Lesson 2- hormonal mechanisms in aggression

Question 1

testosterone and aggression

Answer 1

-androgen responsible for development of masculine features, promotes muscle strength, responsible for sex drive, thought to influence aggression from young adulthood onwards due to action in brain areas involved in controlling aggression
-Sapolsky 1998 summarised research evidence, removing source of testosterone in different species typically resulted in much lower levels of aggression, subsequently reinstating normal testosterone levels with injections of synthetic led to return of aggressive behaviour
-Carre and Olmstead 2015 claim testosterone concentrations are not static but fluctuate rapidly in context of changes to social environment, changes in testosterone levels appear to influence aggressive behaviours by increasing amygdala reactivity during processing of social threat

Question 2

progesterone

Answer 2

-acts as natural antidepressant to lower anxiety, plays important role in aggression in women
-levels vary during ovulation cycle, lowest during and just after menstruation
-Ziomkiewicz et al 2012 found negative correlation between progesterone and self reported aggression, suggests low levels linked to aggression in women

Question 3

hormonal mechanisms evaluation

Answer 3

-Wagner 1979 castrated mice, aggression levels went down, supports theory
-Gianmarco et al 2005 review of studies further confirms role of testosterone, eg male rhesus monkeys increase in testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours during mating season
-lack of generalisation in animals studies to humans
-Wagners study only provides correlational support, relationship between lowered aggression and testosterone, doesnt confirm if testosterone is cause of aggression