Aggression Flashcards
Neural mechanisms in aggression
amygdala- scans showed aggressive reactions were with a fast and heightened response
Benzodiazepine taken before the game halved the number of aggressive reactions and decreased amygdala activity.
Low levels of serotonin reduces self-control and increases impulsive behaviours
Hormonal mechanisms in aggression
Dolan found a positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviour in male offenders in the UK maximum security hospitals
Animal studies also show increases in testosterone are related to aggressive behaviour
Genetic Factors in aggression
Twin studies- Caccaro
Physical aggression= concordance rates of 50% mz 19% dz
Verbal aggression= 28% mz 7% dz
MAOA gene breaks down serotonin into chemicals to be recycled- dysfunction of this gene may lead to abnormal MAOA enzyme which affects levels of serotonin
Warrior gene is a variant of MAOA gene that leads to low MAOA activity in the brain and is associated with aggressive behaviour.
Ethological explanation
Aggression is beneficial to survival as it:
Reduces competition and establishes dominance hierarchies
Lorenz found that most intra-species aggression consisted of ritualistic signalling and rarely became physical. Also found that it ends with an appeasement display
IRM- built-in physiological structure that acts as a filter to identify threatening stimuli
FAP- a pattern of behaviours triggered by IRM relatively unchanging
Frustation-Agression
Dollard- aggression is a psychological drive similar to biological drives and we experience frustration if our attempt to achieve a goal is blocked by an external factor
Expression of aggressive drive is cathartic because aggression created by frustration is satisfied- reduces the drive making further aggression unlikely
May be expressed indirectly as fruition is:
Abstract, too powerful and we risk punishment. or unavailable.
De-inviduation
Zimbardo- behaviour usually constrained by social norms, usually discouraged. But when we become part of a crowd we lose restraint and may behave in emotional, impulsive and irrational way as we’ve become de-individuated and lose responsibility for our behaviour
Anonymity- we have less fear of retribution because we are unidentifiable in a crowd. Bigger the crowd=bigger the anonymity. Also provides us with fewer opportunities for others to judge us negatively. Anonymity also reduces private and public self-awareness.
Institutional aggression- importation
Irwin and Casey argued that inmates import a subculture of criminality into prisons- including beliefs, values, norms and personal characteristics
They use these to negotiate their way through unfamiliar prison environment in which existing inmates use aggression to establish power
Aggression is the result of individual characteristics of inmates and not prison environment.
Institutional aggression-Deprivation
Clemmer argued that harsh prison conditions cause stress for inmates who cope by behaving aggressively.
Also influenced by unpredictable prison regime that regularly uses lock ups to control behaviour- creates frustration and reduces access to goods.
