Agression
Paper 3
Revision
,Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression -
AO1 - Knowledge
● Biological Explanation for Aggression
○ suggesting abnormal hormonal factors (testosterone) or
abnormal neural factors including neurotransmitter level
(serotonin) and/or brain structure (limbic system) result in
aggression
● Limbic System / Amygdala
○ includes the amygdala - assess and responds to environmental
threats and the reactivity in humans has strongly been
associated with aggressive behaviour
○ includes the hypothalamus, thalamus and hippocampus
○ reduced amygdala can be associated with flight or fight
● Serotonin
○ Inhibitory (lower synaptic transmission) calming effect on the
brain
○ Serotonin deficiency hypothesis suggests lower than normal
levels of serotonin in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), resulting in
less self-control
○ increase of impulsive behaviour
, ○ serotonin slows down neural activity
● Testosterone
○ males are more aggressive on average as they have 8x the level
of the hormone (androgen) than females
○ high levels may lower activity in the OFC and reduce serotonin
calming effects
○ observed that males are more aggressive than females so the
belief is that testosterone is associated with aggression
● Cortisol and Andrenaline
○ also hormones involved
● The relationship between age and crime is one of the most solid in the
field of criminology
○ it is understood that crime increases throughout adolescence
and peaks at age 17 and then begins to decrease over the life
course moving forward
Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression -
AO3 - Evaluation
● Generalisability
○ Neural
■ yes - could explain everyone who shows aggression
○ Hormonal
■ no - female aggression
● Research Methods
○ Neural
■ amygdala could be showing jealousy or sadness, not
necessarily aggression
○ Hormonal
■ re-challenge = competitiveness = not always aggression
● Alternative Explanation
○ Neural
■ environmental factors - group models
Paper 3
Revision
,Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression -
AO1 - Knowledge
● Biological Explanation for Aggression
○ suggesting abnormal hormonal factors (testosterone) or
abnormal neural factors including neurotransmitter level
(serotonin) and/or brain structure (limbic system) result in
aggression
● Limbic System / Amygdala
○ includes the amygdala - assess and responds to environmental
threats and the reactivity in humans has strongly been
associated with aggressive behaviour
○ includes the hypothalamus, thalamus and hippocampus
○ reduced amygdala can be associated with flight or fight
● Serotonin
○ Inhibitory (lower synaptic transmission) calming effect on the
brain
○ Serotonin deficiency hypothesis suggests lower than normal
levels of serotonin in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), resulting in
less self-control
○ increase of impulsive behaviour
, ○ serotonin slows down neural activity
● Testosterone
○ males are more aggressive on average as they have 8x the level
of the hormone (androgen) than females
○ high levels may lower activity in the OFC and reduce serotonin
calming effects
○ observed that males are more aggressive than females so the
belief is that testosterone is associated with aggression
● Cortisol and Andrenaline
○ also hormones involved
● The relationship between age and crime is one of the most solid in the
field of criminology
○ it is understood that crime increases throughout adolescence
and peaks at age 17 and then begins to decrease over the life
course moving forward
Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression -
AO3 - Evaluation
● Generalisability
○ Neural
■ yes - could explain everyone who shows aggression
○ Hormonal
■ no - female aggression
● Research Methods
○ Neural
■ amygdala could be showing jealousy or sadness, not
necessarily aggression
○ Hormonal
■ re-challenge = competitiveness = not always aggression
● Alternative Explanation
○ Neural
■ environmental factors - group models
