ag2

Question 1

state the 3 biological explanations for aggression.

Answer 1

neural mechanisms
hormonal mechanisms
genetic factors

Question 2

state the 2 components of the neural mechanisms explanation for aggression.

Answer 2

The limbic system (amygdala)

serotonin

Question 3

what does the limbic system explanation for aggression suggest?

Answer 3

hyperactivity + reduced volume of the amygdala is linked to aggression
(anygdala= emotion, fear, rage)

Question 4

what does the serotonin explanation for aggression suggest?

Answer 4

reduces aggression by inhibiting responses to emotional stimuli
decreased serotonin increases susceptibility to impulse behaviour

Question 5

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the limbic system (amygdala) explanation for aggression?

Answer 5

ledoux 1996 electrically stimulate rats- produced fear/rage + stimulated womens amygdala + she smashed her guitar

animal studies cant generalise + unethical
preforntal cortex also relevant- 41 murderers had reduced prefrontal cortex activity

Question 6

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the serotonin explanation for aggression?

Answer 6

mann (1990) gave 35 ps drug that depletes serotonin= increased aggression questionnaire score + high tryptaphan diet monkeys exhibited low aggression

small sample + animal study cant generalise
amygdala also plays role

Question 7

state the component of the hormonal mechanisms explanation of aggression.

Answer 7

testosterone

Question 8

what does the testosterone explanation for aggression suggest?

Answer 8

(androgen) men are often more aggression and they have more testosterone

Question 9

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the testosterone explanation for aggression?

Answer 9

wagner found rats had more biting attacks pre-castration + history of violent crime often hgh testosterone

amygdala+serotonin also impact
animal study cant generalise

Question 10

what is the genetics explanation for aggression? (plus the extra one)

Answer 10

MAOA gene

twin studies

Question 11

What does the MAOA gene explanation of aggression suggest?

Answer 11

MAOA gene regulates MAOA enzyme which breaks down excess NTs
problems with this result in either less enzyme=more serotonin so build tolerance OR more enzyme= less serotonin so more aggression

Question 12

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the MAOA explanation for aggression?

Answer 12

greater association in aggresive behaviour between MZ than DZ

twins often share same env so similarities in agg could be due to env not genetic

Question 13

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the twin studies explanation for aggression?

Answer 13

greater association in aggresive behaviour between MZ than DZ

twins often share same env so similarities in agg could be due to env not genetic

Question 14

state the 2 components of the ethological explanations of aggression

Answer 14

innate releasing mechanisms (irm)

fixed action patterns (fap)

Question 15

what does the innate releasing mechanisms explanation of aggression suggest?

Answer 15

an innate system within an animal that responds to a stimulus
triggers the fixed action pattern
(the red dot for a stickleback)

Question 16

what does the fixed action pattern explanation of aggression suggest?

Answer 16

the response (attack) which is innate and found through the species, and is a result of an IRM

Question 17

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the ethological explanation for aggression?

Answer 17

regardless of shape, study found stickleback would always attack a red spot (only males have these, and is a way of defending area) red spot=irm attack=fap + genetic explanation also suggests behaviour has innate basis

hard to generalise to humans + amygdala and testosterone also cause aggression

Question 18

what is the evolutionary explanation for aggression?

Answer 18

sexual jealousy to ensure own paternity-warn off others from stealing mate
aggressive ones mate, aggressive genes passed on
defend resources e.g. mates/territory
establish status
females look for men with resources- agg men more successful
females compete for best mates through low risk strats e.g. gossiping to disarm others

Question 19

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the evolutionary explanation for aggression?

Answer 19

accounts for gender differences in aggression

socially sensitive stereotype men as aggressive + neural mechanisms + hormones also relevant

Question 20

state the 3 components of the social psychological explanations for aggression.

Answer 20

dollards frustration aggression hypothesis
social learning theory
deindividuation

Question 21

what does dollards frustration aggression hypothesis suggest about aggression?

Answer 21

goal is obstructed, causing frustration, relieved in cathartic way i.e. displaying aggression. Aggression not always expressed- likely if were close to achieving goal or if aggression will help obtain it
psychodynamic bc catharsis+ displacement=defence mechanism

Question 22

what is 1 strength and 1 limitations of the dollards frustration aggression hypothesis explanation for aggression?

Answer 22

Green found as frustration increases (impossible task, ran out of time bc confederates, confederate insulted them) number of shocks increased

lacks mundane realism
frustration doesnt always lead to aggression

Question 23

what does the social learning theory explanation suggest about aggression?

Answer 23

learn aggression through observation
banduras bobo doll exp shows when children watched video of adultplay violent with doll, they imitated the behaviour
process=attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation

Question 24

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the slt explantion for aggression?

Answer 24

applybto society, reduce childs exposure to violent material online for example
doesnt account for bio explanations

Question 25

what does the deindividuation explanation for aggression suggest?

Answer 25

once in crowd, lose sense of individuality + become part of crowd so go against norms if others do. the anonymity lowers the personal consequence of aggression, increasing likelihood of being aggressive

Question 26

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the deindividuation explanation for aggression?

Answer 26

zimbardo prison study supports bc group of guards acted aggressively + deindividuated bc glasses and uniform biology also causes aggression

Question 27

state the 2 explanations of institutional aggression

Answer 27

``` situational explanation (deprivation model) dispositional explanation (importation model) ```

Question 28

what does the situational explanation for institutional aggression suggest?

Answer 28

deprivation model | situational factors of prison circumstance cause aggression (e.g. loss of freedom, possessions, overcrowding)

Question 29

what does the dispositional explanation for institutional aggression suggest?

Answer 29

importation model | dispositional factors people bring into the prison causing aggression e.g. history of violent behaviour

Question 30

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the situational explanation for institutional aggression?

Answer 30

may lead to more concern and effort invested in changing prison env for the better to decrease prison attacks doesnt account for biological explanations

Question 31

what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of the dispositional explanation for institutional aggression?

Answer 31

criminal history of violent crimes did show increased liklihood of aggression in prison in comparison to theft crimes doesnt account for biological explanations

Question 32

what is the explanation for media influences (violent video games) on aggression? what is 1 strength and 1 limitation of this

Answer 32

tv/computer game violence can cause agg behaviour bartholomew found those who played vioent vid games played higher volume of white noise as opposed to those playing golfing game lab study so no fear of consequence of agg + only examines short term effects

Question 33

state the 3 explanations of why media (violent video games) causes aggression?

Answer 33

desensitisation disinhibition cognitive priming

Question 34

what does the desensitisation explanation of media influences of aggression suggest?

Answer 34

(about emotional responses) the more media violence ones eposed to the less sensitive they become to it less sensitivity means more aggression, so is seen as normal/acceptable studies use physiological responses (e.g.hr) to demonstrate arousal

Question 35

what is one strength and one limitation of the desensitisation explanation of media influences of aggression?

Answer 35

reduction in hr when people had watched real violence after media violence + measuring physiological responses so no demand effects- scientific physiological changes dont neccessarily mean psycho changes

Question 36

what does the disinhibition explanation of media influences of aggression suggest?

Answer 36

(about social responses) exposure to violence changes our view about it/its acceptability legitimises violence and undermines sanctions

Question 37

what is one strength and one limitation of the disinhibition explanation of media influences of aggression?

Answer 37

bartholomew those who played violent game gave higher volume of white noise ?

Question 38

what does the cognitive priming explanation of media influences of aggression suggest?

Answer 38

aggressive images in media (e.g. guns out) act as cues for SCRIPT/ schema agg b exposure to cues in similar context triggers memory leading to reproduction either specific aggressive action or specific aggression

Question 39

what is one strength and one limitation of the cognitive priming explanation of media influences of aggression?

Answer 39

slt supports the idea of scripts as children copied violent behaviour perhaps because of script forming???????/ ignores biological factors leading to aggression