neural + hormonal explanations Flashcards
what is a neural mechanism
related to the nervous system, such as the brain and neurotransmitters
what is a hormonal mechanism
how chemical messengers influence the body
what is the limbic system
a set of neural structures located in the centre of the brain including the amygdala and hypothalamus
what is serotonin
an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is important in controlling and calming aggressive impulsives
what is testosterone
a male sex hormone thought to be responsible for increased aggression
what is the function of the limbic system
process emotional responses
what is the role of the amygdala
identified as being linked to the production of aggressive behaviour
what did MRI scans show about the amygdala
increased activity during aggressive behaviour
what is the role of the hypothalamus in aggression
integrating and expressing emotional responses, it can trigger aggressive behaviour as part of the fight or flight
what is the role of the hippocampus in aggression
the hippocampus stores long term memories, to compare the conditions of a current threat to one previously remembered to prepare a response
what is the role of the orbitofrontal cortex in regulating aggression
the limbic system communicates with this area, the OFC involved in decision making then attempts to control the aggression
what research support is there for the role of the limbic system in aggression?
Egger + Flynn:
found that electrically stimulating the hypothalamus in cats would cause them to show aggressive behaviour towards rats, stimulating the amygdala would either suppress or increase aggressive behaviour
what does the research into the limbic system suggest?
shows that the hypothalamus and amygdala have a role in regulating and causing aggressive behaviour, showing the influence of the limbic system
what is a counterpoint to the research support into the limbic system?
research was carried out on cats, humans are much more complex beings than cats and have many more social factors that may influence aggressive behaviours, so study is limited to what it can tell us about the limbic system and aggression in humans
what did MRI scans reveal about the limbic system?
Paradini:
longitudinal study using male participants, MRI scans revealed those with lower amygdala volume showed higher levels of aggression showing amygdala plays an important role in aggressive behaviours
what was found in monkeys in regards to the limbic system?
Kluver and Bucy:
removed the main areas of the limbic system including the amygdala, hippocampus and surrounding cortical areas.
they found that the monkeys displayed an absence of emotional, motor and vocal reactions normally associated with stimuli or situations eliciting fear and anger.
the destruction of the limbic system in dominant monkeys in social groups also cost them to lose their place
what is a problem with monkey research into the limbic system?
using research using animals to provide evidence for aggression in humans is the differences between animal and human physiology and the question of whether we can extrapolate research findings from animals to human aggressive behaviour.
how does serotonin work in the brain in non aggressive individuals?
has an inhibitory effect, reducing neural activity dampening and quietening aggressive impulses from the limbic system, serotonin is located in the OFC which regulates aggression
what is serotonin like for aggressive individuals?
serotonin deficiency hypothesis suggests that lower levels of serotonin in the OFC result in less control over the limbic systems aggressive impulses
what is tryptophan?
found in foods which is needed by the body to produce serotonin
what research support is there for serotonin affecting aggression?
Passamonti:
when participants had low serotonin levels (after tryptophan depletion), there was reduced communication between the amygdala and the pre frontal cortex.
this suggests that low serotonin impairs the ability of the prefrontal cortex to control aggressive impulses in the amygdala.
individuals with tryptophan depletion also scored higher on an aggression questionnaire
how could you evaluate the research methods used by passamonti?
randomised, double blind procedure to prevent investigator effects and ensure high validity
self report measure susceptible to social desirability
why is there thought to be sex differences in aggression?
males have high levels of testosterone (8x greater)
what is the role of testosterone in aggression, linking it to the limbic system?
high levels of testosterone in the OFC reduces activity, the OFC is then less able to regulate aggressive impulses in the limbic system
what area of the limbic system does high levels of testosterone effect?
increases the activity in the amygdala which increases aggression
how does high levels of testosterone affect serotonin?
reduce the activity of serotonin limiting its ability to inhibit aggressive impulses
what research support is there for the role of testosterone in aggression
Dabbs:
in his study of male prisoners, he found that inmates with higher testosterone levels were more likely to have committed violent crimes, such as assault or murder, compared to those with lower testosterone levels who tended to commit non-violent crimes.
suggests that testosterone may play a significant role in predisposing individuals, particularly men, to engage in more aggressive or dominant behaviors.
why do neural and hormonal explanations suffer from being reductionist?
they oversimplify aggression by attributing it primarily to biological factors, neglecting the influence of environmental and social factors
which two alternative studies show the role of the environment in aggression?
Bandura (SLT):
suggested that aggression is learned through observing and imitating others, particularly role models.
bobo doll experiment: demonstrated how children exposed to aggressive models were more likely to display aggressive behavior themselves
Care + Olmstead:
argued that testosterone levels fluctuate with the environment, suggesting that aggression is not solely determined by fixed biological factors but can be influenced by situational and social contexts
what does neural explanations being limited mean?
while neural and hormonal explanations contribute to understanding aggression, they fail to account for the complexity of human behavior.
a comprehensive explanation of aggression must integrate both biological and environmental factors, such as social learning and the impact of situational contexts, in order to provide a fuller understanding of why aggression occurs.
how are neural and hormonal explanations deterministic?
suggest that aggressive behavior is solely the result of biological factors like high testosterone or low serotonin
why is it a problem that neural and hormonal explanations are deterministic
implies that individuals have little control over their aggressive impulses, as their behavior is pre-determined by biological factors.
this can lead to justifications for aggressive actions based on hormonal imbalances or brain abnormalities, for example, a person might argue that their aggression was due to high testosterone or low serotonin levels, rather than taking personal responsibility for their actions.
this creates a conflict with the legal principle of free will, where individuals are generally held accountable for their behavior, regardless of biological influences.
why are neural and hormonal explanations of aggression socially sensitive?
they can lead to discrimination and stigmatization of individuals with such deficiencies, and contribute to self-fulfilling prophecies.
how are these explanations socially sensitive?
studies have shown that low serotonin levels are associated with impulsive aggression, and high testosterone is linked to increased aggression.
if individuals are diagnosed with these biological deficiencies, they might be unfairly judged or discriminated against in society.
furthermore, if people with these traits are repeatedly told or labelled as more aggressive due to their hormone levels, this can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies, where they begin to internalize the stereotype and act more aggressively because they expect it of themselves.
why is social sensitivity a problem for these explanations?
while biological explanations provide insight into potential risk factors for aggression, their socially sensitive nature means they can have negative consequences for individuals
therefore, these explanations should be considered with caution and in conjunction with a broader understanding of social and environmental factors that influence behavior.
why are neural and hormonal explanations prone to beta bias
by assuming aggression is expressed similarly in men and women, without considering gender differences.
what does most research into beta bias consist of?
male animals and male participants, particularly when examining the role of testosterone in aggressive behavior
how do these explanations show beta bias?
studies often focus males and physical aggression and acts of violence, they often overlook the fact that women may express aggression in different ways (e.g., relational aggression), and that biological factors may influence female aggression differently.
what is the issue with beta bias in these explanations?
it leads to a narrow and potentially inaccurate view of aggression, ignoring important gender differences in expression and underlying mechanisms.
to develop a more comprehensive understanding of aggression, both male and female perspectives need to be included in research, considering different expressions of aggression and the biological, hormonal, and social factors that influence each gender.
