Hormonal mechanisms in aggression

• What is the primary male sex hormone associated with aggression?

  Testosterone
• Why is testosterone significant in the context of aggression?


  It influences aggression due to its action on brain areas involved in controlling aggression
• At what age do testosterone levels peak in males?


  21-35 years
• What effect does an increase in testosterone levels have on male-on-male aggressive behavior?


  It leads to an increase in aggressive behavior
• How do fluctuations in testosterone levels affect the amygdala's reactivity?


  Increased testosterone levels enhance amygdala reactivity during social threat processing
• What is cortisol and where is it produced?

  Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal medulla
• What type of correlation exists between cortisol levels and aggression?


  There is an inverse correlation; lower cortisol levels are associated with higher aggression
• What did studies find about cortisol levels in habitually violent offenders?

  They reported low levels of cortisol
• What does the dual-hypothesis by Carre and Men (2011) suggest about testosterone and cortisol?


  High testosterone leads to aggression only when cortisol levels are low
• What evidence did Wagner et al. (1979) provide regarding testosterone and aggression?


  Castrated male mice showed decreased aggression, which increased with testosterone injections
• What inconsistency exists in the evidence regarding testosterone and aggression?


  Some studies found no positive relationship between testosterone and aggression
• What correlation was found between testosterone levels and self-reported aggression among prison inmates?


  Positive correlations were reported
• What was the finding regarding testosterone and actual violent behavior among male inmates?


  No correlation was found between testosterone and actual violent behavior
• What did McBurnett et al. (2000) study regarding cortisol levels in boys?


  They found that boys with lower cortisol levels exhibited more aggressive symptoms
• How did peers label boys with lower cortisol levels in McBurnett et al.'s study?


  They were labeled as the most aggressive and the 'meanest'
• What are the key hormonal mechanisms involved in aggression?

  • Testosterone: Increases aggression, peaks in young adulthood, influences brain areas.
  • Cortisol: Inverse relationship with aggression; lower levels linked to higher aggression.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research on testosterone and aggression?


  Strengths:

  • Animal studies show clear links (e.g., Wagner et al. 1979).

  Weaknesses:

  • Inconsistent human studies.
  • Social desirability bias in self-reports.
• What is the significance of cortisol in aggression according to McBurnett et al. (2000)?

  • Lower cortisol levels correlate with increased aggression.
  • Longitudinal study on boys showed significant findings.