Psychology
Biological
Aggression
How is testosterone production controlled?
• Hypothalamus and pituitary gland control how much testosterone the testes
produce and secrete.
Testosterone link in aggression
• Dabbs - testosterone levels were higher in those who committed violent crimes
• Low cortisol + high testosterone = aggression
Serotonin explanation for aggression
• Low serotonin indicated by low metabolites
• People who are aggressive and have poor controls = low metabolites
How might aggression lead to survival?
• If a male is aggressive to protect a female or child, which aids suvival of genes.
Why do males express jealousy?
• Needs to compete with other males for access to females
• Lower status men take greater risks using aggression
• If female is unfaithful, male faces paternity uncertainty.
• Males cannot risk wasting investment on offspring who aren't their own, so they
show more jealous, violent aggression relating to female infidelity.
Why do females express jealousy?
• If male is unfaithful, female risks losing his commitment to her children
• Competes with other females for quality of men rather than availability
Limited resources as an explanation for aggression
• Those who successfully defended food and shelter survive longer and reproduce, so
can be inherited, leading to aggression surviving.
,Strengths of evolution aggression theory
• Amount of evidence to support natural selection
• Scientific method of research, Darwin's observations. Scientific credibility
Weaknesses of evolution aggression theory
• An aggressive individual might protect their offspring and their genes, but puts
them at risk as it might attract aggression from others
Describe natural selection
• The way some characteristics may aid survival over other characteristics
Describe evolution
• How inherited characteristics in organisms evolve from generation to generation.
Prefrontal cortex role in aggression
Damage to prefrontal cortex:
• Focus on the present
• Not be able to plan long term
• Wanting immediate rewards
• can't control self-restraint
• Raine et al. - emotional impulsive aggression had low prefrontal cortex functioning
What is a hormone?
• A chemical produced by the body that sends messages to organs via the
bloodstream.
, Aggression KQ
What is the key question?
• What are the implications for society if aggression is found to be caused by nature
not nurture?
What does the concept of brain functioning suggest about aggression being caused by
nature or nurture?
• Nature - Aggression can be provoked if certain regions are electrically stimulated
What does the concept of hormones suggest about aggression being caused by nature or
nurture?
• Nature - Dabbs - High levels of testosterone can link to aggression
What does the concept of natural selection suggest about aggression being caused by
nature or nurture?
• Nature - Genes in someone with an aggressive tendency survive to be passed on
through reproduction
What is the conclusion for the key question?
• If aggression is due to nature, beyond someone's control, then aggression is a form
of illness or a symptom of a disorder.
• Could be identified before they show aggression; predicting behaviour in certain
people.
Statistics of the KQ
According to the Lancet, there are 1.28 million deaths due to violence in the world every
year
Biological
Aggression
How is testosterone production controlled?
• Hypothalamus and pituitary gland control how much testosterone the testes
produce and secrete.
Testosterone link in aggression
• Dabbs - testosterone levels were higher in those who committed violent crimes
• Low cortisol + high testosterone = aggression
Serotonin explanation for aggression
• Low serotonin indicated by low metabolites
• People who are aggressive and have poor controls = low metabolites
How might aggression lead to survival?
• If a male is aggressive to protect a female or child, which aids suvival of genes.
Why do males express jealousy?
• Needs to compete with other males for access to females
• Lower status men take greater risks using aggression
• If female is unfaithful, male faces paternity uncertainty.
• Males cannot risk wasting investment on offspring who aren't their own, so they
show more jealous, violent aggression relating to female infidelity.
Why do females express jealousy?
• If male is unfaithful, female risks losing his commitment to her children
• Competes with other females for quality of men rather than availability
Limited resources as an explanation for aggression
• Those who successfully defended food and shelter survive longer and reproduce, so
can be inherited, leading to aggression surviving.
,Strengths of evolution aggression theory
• Amount of evidence to support natural selection
• Scientific method of research, Darwin's observations. Scientific credibility
Weaknesses of evolution aggression theory
• An aggressive individual might protect their offspring and their genes, but puts
them at risk as it might attract aggression from others
Describe natural selection
• The way some characteristics may aid survival over other characteristics
Describe evolution
• How inherited characteristics in organisms evolve from generation to generation.
Prefrontal cortex role in aggression
Damage to prefrontal cortex:
• Focus on the present
• Not be able to plan long term
• Wanting immediate rewards
• can't control self-restraint
• Raine et al. - emotional impulsive aggression had low prefrontal cortex functioning
What is a hormone?
• A chemical produced by the body that sends messages to organs via the
bloodstream.
, Aggression KQ
What is the key question?
• What are the implications for society if aggression is found to be caused by nature
not nurture?
What does the concept of brain functioning suggest about aggression being caused by
nature or nurture?
• Nature - Aggression can be provoked if certain regions are electrically stimulated
What does the concept of hormones suggest about aggression being caused by nature or
nurture?
• Nature - Dabbs - High levels of testosterone can link to aggression
What does the concept of natural selection suggest about aggression being caused by
nature or nurture?
• Nature - Genes in someone with an aggressive tendency survive to be passed on
through reproduction
What is the conclusion for the key question?
• If aggression is due to nature, beyond someone's control, then aggression is a form
of illness or a symptom of a disorder.
• Could be identified before they show aggression; predicting behaviour in certain
people.
Statistics of the KQ
According to the Lancet, there are 1.28 million deaths due to violence in the world every
year
