key Q essay plan (b)

• Bio Key Q AO1

  argues whether aggression is nature - biologically caused eg due to hormones and brain structure, or to nurture - through the environment eg learnt

  . raises issues for legal system and treatment of offenders as if thought to be a nature/biological cause we say individuals had no control over their behaviour so shouldn't be blamed for it = affects victims as they don't have someone to blame, sentence will be less for offender = fells like justice hasn't been served

  . says we shouldn't punish offenders so should treat them biologically instead

  . 2.1% adults were victims of violent crimes in year ending march 2024
• Key Q AO2 - hormone theory

  says high testosterone levels result in aggression - evidence in Dabbs (violent offenders had higher T levels), gives men a reason to be aggressive - an excuse = gender bias, so they may receive lower sentences

  CA: doesn't explain aggression in females, so wouldn't help the justice system
• Key Q AO2 - brain structure

  amygdala can be responsible for aggression - see in Charles Whitman + Raines NGRI killers. it can influence aggression as controls the responses to perceived threat. has implications for society as may lead to labelling people as criminals due to their brain structure despite them not having committed crimes = unfair convictions

  . can give opportunity to intervene in early so reduce someone's aggression to prevent them doing something later in life