HORMONAL EXPLANATION

• What is testosterone?

  Hormone produced in the male testes. Responsible for the development of masculine features and is associated with aggression
• how does testosterone impact aggression?

  levels are between 10 and 40 times higher in men than women, it regulates social behaviour via influence on areas of the brain that are involved in aggression. Higher than normal levels increases reactivity in the amygdala
• Human research to support

  Dolan et al found positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours in male offenders in a UK maximum security hospital. Most had histories of impulsively violent behaviours and suffered from personality disorders
• Animal research

  Wagner - Castrated Mice

  castration stops production of testosterone, Wagner found than castrated mice became less aggressive, it increased again if they were injected with testosterone
• Evaluation point 1

  Strength - research support of the role of testosterone

  Wagner, Dolan et al
• Evaluation point 2

  LIMITATION may be more than testosterone

  Carre and Mehta’s dual hormone hypothesis claims high testosterone leads to aggression only when cortisol is low (stress hormone). When it is high it blocks testosterone influence. Combined activity may be a better predictor than testosterone alone
• Evaluation point 3

  LIMITATION Research is correlational

  role of testosterone may be exaggerated as it is more correlation than causation