Nov 3

Question 1

What is the pure genetic theory?

Answer 1

Genes cause aggression, passed down, playing down social psychological explanations

Question 2

In reality, do genes cause aggression?

Answer 2

Genes influence elements of our biooogy that contribute to aggression rather than directly causing it

Question 3

What are the two types of elements of our biology that genes influence aggression on?

Answer 3

Structural (ie. Genes contribute to muscle and bone development necessary for aggression)
Functional (ie. Genes influence neurochemical and hormonal systems)

Question 4

What does the MAOA gene do?

Answer 4

Regulates the MAOA enzyme

Question 5

What does the MAOA enzyme do?

Answer 5

Enzyme breaks down neurotransmitters (serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine), removing excess amounts and allowing neurons to effectively communicate

Question 6

A build-up of these neurotransmitters may cause…

Answer 6

… excessive aggression in stressful situations

Question 7

What happens if the MAOA gene experiences dysfunction?

Answer 7

The MAOA enzyme doesn’t regulate the serotonin levels properly, causing aggressive behaviour.

Question 8

What are the two forms of the MAOA gene?

Answer 8

Low activity (MAOA-L)
High activity (MAOA-H)

Question 9

What does the MAOA-L (low activity) gene do?

Answer 9

** predisposes a person to violence**, as it doesn’t allow the MAOA enzyme to regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin effectively, causing aggression

Question 10

GENETIC FACTORS EVALUATION: Brunner

Answer 10

SUPPORTS
Car of Dutch family, where males were particularly aggressive over generations.
Males had a mutated MAOA gene.
Led researchers to study the 2 normal variants.

Question 11

GENETIC FACTORS EXPLANATION: McDermott

Answer 11

SUPPORTS
Controlled experiment … MAOA-L gene individuals were more likely to force someone to eat hot chilli sauce despite having to pay to punish than those with MAOA-H

Question 12

GENETIC FACTORS EXPLANATION: Interactionist approach?

Answer 12

Coccaro twin studies. Hostility questionnaire males.
Concordance rates 50% MZ, 19% DZ, suggests genetics and environment.

Caspi 500 male children. Looked at anti-social behaviour when they grew up.
Found support for MAOA-L in aggression, but only if the child was maltreated.

Question 13

What is the impact of GENETIC FACTORS ON AGGRESSION for the legal system?

Answer 13

Offenders aren’t seen as responsible as they didn’t have free will

Question 14

Are GENETIC FACTORS in AGGRESSION reductionist?

Answer 14

Yes, they only explore genetic factors.
This is more simple and scientific BUT fails to account for other complex factors.
Ignores holism.

Question 15

What do ethologists do?

Answer 15

Study animal behaviour in natural environments in the context of evolutionary theory.

Question 16

Lorenz suggests that the ethnological approach is an _______ instinct, which has evolved to aid _______.

Answer 16

adaptive
survival

Question 17

What 3 ways does Lorenz suggest aggression aids survival?

Answer 17

• ** Ensures fittest** pass on genes
• Disperse members of a species more widely (territorial resources less quickly exhausted, and disease is less impactful)
• Maintain hierarchies in socially organised animals

Question 18

We are born with an _________________.
When triggered by a _____________, it causes a series of _________________

Answer 18

innate releasing mechanism
sign stimuli
fixed action patterns

Question 19

What is an innate releasing mechanism?

Answer 19

A built-in brain structure

Question 20

What is a sign stimuli?

Answer 20

An environmental trigger/ threat

Question 21

What is a fixed action pattern?

Answer 21

A sequence of stereotypes, pre-programmed behaviours

Question 22

Give 2 examples of fixed action patterns

Answer 22

Exposing teeth
Exposing claws
Making self appear bigger
Facial expressions

Question 23

Fixed action patterns are ritualistic, meaning…

Answer 23

… they are designed to deter another male from entering territory and removing access to females, preventing genes from being passed on

Question 24

Lorenz believed animals don’t want to kill eachother. Elaborate

Answer 24

They don’t want to kill eachother as this would mean aggression isn’t adaptive. Killing each other would cause the species to die out.

Question 25

What are appeasement displays?

Answer 25

Show surrender, eg. Wolves exposing necks

Question 26

Lorenz thought ritualistic signals only occur for a certain amount of time, because…

Answer 26

… fixed action patterns only have a certain amount of action-specific energy dedicated to them.

Question 27

Lorenz hydraulic model?

Answer 27

On d aggression is completed, there’ll be a reduction in aggression as energy resources are used up. **Ritualistic signals can also occur in the absence of a sign stimulus if too much action-specific energy (Ase) builds up** (aka Lorenz hydraulic model

Question 28

Evaluate ethnological

Answer 28

SUPPORTS Tinbergen make sticklebacks AGAINST Goodall killing conspecifics AGAINST hydraulic model. Research suggests performing agressive behaviour provides further stimulus, making aggression more likely.