3: AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR

Question 1

What is the basis for teh catharsis hypothesis?

Answer 1

LORENZ syas:
- aggro is instintual
- its not caused by the environment but unloacked by it in some circumstances

• needs to be released or it gets pent up

this has little empirical support and have been debunked

Question 2

What is teh role of neural networks in agression?

Answer 2

• 2 things that happen together again and again from stronger and stronger neural links in teh brain
• it gets to the point that seeing 1 activates teh other
• teh strongest path -> our dominat response

so if i see on tv that people are solving fights by punching people, I’ll associateconflict resolution with violence , and will probably be more likely to punch a guy

This idea is teh basis for Huesmann’s script theory and cognitive neo association theory

Question 3

Cognitive Neo-Association Theory

Answer 3

• Unpleasant or threatening situations -> negatiive feelings
• neg feelings-> thoughts,memories and physiological f/f responses
• fight -> anger, flight -> fear

one of tgose tendencyes will dominate teh other

If anger/fight tendencies dominate, the types of thoughts,
feelings and plans for action that are most strongly activated
will usually increase the likelihood of an aggressive
response.

Question 4

What does aggression tend to look like accross teh life span?

a) aggression varies between person to person and there’s no point tracking it across the life span
b) aggression increases with age, and peaks at around 40-50s
c) teens are the most agressive, declines with age
d) Peaks in toddler years, declines with dev of conflect resolution, constnt trait accross the lifespan

Answer 4

It’s D

Question 5

what allele in the COMT rs4680 gene is associated with aggression?

A)none of teh below
b) G allelle in white populations, A allele in Chinese population
c) A allelle in white populations, G allele in Chinese population
d) Y allelle in white populations, d3allele in Chinese population

Answer 5

the G allele in the COMT rs4680 gene in white populations
and the A allele in a Chinese population

Question 6

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis (dollard)

Answer 6

Based on frued’s idea bout frustration in the pursuit of
pleasure

• cant get what i want? now im frustrated
• all frustration -> aggression
• all aggresion can be traced back to frustrayoion

(not alswyas true)

Question 7

Social Learning Theory

BANDURA

Answer 7

Monkey see, monkey do

people acquire aggressive tendencies through
- direct experience (rewarded for aggro)
- obsevring and copying aggressive rolemodels

Question 8

t/f we are more likely to copy models if they don’t look like us and are strangers

Answer 8

false we are more likely to copy role models if thay are

*Who are respected or liked or high status
*Who are familiar or similar
*Who are rewarded for their behaviours
*If we have self-efficacy for aggression

open ended: think of a good example of an agressive role model

Question 9

(dopaminergic genes) the relevant alleles are __ alleles in white populations, and __ alleles in chinese populations.

Answer 9

G, A

Question 10

in individuals exposed to traumatic events, which alleles are most relevant?

Answer 10

Low activity 2R, 3R.
- especially 3R of the MAOA 30 bp uVNTR (Variable Number Tandem Repeat) gene

Question 11

what NTs are linked with agression?

Answer 11

Serotonin deficits linked to aggression

High GaBA in rats, but not humans

Dopamine levels with ADHD, impulsivity -> aggresion

Question 12

in individuals exposed to aversive environmental factors (maternal insensitivity, hostility, prenatal maternal stress, poor parent-child relationships and low socioeconomic status), what alleles are most relevant?

Answer 12

Long alleles (6R-11R)
- especially 7R allele of the DRD4 48 bp VNTR gene

Question 13

BRAIN STRUCTURES AND AGGRESSION:

Whta is the role of the Limbic system in agresion?

Answer 13

• ACCELERATOR: this older, animal part works with rewards, insticts and survival
• think FIGHT OR FLIGHT. all happening here
• AMYGDALA:
• detects teh threat, triggers fear and rage

hypthalmus:
- takes input from teh amygdala
-helps coordinate threat responses (the fight/flight)

-Periaqueductal gray:
- takes input from the hypothalmus ,
- intiates the aggressive actions

Question 14

(LOWER/HIGHER??) levels of serotonin are linked with higher aggression.

Answer 14

lower

Question 15

What parts of the brain act as teh BRAKE for aggresion?

Answer 15

Think frontal, specifically:

• Orbitofrontal cortex (mostly RH)
• Anterior Cingulate Cortex (Mostly RH)
• Dorsolateral Prefrontal cortex (LH)

Question 16

true or false: low GABA is linked to aggression.

Answer 16

false: high gaba, mostly tested on rodents

Question 17

serotonin is linked with ______ _____

Answer 17

impulse control

Question 18

true or false: there is strong evidence to suggest that oestrogen and progesterone are linked to aggression.

Answer 18

false. theres only some evidence, findings mixed

Question 19

role of the brain’s aggression “brake”

Answer 19

executive functions:
- impulse
control
-emotion management
-self-control

-consideration of consequences

Question 20

people high in aggression are often (UNDER/OVER)aroused

Answer 20

under.

Low resting heart rate
Low responsiveness
Low basal cortisol

Question 21

PERSONALITY: what are the BIG 5 traits linked with aggression?

Answer 21

• Low agreeableness (Straightforwardness,compliance, altruism)
• Low conscientiousness (deliberation)
• High neuroticism (angry hostility)
• Low extraversion (warmth)

Question 22

Big 6 (HEXACO)traits linked with aggression?

Answer 22

Low Honesty/humility

Question 23

The General Aggression Model

Answer 23

LOOK AT A DIAGREM but essentially,

first stage you got your own personal factors that change how prone you are to aggress

then you got a situation that provides a reason you’d get aggressive

at the second level you have your cognitions (what you belive in in your biases , attitudes

accessible feels: alike anger, shame..

and arousal: heart beat and sweat

those 2 influence your immedite apprasial of a situation, and if tehres no time to do anything you act impulsively (reactive response)

but if you have the time and resources you can actually reapprasise/reconsider your actions
which can lead to a thoughtful action (instrmental response if aggro)

Question 24

what component of the HEXACO is most related to aggression?

Answer 24

lower honesty/humility

Question 25

I-cubed model

Answer 25

tinke of a scale on the side of acting aggressively are: - INSTIGATORS (eg Provocation) - IMPELLERS (personal factors that make you more aggresive) - INHIBITORS (stugf that stop you from being aggro, eg self control, not taking drugs) Aggression depends on the net effect of the risk factors (impellers, instigators) and protective factors (inhibitors)