Test Flashcards
8 marker
Neural and or hormonal mechanisms AO1
Limbic system associated with aggression it Includes: Amygdala, hippocampus and thalamus/hypothalamus, OFC
Mark and Ervin: Stimulation near the amygdala produces fear, anxiety, defensive, and sometimes violent behaviour.
found a woman receiving painless stimulation to her amygdala became enraged and smashed her guitar against the wall
Serotonin: Serotonin has inhibitory effects on the brain - slowing down neuronal activity, Aggression in humans and animals is associated with low levels of serotonin. Animal studies support this by pharmacologically blocking or genetically modifying 5-HT2A receptors.
mice with the deletion of the gene responsible for 5-HT2A expression exhibit less aggressive behaviour compared to typical mice. Stimulation this receptor subtype can lead to aggression, especially when the animal perceives threat or competition
8 marker
Neural and or hormonal mechanisms AO3
P: A strength of the limbic system’s involvement in aggression is case study evidence showing that damage to it can lead to aggressive behaviors.
Eg: Burns & Swerdlow reported a case where pedophilia developed after a tumor in the orbitofrontal cortex, resolving after surgery.
Ex: Similarly, Sumer’s case of a 14-year-old girl’s extreme aggression was linked to a tumor pressing on her amygdala.
C: However, case studies may not be generalizable, and it’s important to identify the specific amygdala connections affected.
L: Overall, while case studies support the link between limbic activity and aggression, they should be interpreted with caution and corroborated by other research.
P: A limitation of research on the neural basis of aggression is that much of it is correlational, limiting causality.
Eg: Correlational studies are often necessary due to ethical constraints, as directly provoking aggression would risk harm to participants. Researchers rely on brain scans to observe links between aggression and brain structures like the amygdala or OFC.
Ex: However, without experimental manipulation, it’s unclear if changes in these areas cause aggression or result from it.
L: This raises the possibility of a third variable, such as fluctuating neurotransmitter levels, influencing both aggression and neural changes. Consequently, the correlational nature limits conclusions about causality so lowers the internal validity
4 marker - effects of computer games
Bartholow & Anderson’s (2002) experimental study of the effects of computer games on aggression: Students who played a violent game (Mortal Kombat) chose higher noise levels (5.97/10) to punish an opponent in a task, compared to those who played a nonviolent game (Golf) (4.6/10).
Additional Evidence (Anderson et al., 2010): A meta-analysis of 136 studies found exposure to violent video games linked to increased aggression across cultures, with stronger effects in higher-quality studies and no publication bias.
Interpretation: Violent gaming has a significant impact on aggression, potentially more so than second-hand smoke on cancer.
Disinhibition: Most people are restrained from aggression due to societal norms that view it as harmful.
We learn through conditioning (CC/OC) and social learning (SLT) that aggression is antisocial.
However, exposure to violent media loosens these restraints, as violence is portrayed as normal and acceptable.
In video games, violence is often rewarded, and victim consequences are minimized, creating new social norms that influence viewers or players.
6 - Strengths of limitations of the evolutionary explanation
P: a strength of…has the ability to explain gender differences in terms of adaptive functions.
Eg: Campbell (1999) argues that physical aggression is maladaptive for females with offspring, as it risks their survival and that of their young so females may use verbal aggression to retain resource-providing partners.
Ex: Puts (2010) suggests that male traits like greater muscle mass and more robust jaw bones, indicate ancestral competition among males.
L: This implies that evolutionary arguments can shed light on the biological basis of gender differences in aggression, supporting the validity and generalizability of this explanation across cultures.
P: There are cultural variations in aggression.
Eg: Thomas (1958) found that the !Kung San people of the Kalahari discourage aggression from childhood, as it results in a loss of status. In contrast, the Yanomamo people of Venezuela and Brazil are known as the “fierce people.”
Ex: If aggression were evolutionarily determined, it should be universal across cultures, as it enhances survival and reproductive success.
L: This challenges the validity of the explanation. However, Lee (1979) questions whether the !Kung San are truly peaceful, citing a high homicide rate. Observer bias may also influence findings, reducing validity.
slt theory
with stem
de individuation
AO1:
1) Aggression is learned through observation and imitation of role models.
2) Individuals are more likely to imitate behaviors of role models they identify with (e.g., based on gender, status, attractiveness, or similarity)
3) Aggression is influenced by the consequences observed, through vicarious reinforcement.
4) Aggressive acts performed by a role model are internalized and reproduced in the future.
5) The individual internalizes the model’s aggression, seeing rewards as a result of the behavior, making it acceptable and likely to be repeated.
the extent to which we believe our actions will achieve desired goals
- child’s confidence in their ability to be aggressive grows as they learn that aggression can bring rewards
- Their sense of self-efficacy develops with each successful outcome
Bobo Doll experiment
Zimbardo coined the term Deindividuation A psychological state in which an individual has lowered levels of self evaluation and decreased concerns about evaluation by others, particularly when they are in a group. This may free the individual from the constraints of social norms.
Prentice-Dunn & Rogers’ concept of private and public self-awareness, and how this relates to anonymity. Deindividuation increases aggression due to the consequences of anonymity, which reduce two types of self-awareness:
-Private Self-Awareness: Focus shifts away from our feelings and behavior in a crowd, reducing self-criticism and encouraging deindividuation.
-Public Self-Awareness: Concern for how others view us diminishes in a crowd, making us feel anonymous and less accountable for aggressive behavior.
slt theory
with stem
de individuation
AO3:
P: A strength of the de-individuation explanation is evidence showing that anonymity encourages aggression, especially online.
Eg: Douglas & McCarthy (2001) found users engaging in trolling often concealed their identities.
Ex: This supports de-individuation theory, which suggests anonymity reduces self-awareness and accountability, promoting aggression.
Co: However, online aggression may not reflect real-world behavior, where social cues may inhibit aggression.
L: Despite this, the study’s ecological validity supports the link between anonymity and aggression.
P: A limitation of SLT in explaining aggression is its limited focus on biological influences.
Eg: While Bandura acknowledged a predisposition toward aggression, SLT emphasizes environmental factors like observation and reinforcement.
Ex: However, research supports the role of biological factors in aggression, such as genetic influences (e.g., MAOA gene), hormones (e.g., testosterone), and brain regions like the amygdala.
L: This suggests SLT may be insufficient as a standalone explanation, as it overlooks how biological and environmental factors interact. Therefore, SLT’s validity is limited in explaining aggression that is influenced by both learned and biological factors.
