Role Of Hormones Flashcards
Give A01s in role of hormones in aggression
Hormones are chemical messengers that travel via the blood stream
They are involved in the regulation of breathing, temperature, growth and reproduction) and behaviour e.g sleep mood and even aggression
The environment also has an influence on hormone release, such as a stressful situation, this will help us get ready for fight or flight
Hormones are produced by glands and this system of glands is called the endocrine system
Testosterone is a male sex hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and testes. It’s is needed to produce sperm, develop male reproductive organs, facial hair and deep voice.
What evidence supports the role of hormones in aggression?
Dabs- measured saliva of 89 male prisoners and found 10 out of 11 with high levels of testosterone were involved in violent crime
However can only be used to understand aggression in the criminal population
Further supported by animal research which found that testosterone had different functions across different species e.g in monkeys it stimulates the angular gurus which is associated with fear and aggression but in dogs it causes irritability
Highlight importance of testosterone in developing different behaviours across different species. Therefore, is is difficult to establish cause and effect between aggression and testosterone
However, humans may respond differently to testosterone
