brain structure on aggression

• amygdala

  • regulates emotional response so damage could lead to excessive aggression
  • damage to right amygdala leads to deficit in appropriate social behaviour in men/decision makings
  • right also more involved in impulsive behaviour
• hypothalamus

  • regulates hormone production (testosterone) which implicates aggression
  • damage to can affect level of rage displayed, increasing aggression
• frontal cortex

  • damage leads to problems with decision making and impulse control
  • so can lead to aggressive outbursts as wrong decision made about what is the appropriate response
• hippocampus

  • transferring info from STM to LTM
  • if damaged person doesn't learn appropriate responses to situations so more likely to be aggressive when challenged by others as don't store correct way to behave
• supporting evidence

  • charles whitman
  • phineas gage
  • raine
• eval points

  • -ignores individual differences like personality and upbringing that may lead to aggression
  • + scientific measure like brain scans objectively measure brain injury and how it can lead to aggression
• balanced conclusion

  • USEFUL-> accurately predict when person aggressive if damage a specific region of brain controlling impulse as its reductionist bbut accurate explanation of aggressive behaviour
  • LESS USEFUL -> ignores environmental and evolutionary explanations like SLT