Aggression

• what parts make up the neural mechanism of aggression?

  Limbic system- Amygdala

  Serotonin- if low then cannot control impulses
• what is limitations of neural mechanisms ?

  individual differences- MANN

  adminstered a drug which reduces serotonin (increased aggression in men but not women)
• what is a strength for hormonal mechanism?

  DABBS- saliva for violent and nonviolent criminals
• when does the variation of the MAOA gene develop?

  in utero- babies brain bathed in serotonin - meaning we become insensitive to it
• what is the research to support the genetics of aggression?

  Coccaro- MZ/DZ twin- criminal record

  Brunner- urine samples of males in a aggressive family
• features of ethological explanation

  innate releasing mechanism leads to fixed action pattern
• how conducted the study on stickleback fish for the ethological explanation?

  Tinbergen
• limitations of ethological explanation?

  Goodall- watched chimpazees and suggested aggression isnt ritualistic

  Nisbett- south and north americans insulted - south were more aggressive
• Based on the Evolutionary theory, why is aggression used ?

  serves as important function in terms of both individuak survival as well as reproductive potential

  ancestors who survived and then passed on their genes
• who did the research into jealous boyfriends and abuse? (evolutionary)

  Wilson
• what is the Cathartic release? (frustration- aggression)

  feeling of relaxation when frustration has been built up and then released
• who conducted the study with the Jigsaw? (frustration - aggression)

  GREEN
• what is a weakness of frustration aggression hypothesis?

  Berkowitz- too simplistic

  presence of certain cues eg. weapons

  study- gun, badminton racket
• what is involved in social learning theory in aggression?

  mediational processes- attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation

  Vicarious reinforcement/ punishment

  observation of role models
• who conducted the KU KLUX KLAN experiment? (deindividuation)

  Johnson and downing
• what reduces during deindividuation?

  contineous self assessment
• situational factors of institutional aggression

  lack of liberty- freedom

  lack of goods

  lack of security

  lack of autonomy
• who did research for situational factors impacting institutional aggression?

  GAES
• who did research for dispositional factors impacting institutional aggression?

  GAES
• -ve of institutional aggression

  little is known about female inmates
• research support for media influences on aggressive behaviour?

  Disinhibition= Berkowitz and Alioto- pps watched revenge film - gave more shocks

  Desensitisation= Ritterfield and Mathiak- pps fmri scan whilst playing violent game - found low activity in emotional areas of cortex

  Cognititive priming= Berkowitz- badminton racket or baseball bat
• what is a weakness of the hormonal explanation to aggression?

  cannot establish cause and effect
• what does the warrior gene do?

  results in impulsive aggressive behaviour
• what is a weakness of the biological approach to aggression?

  ignores nurture
• who suggested the ethological explanation to aggression?

  Lorenz
• how does serotonin result in aggression due to limbic system?

  low levels lead to reductionism in calming influence on prefrontal cortex = impulsive behaviour
• evolutionary explanation

  men used direct guarding and negative inducements to avoid cuckoldry

  increase the certainty of being the father of his children
• cognitive priming - what happens to people not exposured to aggressive media?


  they dont have any aggressive scripts