aggression

• what does the limbic system contain?

  hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus
• how does the amygdala predict aggressive behaviour?

  a larger, more responsive amygdala means the person is more aggressive
• what is research into the amygdala?

  Gospic found when ppts reacted aggressively to provocation, their fMRI scans showed a heightened response by the amygdala
• what are normal levels of serotonin associated with?

  reduced firing of neurones, which causes greater self control
• what does a serotonin deficiency show?

  reduced self control which leads to impulsive behaviour such as aggression
• what does testosterone regulate?

  social behaviour due to its influence on certain areas of the brain that are linked to aggression
• what is research into testosterone?

  when animals have testes removed, their aggression is reduced, yet it increases again when given injections of testosterone
• how does progesterone play a role in aggression?

  there is a correlation between low progesterone levels and self reported aggressive behaviour
• what have twin studies showed about aggression?

  there are greater similarities in aggressive behaviour in MZ twins suggesting there is a genetic component to aggression
• what have adoption studies showed about aggression?

  found genetic influences caused 41% of variance in aggression
• what is the MAOA gene?

  controls an enzyme that regulates serotonin
• what is the MAOA-L variant?

  low activity of the MAOA enzyme that is believed to cause aggressive behaviour
• what did Brunner's research show?

  studied 28 men from a Dutch family with history of aggressive criminal behaviours, and found they all had the MAOA-L variant
• what does the MAOA-L variant have to be combined with?

  an environmental factor such as childhood trauma
• how is aggression considered adaptive?

  it is beneficial to survival, as it established dominance hierarchies which brings access to resources and mating rights over females
• what is a ritual appeasement display?

  during intra species aggressive confrontations where the loser will accept defeat and inhibit further aggressive behaviour to prevent injury
• what is an innate releasing mechanism?

  a physiological process where an environmental stimulus triggers a sequence of behaviours
• what is a fixed action pattern?

  the release of a sequence of aggressive behaviours
• what do fixed action patterns have to be?

  stereotyped (unchanging), universal, unaffected by learning, ballistic, single purpose, a response to a stimulus
• what is research into fixed action patterns?

  male sticklebacks see another male stickleback with no red spot, they won't have an innate releasing mechanism, yet will on other models with a red spot
• why does sexual jealousy occur?

  men can never be sure whether they are the child's parent, so they have a fear of cuckoldry
• what does cuckoldry contribute to?

  investment into a rival's offspring and leaves the father with less resources
• what are mate retention strategies?

  direct guarding- male vigilance over a partner's behaviour

  negative inducements- issuing threats of dire consequence for infidelity
• what is research into mate retention strategies?


  women whose partners showed mate retention strategies were twice as likely to have experienced physical aggression, with 73% needing medical attention and 53% fearing for their lives
• how does bullying occur?

  a power imbalance, causing the powerful person to use physical aggression
• what would bullying have shown?

  an adaptive strategy to show dominance and increase chances of survival by promoting health and chances for reproduction
• why do males bully?

  the behaviour is seen as attractive to females and it wards off potential rivals, would be naturally selected as they have greater reproductive success
• why do females bully?

  takes place within a relationship to control a partner and secure their fidelity
• what is the frustration aggression hypothesis?

  frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of aggression
• why do we experience frustration?

  when our attempt to reach a goal is blocked by external factors which creates an aggressive drive
• what is catharsis?

  a physical outburst or violent fantasy that causes a overall reduction in aggressive feelings and behaviour
• what are the 3 reasons we can't express towards the source of frustration?

  cause is abstract

  cause may be too powerful and we risk punishment

  cause may be unavailable at the time
• what is the weapon effect?

  the idea that frustration doesn't cause aggressive behaviour unless there is aggressive cues in the environment
• what is research into the weapon effect?

  ppts were given fake electric shocks, and when they had to give them back, the number of shocks was greater when there was 2 guns present
• what is Geen's research?

  ppts were in 3 conditions: puzzle impossible to solve, student runs into a room when solving the puzzle, and someone insulting the ppt; the one who was insulted gave the most shocks
• how does Bandura argue aggression is learnt?

  through indirect, observational learning
• how can vicarious reinforcement cause aggressive behaviour?

  they see a role model doing aggressive behaviour, and they also see no negative consequences of that behaviour
• what are the 4 mediational processes?

  attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
• what is self efficacy?

  the extent to which we believe our behaviour will lead to a desired goal
• how will self efficacy cause aggressive behaviour?

  their confidence in their aggressive behaviour increases as they learn that it can be rewarded- develops with each successful outcome