Genetic Factors AO3

• What is a weakness of explaining aggression in terms of genetic factors?


  There are significant sampling issues in research on aggression.
• Why is it problematic that many studies on aggression focus on individuals convicted of violent crime?

  Because they represent only a small minority of those involved in aggressive behavior.
• What are the two difficulties that arise when drawing conclusions from studies focused on convicted individuals?

  Firstly, not all violent behaviors lead to conviction; secondly, convicted individuals may not be the most serious offenders.
• Why might a convicted murderer not represent the most serious offender in terms of aggression?


  Because they may have had a lifetime free from crime aside from that one offense.
• What conclusion can be drawn about the heritability of violence based on the issues with sampling in aggression studies?


  Many studies have found little or no evidence of heritability for violence.
• What is a weakness of explaining aggression solely in terms of genetic factors?


  There could be other factors contributing to behavior.
• What did Caspi (2002) find regarding the MAOA-L variant?


  Those with the MAOA-L variant were more likely to exhibit anti-social behavior.
• How does the MAOA-H variant differ from the MAOA-L variant according to Caspi (2002)?


  MAOA-H produces high levels of the MAOA enzyme.
• Under what condition did the MAOA-L variant lead to anti-social behavior in children?


  When the children had also been maltreated.
• Why is it difficult to establish genetic contributions to aggressive behavior?


  Because environmental factors also have an influence.
• What has been argued regarding the genetic basis of behavior?


  More than one gene usually contributes to a given behavior.
• What is a consequence of viewing aggression from a solely biological perspective?


  It can be highly reductionist.
• What is a strength of explaining aggression in terms of genetic factors?


  Research evidence supports the link between genetics and aggression.
• What did Tiihonen et al. (2015) study in relation to aggression?


  They studied Finnish prisoners to investigate the MAOA-L gene and CDH13 gene's association with violent behavior.
• What was the finding of Tiihonen et al. (2015) regarding the MAOA-L gene and CDH13 gene?


  These genes were associated with extremely violent behavior in Finnish prisoners but not in non-violent offenders.
• Why is the finding about the MAOA gene significant?


  It provides research support linking the MAOA gene to severe violent behaviors like murder.
• What conclusion can be drawn about the role of genetic factors in aggression?


  Genetic factors in aggression are considered reliable.
• What do critics argue about the role of genes in violent behavior?


  Critics argue that genes may make it harder to control violent urges but do not predetermine violent behavior.
• What is a weakness of explaining aggression in terms of genetic factors?


  There are significant problems assessing aggression.
• Which study is mentioned as finding that genetic factors explain a large proportion of aggressive behavior?

  Caspi (2002)
• What type of reports showed a large proportion of genetic contribution to aggression?

  Self-report or parental reports
• What did studies using observational ratings show regarding genetic contribution to aggression?


  They showed significantly less genetic contribution and a greater influence of environmental factors.
• Why do inconsistencies in findings matter in the context of aggression research?


  They make it difficult to accurately assess the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors in aggression.
• What is the implication of different methodologies used in aggression studies?


  Psychologists are gathering different findings on the role of genetics in aggression, thus reducing its reliability.