The role of hormones (e.g. testosterone) to explain human behaviour such as aggression (as developmental)

Question 1

What hormone causes aggression? - P1, A01

Answer 1

Testosterone is the hormone which is linked to aggression and is produced in the gonads
it is an androgen which means it is a chemical that develops and maintains male characterisitinc
it is produced by both males and females but there is a larger amount produced in males than females

Question 2

Strength of the role of hormones to explain human behaviour such as aggression - Supporting Evidence P1, A03

Answer 2

One strength of using hormones as an explanation of aggression is that there is study evidence from Edwards.
Edwards injected female rodents with testosterone and found that those injected were more aggressive when given testosterone compared to the controls.
Therefore, this means that there is study evidence to show that an increase in testosterone causes an increase in aggression levels

Question 3

COUNTER ARGUMENT TO - Strength of the role of hormones to explain human behaviour such as aggression - Supporting Evidence P1, A03

Answer 3

However, there may be issues when generalising these results to humans as we cannot be sure that this increase in testosterone would have the same affect in humans.
However, the limbic system is similar in humans to rats and has similar functions so this issue of generalisability is reduced.

Question 4

Direct effects of testosterone - P2, A01

Answer 4

Testosterone has an organising effects on the brain which means that it causes the brain to develop in a certain way.
there is a critical period shortly after birth where testosterone sensitises certain neural circuits.
For example, testosterone stimulates cell growth in the hypothalamus and the amygdala. If testosterone levels are too high it can result in overstimulation and atypical structures and functioning in these areas

Question 5

Weakness of the role of hormones to human behaviour such as aggression - Critiquing Evidence P2, A03

Answer 5

However, there is study evidence from Mazur and Booth to show that testosterone is not the cause of dominance but the effect of it.
Mazur and Booth found that individual testosterone levels varied across the lifespan according to environmental status.
Therefore, this shows that testosterone is the effect of dominance and not the cause of it

Question 6

Indirect effects of testosterone - P3, A01

Answer 6

Testosterone also influences aggressive behaviour by influencing neurotransmission.
serotonin plats a role in mood regulation which can include aggression regulation
increased activity in serotonergic synapses results in higher levels of serotonin which may inhibit aggressive behaviour
testosterone has a modulating effect on serotonin meaning that it controls levels of serotonin activity

Question 7

Weakness of the role of hormones to human behaviour such as aggression - Criticism P3, A03

Answer 7

One weakness of using hormones to explain aggression is that it is reductionist.
Explaining a complex phenomenon cannot just be reduced to a simple causal explanation explaining other controlling factors
therefore, this means that using the roles of hormones as an explanation of aggression is that there other factors which may affect aggression such as observing role models behave aggressively which could cause aggressive behaviour not just horones