Key Question

• What is the biological key question?

  what are the implications for society if aggression is found to be caused by nature and not nurture?
• What does it mean if aggression is caused by nurture?

  it could be something we choose - someone could choose not to act aggressively by removing themselves from a triggering environment
• What does it mean if aggression is caused by nature?

  it is not our choice because we cannot change our biology - society should be treated with sympathy, not with punishment
• Medication as a solution

  if found to be caused by hormones/neurotransmitters, injections could be administered to reduce aggression

  - might be considered unethical
• Surgery as a solution

  if aggression is found to be caused by brain structure, surgery could be used to alleviate aggressive behaviours

  - would be a high cost for the NHS

  - unethical to force surgery
• Genetic modification as a solution

  if aggression if found to be caused by nature, genetic modification could edit the genes of an embryo to prevent them from being innately aggressive

  - editing an embryo can be seen as unethical
• Punishment as a solution

  some individuals may be imprisoned to protect the rest of society

  - would be costly - £40,000 per person per year

  - unethical to imprison a person for something they have no control over
• What is the focus of this question in the Biological Approach for A-level Psychology?

  The implications of biologically determined aggression
• If aggression is genetically or neurologically determined, it challenges the idea that individuals freely choose to act violently
• The idea that aggression is biologically determined may lead to the increased use of diminished responsibility in court.
• Match the potential societal concern with its consequence:

  Stigma ↔️ Unfair labeling of individuals

  Discrimination ↔️ Loss of opportunities in jobs

  Eugenics ↔️ Ethical concerns about genetic manipulation
• If aggression is innate, some might argue that parenting or education has limited effect
• If aggression is biological, governments might increase funding for neuroscience research.
• Arrange the following concepts to reflect the debate between free will and determinism:

  1️⃣ Biology determines behavior

  2️⃣ Determinism is supported

  3️⃣ Free will is challenged

  4️⃣ Ethical and legal systems are questioned
• Genes are not destiny, meaning that environment and personal choice still matter