Brain Structure

• prefrontal cortex is responsible for problem solving, decision making and cognitive functions
• prefrontal cortex helps regulate behaviour by sending glutamergic projections to brain areas linked with aggression such as the amygalda, allows us to resist impulses
• damage to the prefrontal cortex means we are unable to plan so we might act to gain immediate reward this could lead to impulsive or aggressive behaviour
• strength: Phineas Gage - after experiencing an accident in which a metal rod impaled his prefrontal cortex, he became aggressive and rude to how he was before, this supports the idea that damage to the prefrontal cortex results in impulsive and aggressive behaviour
• weakness: Phineas Gage - was in a case study and therefore his findings lack generalisability as this is a unique case, the study also lacks reliability as it would be unethical to replicate
• the amygalda is part of the limbic system and is responsible for fight or flight and emotional perception
• the amygalda integrates internal and external stimuli which when combined gives us an instinctive feeling or reaction which will include aggression
• damage to the amygalda means we could interpret harmless stimuli as a threat and act aggressively falsely
• strength: Charles Whitman - carried out a mass shooting which killed his mother and wife, in a later biopsy a tumour was found pressing on his amygalda causing damage. this supports the view that damage to the amygalda can cause aggressive behaviour
• weakness: Charles Whitman - fails to consider individual differences, Charles had an abusive father which could have been the reason for his aggression, SLT may be a more appropriate explanation
• hypothalamus is part of the limbic system, maintains homeostasis through regulation of hormones inclusing those that regulate sexual function like testosterone which is linked to aggressive behaviour in males
• strength: Andy + Velamati; when cats' hypothalamus and basal ganglia were stimulated they experienced aggressive seizures, this supports the idea that damage to the recptors in the hypothalamus causes aggression
• weakness: study lacks generalisability, animals have a much less complex brain structure to humans, therefore, the findings aren't applicable to humans because their brains might react differently to damage than ours