aggression

Question 1

what is included in neural mechanisms

Answer 1

limbic system, amygdala, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex and serotonin

Question 2

limbic system

Answer 2

violent impulses arise here

it is the collection of structures that include the hippocampus, hypothalamus and amygdala

it plays a key role in regulating emotional behavior including aggression

Question 3

amygdala

Answer 3

detects threats and triggers emotional responses like fear and anger

Question 4

hypothalamus

Answer 4

prepares body for action by activating the fight or flight response

Question 5

hippocampus

Answer 5

helps judge situations based on past memories

Question 6

pre frontal cortex

Answer 6

controls and regulates aggressive impulses from the limbic system

Question 7

cingulate gyrus

Answer 7

focuses attention on emotional and threatening stimuli

Question 8

serotonin

Answer 8

neurotransmitter

it inhibits the firing of the amygdala, exerting a calming effect on the brain

when removed, you are less likely able to control impulsive and aggressive behaviour

Question 9

strength of the hypothalamus

Answer 9

support for the hypothalamus

flynn found stimulating the lateral area of hypothalamus led to predatory aggression

found that stimulating the medial hypothalamus led to rage type aggression

suggest that different types of aggression are controlled by different parts of the brain

Question 10

strength of the amygdala

Answer 10

removing the amygdala reduces aggression in previously violent individuals but a side effect is the lost of emotion and enthusiasm

Question 11

weakness of the amygdala

Answer 11

possible that the amygdala does not cause aggression directly since it controls other emotions such as anger

therefore difficult to establish a cause and effect

Question 12

strength of the prefrontal cortex

Answer 12

Raine et al found evidence that aggression was the result of a malfunctioning cortex

41 convicted murders showed abnormally low levels of activity in the pre frontal cortex

suggesting reduced impulsive control

Question 13

strength for serotonin

Answer 13

releigh et als experiments

on monkeys fed diets specially to increase their serotonin.

the monkeys displayed decreased aggressive behaviour

monkeys who were fed diets low in serotonin displayed increased aggression

suggests useful evidence that serotonin is therefore involved in aggressive behaviour

Question 14

weakness of serotonin

Answer 14

research into animals in problematic because of the differences between animals and humans

human aggression has many different influences

so the using animals to investigate serotonin may have limited value

Question 15

what did mann et al find

Answer 15

used a drug dexfenfluramine to 35 healthy adults.

the drug is known to deplete serotonin levels in the brain.

found that males increased hostility and aggression levels after the treatment of the drug but not women

Question 16

what is testosterone

Answer 16

a steroid hormone from the androgen group.

Question 17

what does testosterone have an effect on

Answer 17

the orbitofrontal cortex

if someone has high testosterone than the activity of OFC, there could be a heightened aggressive response due to poorer reasoning and impulse control

Question 18

strength of testosterone

Answer 18

simpson found that to castrating animals have decreased aggression

when testosterone is replaced through hormone replacement therapy, the pre castration levels of aggression exist

this demonstrates experimentally that aggression is caused by testosterone

Question 19

weakness of testoserone

Answer 19

research into animals in problematic because of the differences between animals and humans

human aggression has many different influences

so the using animals to investigate serotonin may have limited value

Question 20

mcgue’s et al twins study

Answer 20

found a concordance rate of +0.43 in MZ twins and 0.30 in DZ twins

suggests genes plays a bigger role in aggression as MZ twins share more genes than DZ twins

Question 21

strength of genetic factors in aggression

Answer 21

coccaro et al studied aggressive behaviour using twin pairs. Nearly 50% of the variance in direct aggression towards others could be attributed to genetic factors

47% direct assault and 28% verbal assaults suggesting that different forms of aggression have different amounts of genetic influence

Question 22

weakness of genetic factors in aggression

Answer 22

hard to differentiate genetic inheritance and environmental influences.

twins could be similar in aggression due to being raised together in an aggressive family environment.

Question 23

another weakness of genetic factors in aggression

Answer 23

whilst research supports the idea that genetic makeup influences the likelihood in aggression

many observed studies lack internal validity as they relied on parental or self report techniques, both which are subject to social desirability bias

therefore difficult to get valid data on aggression

Question 24

why are animals aggressive

Answer 24

its innate and instinctive in all species and important to evolutionary development

when food and space is limited, they survive by marking off territory.

aggression is important for fighting for resources and marking territory.

Question 25

ritualistic aggression

Answer 25

members of the same species will respond with the same set of behaviours to threats

Question 26

sign stimulus

Answer 26

an environmental stimulus such as a facial expression

Question 27

fixed actions patterns

Answer 27

genetic behaviour that is identical to every species when reacting to threats.

Question 28

research that supports ethological explanation of aggression being innate

Answer 28

research shows that male sticklebacks would behave aggressively despite the shape of the red spot. the red spot is the stimulus which triggers innate releasing mechanism to produce a fixed action pattern

Question 29

strength of the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 29

supported by stickleback research the research demonstrates the role of sign stimuli in triggering the IRM resulting in FAP

Question 30

weakness of the ethological explanations of aggression

Answer 30

cannot generalize animal aggression to humans the environment animals and humans grow in are very different cannot say humans have the same response due to their complexity

Question 31

how is sexual selection linked to aggression

Answer 31

aggressive behavior has evolved due to natural selection or sexual selection to allow humans to defend themselves those who are more aggressive would be more successful in getting partners led to genetically transmitted tendency for males to be aggressive to other males.

Question 32

what is sexual jealously

Answer 32

when a man prevents the woman from having rls with pther men since he can never be sure hes the father of the kids runs the risk of cuckoldry (giving resources to kids who arent his) male sexual jealously may therefore evolve to prevent infidelity by women and reduce the risk of cuckoldry

Question 33

strength of sexual jealously

Answer 33

supported by research, in all cultures, human violent aggression is far more common in males against other males

Question 34

weakness of sexual jealously

Answer 34

gender biased. does not acknowledge men cheating

Question 35

frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 35

frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of frustration a form of emotional release that is achieved by the person engaging in aggressive behavior

Question 36

what can influence frustration according to the frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 36

the proximity of the goal aggression is more likely the closer you are to achieving your goal and also depends on whether aggression will remove the obstacle that is causing you frustration.

Question 37

green's study into frustration and aggression

Answer 37

investigated the effects of frustration on aggression 3 conditions the puzzle was impossible to solve ran out of time because a confederate kept insulting them a confederate kept insulting them as they failed those who were insulted conditions gave the strongest shock on average

Question 38

research supporting frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 38

when participants were asked to imagine frustrating and non frustrating situations, they felt angrier in the frustrating situations

Question 39

weakness of frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 39

if aggression is bought by justified frustration aggression levels were lower in justified settings than in unjustified settings the frustration and aggression link may not be as simple.

Question 40

what does the SLT suggest about aggression

Answer 40

it suggests aggression is learnt through observation and imitation

Question 41

how do we become aggressive according to SLT

Answer 41

we learn aggressive behavior through attention and retention, but only imitate it if we are motivated t do so and capable of reproducing the aggressive act

Question 42

how is vicarious reinforcement important to aggression

Answer 42

if we see a model being positively rewarded for their aggressive behavior, we are more likely to do it

Question 43

how does self efficacy affect aggression

Answer 43

we will only imitate aggression if we are capable if imitating it

Question 44

weakness of SLT explaining aggression

Answer 44

over simplistic - doesnt consider other factors of aggression e.g testosterone is a primary cause of aggression SLT does not account for biological factors

Question 45

strength of SLT explaining aggression

Answer 45

supported by Bandura children exposed to aggressive models imitated their behaviour increasing credibility of this theory

Question 46

what is de individuation

Answer 46

a psychological state characterized by lowered self esteem and decreased concerns of others views

Question 47

conditions for individuation

Answer 47

anonymity and altered consciousness due to drugs/alcohol

Question 48

why does being anonymous help with individualization

Answer 48

reduces inner restrictions restrictions and increases behaviour

Question 49

le bon's individuation explained

Answer 49

individuals feel less identifiable which can lead to loss of inhibition as the person is not so constrained by personal and social norms

Question 50

research to support de individuation

Answer 50

supported by zimbardo 4 female students had to give people a shock to aid learning those who were hiding their identity shock the learner more shows how a people seemingly losing their identity can result in them being more likely to act aggressively

Question 51

weakness to deindividuation

Answer 51

anonymity is not as important as is reduced self-awareness once a person is submerged in a group they become less privately aware of what they are doing certain aspects of deindividuation that have bigger or different than zimbardo's study suggests.