AQA PSYCHOLOGY- AGGRESSION EXAM ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE
Limbic System
The central area of the brain that regulates motivational and emotional urges.
Amydala
Main role is to process emotion.
Serotonin
Exerts a calming inhibitory effect on neuronal firing in the brain, and the amygdala.
Hippocampus
Involved in the formation of long term memories which allows us/animals to compare a current
threat with similar past experiences .
What do animal studies show about the amygdala?
If certain areas of the amygdala are stimulated electrically then the animal will respond aggressively,
however if these areas are removed, the animal wont respond in the same way.
Pardini et al (limbic system)
,studied 56 participants with history of violence using an MRI and found those with lower amygdala
volumes displayed higher levels of aggression and violence even after confounding variables were
controlled.
Sumer et al (limbic system)
Case study of an aggressive 14 year old girl, an MRI scan discovered a tumour in the limbic system and
after it was treated the aggression returned to normal.
Is the role of the limbic system clear cut?
No- it is made of many components so its not clear which parts may also be implicated. Different
elements may interact leading to aggression, not just the hippocampus or amygdala.
Is the research linking brain abnormalities to violence correlational?
Yes- theres only a relationship between limbic system and aggression however many individuals have
abnormalities there but don't demonstrate violence. Difficult to establish cause and effect.
What do humanists argue about using animals to measure aggression?
Humans are qualitatively different to animals so we're unable to generalise lab findings with animals,
therefore issue with ecological validity.
What is the deterministic explanation for aggression?
Biochemistry removes the free will and choice over out aggressive responses and instead lays the blame
on neurochemistry in the brain.
What do humanists say about aggressive behaviour?
That we have free will over our actions and therefore aggressive behaviour is a choice.
, What is testosterone?
A male hormone produced in the testes and is mainly associated with sexual and aggressive behaviour.
What is said about male and female aggression levels?
Male aggression levels are mainly higher than females.
What is said about the result of a change in testosterone levels?
influences aggressive behaviour by increasing amygdala activity
Wagner (1979)- testosterone
Observed reduced levels of aggression in mice after being castrated, it returned to normal levels after
supplemented with testosterone injections.
Dolan et al (2001)- testosterone
Found positive correlation between testosterone and aggressive behaviours in a sample of 60 offenders
in Max security hospitals
Higley et al (2006)- testosterone
Found testosterone can affect how an individual feels but not how they behave, may be other factors
relating to the SLT theory influencing this response.
What is said about the predictive validity of aggression?
It is poor due to it normally being measured using responses to hypothetical scenarios, as responses may
be more passive in nature.
MAOA
Causing low levels of serotonin linked to aggression
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE
Limbic System
The central area of the brain that regulates motivational and emotional urges.
Amydala
Main role is to process emotion.
Serotonin
Exerts a calming inhibitory effect on neuronal firing in the brain, and the amygdala.
Hippocampus
Involved in the formation of long term memories which allows us/animals to compare a current
threat with similar past experiences .
What do animal studies show about the amygdala?
If certain areas of the amygdala are stimulated electrically then the animal will respond aggressively,
however if these areas are removed, the animal wont respond in the same way.
Pardini et al (limbic system)
,studied 56 participants with history of violence using an MRI and found those with lower amygdala
volumes displayed higher levels of aggression and violence even after confounding variables were
controlled.
Sumer et al (limbic system)
Case study of an aggressive 14 year old girl, an MRI scan discovered a tumour in the limbic system and
after it was treated the aggression returned to normal.
Is the role of the limbic system clear cut?
No- it is made of many components so its not clear which parts may also be implicated. Different
elements may interact leading to aggression, not just the hippocampus or amygdala.
Is the research linking brain abnormalities to violence correlational?
Yes- theres only a relationship between limbic system and aggression however many individuals have
abnormalities there but don't demonstrate violence. Difficult to establish cause and effect.
What do humanists argue about using animals to measure aggression?
Humans are qualitatively different to animals so we're unable to generalise lab findings with animals,
therefore issue with ecological validity.
What is the deterministic explanation for aggression?
Biochemistry removes the free will and choice over out aggressive responses and instead lays the blame
on neurochemistry in the brain.
What do humanists say about aggressive behaviour?
That we have free will over our actions and therefore aggressive behaviour is a choice.
, What is testosterone?
A male hormone produced in the testes and is mainly associated with sexual and aggressive behaviour.
What is said about male and female aggression levels?
Male aggression levels are mainly higher than females.
What is said about the result of a change in testosterone levels?
influences aggressive behaviour by increasing amygdala activity
Wagner (1979)- testosterone
Observed reduced levels of aggression in mice after being castrated, it returned to normal levels after
supplemented with testosterone injections.
Dolan et al (2001)- testosterone
Found positive correlation between testosterone and aggressive behaviours in a sample of 60 offenders
in Max security hospitals
Higley et al (2006)- testosterone
Found testosterone can affect how an individual feels but not how they behave, may be other factors
relating to the SLT theory influencing this response.
What is said about the predictive validity of aggression?
It is poor due to it normally being measured using responses to hypothetical scenarios, as responses may
be more passive in nature.
MAOA
Causing low levels of serotonin linked to aggression
