NEURAL AND HORMONAL MECHANISMS EVAL Flashcards
there is what to suggests that aggression is more complex than the amygdala/limbic system?
research
what non-limbic structure is involved in aggression?
the orbitfrontal cortex
what do the orbitofrontal cortex do?
inhibits aggressive behaviour
who studied those in a psychiatric ward for the orbitofrontal cortex?
Coccaro et al
what did Coccaro et al study?
the orbitofrontal cortex in those in a psychiatric ward
what did Coccaro et al find?
those with psychiatric disorders have reduced orbitofrontal cortex activity
what does having reduced orbitofrontal cortex activity do?
makes people exhibit more aggressive behaviour
what does the alternative explanation of the orbitofrontal cortex decrease?
the application of the limbic system theory
there is research to what the role of seratonin?
support
who conducted research to support the role of serotonin in aggression?
Burman et al
Burman et al found…
those who took a serotonin inducing drug committed fewer and less intense shocks in comparison to a placebo group
what does Burman et al’s research suggest?
that increased levels of serotonin leads to lower levels of aggression
Burman et al’s research increases the what of the explanation?
credibility of serotonin as an explanation
how could you counteract Burman’s research?
confounding variables such as personality can effect the shocks given and at what intensity
what is a strength of testosterone?
there is animal research to support it
who conducted animal research to support testosterone?
Giammanco et al
what 3 things did Giammanco et al do?
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
what does the research done by Giammanco et al increase?
the validity of testosterone as an explanation for aggression
how can Giammanco et al’s research be counteracted?
question its generalisability reducing it practical application, are they applicable to humans
what is a weakness of testosterone?
research to show alternative explanation
what alternative explanation is there to testosterone?
the dual-hormone explanation
who found the dual-hormone explanation?
Carre and Menta
what is the dual-hormone explanation?
cortisol (stress hormone) affects testosterones effect on aggression
if cortisol levels are high, then aggression…
doesn’t occur because testosterone is blocked
if cortisol levels are low, then aggression…
occurs because testosterone can effect it
what does the dual-hormone explanation suggest?
that cortisol and testosterone together are a better predictor for aggression than testosterone alone
what 4 evaluation points are there for neural and hormonal exp for agg?
+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]
