BIOLOGICAL hormones as an explanation of aggression

Question 1

what is a hormone

Answer 1

chemical substances produced by glands that travel through the blood stream to a target organ/gland

Question 2

how are hormones differnet to electrical impulses

Answer 2

electrical impulses travel extremely quickly but hormones have a slower effect on organs and glands
electrical impulses are carried by neurons but hormones carried in the bloodstream

Question 3

what are the four hormones we study

Answer 3

• testosterone
• adrenaline
• cortisol
• progesterone

Question 4

what is the function of testosterone and where is it secreted

Answer 4

• steroid hormone linked to muscle development and aggression
• secreted in the testis in males and lesser in females
• increases with puberty and produced in spurts - effective in minutes

Question 5

what does testosterone cause

Answer 5

• influences areas of the brain that control behaviour (amygdala and hypothalamus)

Question 6

how does testosterone correlate with aggression

Answer 6

high levels = higher levels of aggression

Question 7

where is adrenaline produced and what is the function

Answer 7

• produced in teh adrenal gland
• linked to fight or flight reaction - a need to be physically strong or fast

Question 8

what does adrenaline cause

Answer 8

• increase heart rate and breathing rates
• increases blood flow to muscles
• causes pupil dialation which increases visual range to detect threats

Question 9

hwo does adrenaline correlate to aggression

Answer 9

high levels = higher levels of aggression

Question 10

where is cortisol produced and what is the function

Answer 10

• produced in the adrenal glands
• main job is to manage stress and inhibit aggression

Question 11

who mainly has more cortisol between men and women

Answer 11

women generally have higher cortisol levels than men

Question 12

how does cortisol correlate to aggression

Answer 12

low levels = higher levels of aggression

Question 13

what gender mainly have more progesterone and what is the function

Answer 13

women - linked to maternal instincts in nurturing children

Question 14

what is the medication given to increase progesterone and whos it given to

Answer 14

Depo-Provera - given to sex offenders to lower aggression and sexual urges

Question 15

how does progesterone correlate to aggression

Answer 15

lower levels = higher levels of aggression

Question 16

positives of the theory

Answer 16

• supporting evidence - Dabbs (1987) - non-violent and violent male prisoners - found 10 out of 1 had hgih levels of testosterone
• supporting evidence - Barzman - testosterone and cortisol levels in boys at psychiatric ward - all low cortisol
• useful application - identifies hormones that lead to aggression - objectiove ways to measure (saliva and blood) - protect staff from psychiatric ward

Question 17

negatives of the theory

Answer 17

• alternative explanation - social learning theory - observe and imitate behaviour - enviromental factors
• credibility - cause and effect - only correlations - direction of effects are unclear
• reductionist - isolates hormones as sole factor - ignores others e.g. brain functioning