NEURAL AND HORMONAL MECHANISMS EVAL

Question 1

there is what to suggests that aggression is more complex than the amygdala/limbic system?

Answer 1

research

Question 2

what non-limbic structure is involved in aggression?

Answer 2

the orbitfrontal cortex

Question 3

what do the orbitofrontal cortex do?

Answer 3

inhibits aggressive behaviour

Question 4

who studied those in a psychiatric ward for the orbitofrontal cortex?

Answer 4

Coccaro et al

Question 5

what did Coccaro et al study?

Answer 5

the orbitofrontal cortex in those in a psychiatric ward

Question 6

what did Coccaro et al find?

Answer 6

those with psychiatric disorders have reduced orbitofrontal cortex activity

Question 7

what does having reduced orbitofrontal cortex activity do?

Answer 7

makes people exhibit more aggressive behaviour

Question 8

what does the alternative explanation of the orbitofrontal cortex decrease?

Answer 8

the application of the limbic system theory

Question 9

there is research to what the role of seratonin?

Answer 9

support

Question 10

who conducted research to support the role of serotonin in aggression?

Answer 10

Burman et al

Question 11

Burman et al found…

Answer 11

those who took a serotonin inducing drug committed fewer and less intense shocks in comparison to a placebo group

Question 12

what does Burman et al’s research suggest?

Answer 12

that increased levels of serotonin leads to lower levels of aggression

Question 13

Burman et al’s research increases the what of the explanation?

Answer 13

credibility of serotonin as an explanation

Question 14

how could you counteract Burman’s research?

Answer 14

confounding variables such as personality can effect the shocks given and at what intensity

Question 15

what is a strength of testosterone?

Answer 15

there is animal research to support it

Question 16

who conducted animal research to support testosterone?

Answer 16

Giammanco et al

Question 17

what 3 things did Giammanco et al do?

Answer 17

1) found male monkeys had increased testosterone and aggression levels during mating season
2) found that the castration of male rats led to a decrease in mouse-killing behaviour
3) found that the injection of testosterone into female rats led to mouse-killing behaviour

Question 18

what does the research done by Giammanco et al increase?

Answer 18

the validity of testosterone as an explanation for aggression

Question 19

how can Giammanco et al’s research be counteracted?

Answer 19

question its generalisability reducing it practical application, are they applicable to humans

Question 20

what is a weakness of testosterone?

Answer 20

research to show alternative explanation

Question 21

what alternative explanation is there to testosterone?

Answer 21

the dual-hormone explanation

Question 22

who found the dual-hormone explanation?

Answer 22

Carre and Menta

Question 23

what is the dual-hormone explanation?

Answer 23

cortisol (stress hormone) affects testosterones effect on aggression

Question 24

if cortisol levels are high, then aggression…

Answer 24

doesn’t occur because testosterone is blocked

Question 25

if cortisol levels are low, then aggression…

Answer 25

occurs because testosterone can effect it

Question 26

what does the dual-hormone explanation suggest?

Answer 26

that cortisol and testosterone together are a better predictor for aggression than testosterone alone

Question 27

what 4 evaluation points are there for neural and hormonal exp for agg?

Answer 27

+research to support serotonin [Burman et al]
+animal research to support testosterone [Giammanco et al]
-research to counteract limbic system [Coccaro et al]
-alternative exp of dual-hormone exp [Carre and Menta]