essay?

Answer 2

Violent crimes in England & Wales have increased to more than 2.1 million offences according to police-recorded crime statistics in 2021

Costs of domestic abuse to the health service in England and Wales have been estimated at £2.3 billion alone (Oliver et al., 2019)

Around 1.9% of adults aged 18+ were a victim of violent crime in the year ending March 2022

475,000 people are killed by homicide each year globally (WHO).

Question 3

Define ‘nature’.

Answer 3

The influence of genetic inheritance and other biological factors - relates to genetic makeup

Question 4

Define ‘nurture’.

Answer 4

Influences from our environment that can affect our behaviour

Question 5

What are the supporting and refuting pieces of evidence for aggression being caused by nature and not nurture?

Answer 5

Supporting:
Hormones
Genetics
Raine et al

Refuting:
SLT + Bandura

Question 6

How do hormones as a biological explanation for aggression link to the Bio Psych Key Question? (4 points)

Answer 6

Testosterone is an androgen hormone - males produce 20 times more of it than women do

Produced in the testes, ovaries and adrenal gland

Affects the development of the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala -alters brain function

Males have different decision-making and level of impulsivity - can be attributed to higher levels of aggression

Question 7

How does genetics as a biological explanation of aggression link to the Bio Psych Key Question? (4 points)

Answer 7

The MAOA gene (warrior gene) codes for a protein which breaks down neurotransmitters in the synapse

MAOA-L (low-functioning) gene causes neurotransmitters remain in the synapse and continuous active potentials to be fired - associated with aggression, particularly in males

MAOA-L gene was a survival advantage that allowed men to assert dominance and find a mate

Can manifest as sexual aggression to ‘obtain’ an otherwise inaccessible mate, as well as impulsivity and aggressive outbursts