Role of hormones in human behaviour (3)

Question 1

What is the hormone for aggression?

Answer 1

Testosterone

Question 2

What evidence is there testosterone causes aggression?

Answer 2

Men have much more testosterone and 95% of the prison population are men.

Question 3

Name some hormones:

Answer 3

Testosterone
Oestrogen
Progesterone
Serotonin
Cortisol

Question 4

What does cortisol do?

Answer 4

Cortisol plays a major role in reducing stress.

Question 5

What effect does stress have on the body?

Answer 5

Stress has a very negative effect on the immune system

Question 6

Define hormones?

Answer 6

Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced by glands in large quantities but disappear quickly.

Question 7

Where are hormones made?

Answer 7

Endocrine glands manufacture a variety of hormones and secrete them directly into the bloodstream. Different hormones affect different cells and organs.

Question 8

Evaluating the role of hormones in human behaviour: Research support

Answer 8

Dabbs and Hargrove (1997) tested the saliva of 87 female inmates and found all of them had high testosterone levels. Similar experiments found high testosterone in many male inmates

Question 9

Evaluating the role of hormones in human behaviour: Measuring testosterone

Answer 9

An issue with measuring testosterone is it can fluctuate hugely in a person based on many things. People have a baseline testosterone which is a kind of average however this can change significantly over time

Question 10

Evaluating the role of hormones in human behaviour: Application to controlling aggression

Answer 10

Understanding testosterones impact could allow people to try to regulate it if necessary and it could able certain individuals to cope better in society.

Question 11

How are hormones Carried Around?

Answer 11

They are Carried in the Blood, and Operate All Around the Body

They take longer to work than neurotransmitters, and tend to be used to affect longer-term changes

Question 12

What are Hormones?

Answer 12

Chemical Messages that Transmit Information around the Body

Question 13

Where are Hormones Produced?

Answer 13

They’re Produced + Excreted by Glands; and the System of Glands is called the Endocrine System.

Question 14

What is Oxytocin?

Answer 14

Released by the Posterior Pituitary Gland

Shown to Increase Trust between People

Question 15

How do Hormones do within in the Body?

Answer 15

Hormones affect behaviour, and cause Physical Changes in the body

Question 16

What is Testosterone?

Answer 16

An Androgen; which is a chemical that develops/ maintains male characteristics

We all have testosterone in our bodies, but it is much more present in Males than females.

Question 17

What is Antenatal Exposure to Testosterone?

Answer 17

Antenatal exposure to testosterone has an organising effect on the developing brain, leading to increased spatial ability and (arguably) competitive aggression.

Following birth, testosterone sensitises certain neural circuits- e.g. stimulates cell growth in areas of the hypothalamus and amygdala, this affects aggression as an adult

Question 18

What research supports antenatal exposure to testosterone?

Answer 18

Research on rodents support this:
1. Castration effectively stops testosterone production,and leads to little/no aggressive behaviour. However, if testosterone is injected afterwards, they’ll show aggression

2. Testosterone injection in newborns will have a limited effect on their aggression. However, in those aged 10 days old, the replacement testosterone brings the level of aggression back up to normal for uncastrated rodents.
3. Injecting neonatal female rodents with testosterone made them act more aggressively when given testosterone as adults, compared to control females

Question 19

What is Adrenaline, and where is it produced?

Answer 19

Adrenaline is produced in the medulla in the adrenal glands, as well as some of the central nervous system’s neurons.
Within a couple of minutes during a stressful situation, adrenaline is quickly released into the blood, sending impulses to organs to create a specific response.

Question 20

How does Adrenaline affect behaviour?

Answer 20

Adrenaline triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response

The body’s ability to feel pain also decreases as a result of adrenaline

Adrenaline causes a noticeable increase in strength and performance, as well as heightened awareness, in stressful times. 75