The Brain Functioning Explanation Of Aggression

Question 1

What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?

Answer 1

Planning, decision making, problem solving, self control and inhibition.

Question 2

Describe the influence that the prefrontal cortex has on aggression

Answer 2

If the prefrontal cortex is dysfunctional or under active as this could lead to decision making which is potentially dangerous as the individual lacks self control and inhibition resulting in aggression.

Question 3

What is the amygdala responsible for?

Answer 3

Processing positive and negative emotions and identifying stimuli within the environment that could be perceived as threatening activating the fight or flight response.

Question 4

Describe the influence that the amygdala has on aggression

Answer 4

If an individual has a dysfunctional or overactive amygdala it can increase aggression as it misinterprets stimuli within the environment as dangerous activating the fight or flight response

Question 5

Describe the brain functioning explanation of aggression (3 marks)

Answer 5

An individual may have an under active prefrontal cortex leading to reduced self control and inhibition, therefore they are not likely to make rational decisions and will behave aggressively. In addition, aggression might be increased due to an overactive amygdala, this means that it is constantly misinterpreting threatening stimuli in the environment activating the fight or flight response.

Question 6

Evaluate the brain functioning explanation of aggression (8 marks)

Answer 6

Feasibility-strength
Phineas Gage
Explosion caused a tamping iron to penetrate through his skull.
Brain mapping demonstrated that the prefrontal cortex suffered the most damage
After the accident, interviews from close relations and observations were conducted which showed that he had changed in personality as he became irreverent, profane and aggressive.
Lost self control and inhibition

Usefulness- Strength
Defence Court case of Charles Whitman
He was a violent criminal found to have a brain tumour on his amygdala which could have influenced his control over his behaviour.
Therefore, this can be used to to see whether a person is at risk of being violent or aggressive.

Difference- Weakness
Psychodynamic theory

Explanation- Weakness
Methods- brain scans are conducted on individuals who already had a brain injury
Raine (classic study)- did not measure the difference before the event and the brain scans were conducted only after aggression was shown.