Aggression
sychologist names =Red
P
Statistics =Purple
Examples =Green
Important terminology/ information =Orange
,Aggression
Outline and evaluate the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression. (16)
Discuss the role of genetic factors in aggression. (16)
Outline and evaluate the ethological explanation of aggression (16)
Outline and evaluate evolutionary explanations of aggression. (16)
Describe and evaluate the frustration-aggression hypothesis of human aggression (16)
Describe and evaluate the social learning theory of human aggression (16)
Describe and evaluate the de-individuation of human aggression (16)
Discuss explanations of institutional aggression (16)
Discuss media influences on aggression, refer to computer games (16)
Discuss desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming as explanations of media influences (16)
,Outline and evaluate the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression. (16)
A01 eural
N - T he reactivity of the limbic system predicts aggressive behaviour and is associated with the
mechanisms regulation of emotions.
in - The limbic system involves thehypothalamus, amygdala& parts of the hippocampus.
- Theamygdalaresponds to threats (emotional response);the more responsive it is, the more
aggression -
aggressive the person is
Gospic - This is illustrated inGospic’slab-based game (Ultimatum),where ppts rejected an
unfair reward (social provocation), and fMRI scans showed a fast/ heightened
response by the amygdala.
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that hasinhibitoryeffectson the brain
- Normal levels of serotonin in theorbitofrontal cortex(OFC)are linked with
reduced firing of neurons and, in turn, greater self-control
- Decreased serotonin levels disrupt the mechanism and lead to impulsive behaviour
A03 esearch
R - erman et al.found that participants who were giventhe serotonin-enhancing ‘paroxetine’
B
support - behaved less aggressively compared to the placebo group whilst playing a video game.
Berman et - The lab-based game involved giving and receiving electric shocks in response to provocation.
al.
- The paroxetine group consistently gave fewer and less intense shocks than the placebo
group.
- The study shows a causal link between serotonin function and aggression.
eductionist
R - ggression is a highly complex human behaviour, and it’s difficult to attribute it to a single
A
explanation cause, such as the limbic system.
of the role - The amygdala does not operate in isolation but rather in tandem with the orbitofrontal
of the limbic cortex, which is not part of the limbic system.
system - - Coccaro et al.found that OFC activity is reducedin patients with psychiatric conditions that
Coccaro et feature aggression, suggesting it plays a key role in controlling aggressive impulses.
al. - Therefore, we should focus on the neural connections between the OFC and the limbic
system and not solely the limbic system.
A01 ormonal
H - T estosterone is anandrogenresponsible for the developmentof masculine features
mechanisms - It is thought to be linked to aggressive behaviour
in - Testosterone has a role in regulating social behaviour via its influence on certain areas of the
brain implicated in aggression
aggression -
- Dolan et al.found a positive correlation betweentestosterone levels and aggressive
Dolan et al. behaviours in a sample of offenders in UK maximum security hospitals.
A03 esearch
R - abbsmeasured testosterone in the saliva of violent& non-violent offenders.
D
support - - Those with a history of primarily violent crimes had the highest levels & those with the
Dabbs lowest levels had committed only non-violent crimes.
isputing
D - In the dual hormone hypothesis, it is claimed high testosterone leads to aggression only
research - when cortisol is low.
Carre & - High cortisol blocks testosterone's influence on aggressive behaviour.
Mehta - So, this may be a better predictor of aggression rather than testosterone alone.
, Discuss the role of genetic factors in aggression. (16)
A01 T win studies - - occaro et al.studied men who were either monozygotic(MZ) or dizygotic (DZ)
C
Coccaro et al. - MZ twins share 100% of their genes, but DZ only share 50%
- Coccaro et al.found aconcordance rate of 50% forMZ twins and 19% for DZ twins in
terms of physical acts of aggression
- This suggests a genetic basis for aggression
A03 T win studies - In every pair of twins, both individuals share the same environment.
lack validity. - DZ twins may not share their environment to the same extent that MZ share theirs.
- MZ twins are treated very similarly, especially by parents, which could inflate estimates of
genetic influence on aggression
A01 MAOA gene - T heMAOA geneproduces an enzyme (MAO-A) which regulatesthe neurotransmitter,
most importantly serotonin
- Some people either have aknockout(don’t have theMAOA gene at all) or they have a
mutated MAOA gene, which is low functioning (MAOA-Lvariant)
- Therefore, MAO-A does not mop up the excess neurotransmitters, again mainly serotonin,
which in turn throws off the balance of neurotransmitters(inequity)
- Consequently, an individual will be more impulsive and aggressive
- Thewarrior genehas been identified as a variantof the MAOA gene
A03 L ink between - runner et al.studied28 men from a large Dutch familywho were repeatedly involved in
B
MAOA gene impulsive, aggressive, violent criminal behaviour such as rape and physical assault.
and - These men had abnormally low levels of the enzyme MAO-A and had the MAOA-L gene
aggression - variant.
Brunner et al. - There is a link between mutations in the MAOA gene and aggressive behaviour.
ifficult to
D - espite the support for the genetic basis, it is thought that there are multiple genetic
D
isolate a single influences & although the results are statistically significant, the effect is small & so there
gene to are probably more than just one gene that is involved.
explain - Stuartlooked intointimate partner violence (IPV)and found it was associated with a
aggression - different gene (serotonin transporter gene) & the combination of this with MAOA gene
Stuart was most closely linked with IPV.
- Due to the nature of 100s and 1000s of genes interacting it is incredibly difficult to isolate
a single gene.
ature and
N - dditionally,Caspifound that those with the MAOA-Lvariant of the gene, compared to
A
nurture the MAOA-H variant, were much more likely to exhibit anti-social behaviour BUT ONLY if
interact with they had been maltreated as children.
each other - - This demonstrates the interaction between biology and the environment, and we cannot
Caspi rely solely on the MAOA gene to explain aggression.
sychologist names =Red
P
Statistics =Purple
Examples =Green
Important terminology/ information =Orange
,Aggression
Outline and evaluate the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression. (16)
Discuss the role of genetic factors in aggression. (16)
Outline and evaluate the ethological explanation of aggression (16)
Outline and evaluate evolutionary explanations of aggression. (16)
Describe and evaluate the frustration-aggression hypothesis of human aggression (16)
Describe and evaluate the social learning theory of human aggression (16)
Describe and evaluate the de-individuation of human aggression (16)
Discuss explanations of institutional aggression (16)
Discuss media influences on aggression, refer to computer games (16)
Discuss desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming as explanations of media influences (16)
,Outline and evaluate the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression. (16)
A01 eural
N - T he reactivity of the limbic system predicts aggressive behaviour and is associated with the
mechanisms regulation of emotions.
in - The limbic system involves thehypothalamus, amygdala& parts of the hippocampus.
- Theamygdalaresponds to threats (emotional response);the more responsive it is, the more
aggression -
aggressive the person is
Gospic - This is illustrated inGospic’slab-based game (Ultimatum),where ppts rejected an
unfair reward (social provocation), and fMRI scans showed a fast/ heightened
response by the amygdala.
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that hasinhibitoryeffectson the brain
- Normal levels of serotonin in theorbitofrontal cortex(OFC)are linked with
reduced firing of neurons and, in turn, greater self-control
- Decreased serotonin levels disrupt the mechanism and lead to impulsive behaviour
A03 esearch
R - erman et al.found that participants who were giventhe serotonin-enhancing ‘paroxetine’
B
support - behaved less aggressively compared to the placebo group whilst playing a video game.
Berman et - The lab-based game involved giving and receiving electric shocks in response to provocation.
al.
- The paroxetine group consistently gave fewer and less intense shocks than the placebo
group.
- The study shows a causal link between serotonin function and aggression.
eductionist
R - ggression is a highly complex human behaviour, and it’s difficult to attribute it to a single
A
explanation cause, such as the limbic system.
of the role - The amygdala does not operate in isolation but rather in tandem with the orbitofrontal
of the limbic cortex, which is not part of the limbic system.
system - - Coccaro et al.found that OFC activity is reducedin patients with psychiatric conditions that
Coccaro et feature aggression, suggesting it plays a key role in controlling aggressive impulses.
al. - Therefore, we should focus on the neural connections between the OFC and the limbic
system and not solely the limbic system.
A01 ormonal
H - T estosterone is anandrogenresponsible for the developmentof masculine features
mechanisms - It is thought to be linked to aggressive behaviour
in - Testosterone has a role in regulating social behaviour via its influence on certain areas of the
brain implicated in aggression
aggression -
- Dolan et al.found a positive correlation betweentestosterone levels and aggressive
Dolan et al. behaviours in a sample of offenders in UK maximum security hospitals.
A03 esearch
R - abbsmeasured testosterone in the saliva of violent& non-violent offenders.
D
support - - Those with a history of primarily violent crimes had the highest levels & those with the
Dabbs lowest levels had committed only non-violent crimes.
isputing
D - In the dual hormone hypothesis, it is claimed high testosterone leads to aggression only
research - when cortisol is low.
Carre & - High cortisol blocks testosterone's influence on aggressive behaviour.
Mehta - So, this may be a better predictor of aggression rather than testosterone alone.
, Discuss the role of genetic factors in aggression. (16)
A01 T win studies - - occaro et al.studied men who were either monozygotic(MZ) or dizygotic (DZ)
C
Coccaro et al. - MZ twins share 100% of their genes, but DZ only share 50%
- Coccaro et al.found aconcordance rate of 50% forMZ twins and 19% for DZ twins in
terms of physical acts of aggression
- This suggests a genetic basis for aggression
A03 T win studies - In every pair of twins, both individuals share the same environment.
lack validity. - DZ twins may not share their environment to the same extent that MZ share theirs.
- MZ twins are treated very similarly, especially by parents, which could inflate estimates of
genetic influence on aggression
A01 MAOA gene - T heMAOA geneproduces an enzyme (MAO-A) which regulatesthe neurotransmitter,
most importantly serotonin
- Some people either have aknockout(don’t have theMAOA gene at all) or they have a
mutated MAOA gene, which is low functioning (MAOA-Lvariant)
- Therefore, MAO-A does not mop up the excess neurotransmitters, again mainly serotonin,
which in turn throws off the balance of neurotransmitters(inequity)
- Consequently, an individual will be more impulsive and aggressive
- Thewarrior genehas been identified as a variantof the MAOA gene
A03 L ink between - runner et al.studied28 men from a large Dutch familywho were repeatedly involved in
B
MAOA gene impulsive, aggressive, violent criminal behaviour such as rape and physical assault.
and - These men had abnormally low levels of the enzyme MAO-A and had the MAOA-L gene
aggression - variant.
Brunner et al. - There is a link between mutations in the MAOA gene and aggressive behaviour.
ifficult to
D - espite the support for the genetic basis, it is thought that there are multiple genetic
D
isolate a single influences & although the results are statistically significant, the effect is small & so there
gene to are probably more than just one gene that is involved.
explain - Stuartlooked intointimate partner violence (IPV)and found it was associated with a
aggression - different gene (serotonin transporter gene) & the combination of this with MAOA gene
Stuart was most closely linked with IPV.
- Due to the nature of 100s and 1000s of genes interacting it is incredibly difficult to isolate
a single gene.
ature and
N - dditionally,Caspifound that those with the MAOA-Lvariant of the gene, compared to
A
nurture the MAOA-H variant, were much more likely to exhibit anti-social behaviour BUT ONLY if
interact with they had been maltreated as children.
each other - - This demonstrates the interaction between biology and the environment, and we cannot
Caspi rely solely on the MAOA gene to explain aggression.
