Biological psychology - Aggression

Question 1

What is the role of the limbic system? (Brain structure)

Answer 1

Linked with emotional behaviour, amygdala reactivity linked to processing angry faces (Coccaro et al. 2007)

Question 2

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex? (Brain structure)

Answer 2

OFC activity lower in aggressive people, who show disrupted self - control and more impulsive behaviour (Raine et al 1997)

Question 3

What is the role of serotonin? (Brain function)

Answer 3

Decreased serotonin in OFC means less self-control and more impulsive behaviour (Denson et al. 2012)

Question 4

What is the role of dopamine? (Brain function)

Answer 4

Serotonin underactivity stimulates dopamine overactivity, both involved in aggression (Seo et al. 2008)

Question 5

Evaluate the structure of the brain and aggression. (Support from longitudinal research)

Answer 5

Strong negative correlation between aggression and amygdala volume (Pardini et al. 2014)

Question 6

Evaluate the structure of the brain and aggression. (Correlational research)

Answer 6

Links between brain function and aggression but cannot establish cause and effect.
However participants given a drug known to increase serotonin activity are less aggressive (Berman et al 2009)

Question 7

Evaluate the structure of the brain and aggression. (Application to understanding aggression)

Answer 7

Leads to drug treatment e.g. serenics are serotonin agonist with anti-aggression effects

Question 8

Evaluate the structure of the brain and aggression. (Issues and debates)

Answer 8

Reductionist explanation, aggression lined to amygdala dysfunction, ignores interactive social and psychological factors.

Question 9

What is evoluation?

Answer 9

Genes for characteristics that allows an individual to reproduce are passed on.

Question 10

What is natural selection?

Answer 10

Environmental pressures select individuals that can survive and reproduce successfully.

Question 11

What is sexual selection?

Answer 11

Apparently disadvantageous traits selected because attraction to mates, sign of genetic fitness (e.g. peacock tails)

Question 12

What is guarding your partner? (Evolution and aggression)

Answer 12

Mate retention strategies (Wilson and Daly 1996) - males prevent females from straying.

Question 13

What is guarding your offspring? (Evolution and aggression)

Answer 13

Parents are aggressive to protect genetic investment in children, female aggression.

Question 14

Evaluate evolution, natural selection and aggression. (Explains gender differences)

Answer 14

Cooperation in females protects offspring, aggression in males provides food.
However, cannot test evolution directly so research correlational and other influences may be important

Question 15

Evaluate evolution, natural selection and aggression. (Cannot explain cultural differences)

Answer 15

Differences in aggression are not universal and suggest that innately determined behaviour can be outweighed by cultural norms

Question 16

Evaluate evolution, natural selection and aggression. (Applications to reproductive behaviour)

Answer 16

Explains why partners are selected to enhance reproductive success e.g. Men select younger women (Buss 1989)

Question 17

Evaluate evolution, natural selection and aggression. (issues and debates)

Answer 17

Psychology as a science shown in use of marsupial fossils as objective evidence of sexual selection.

Question 18

How are the unconscious and aggression linked? (Freud)

Answer 18

The unconscious (iceberg metaphor) is hidden but is active processor, origin of aggressive thoughts, instincts etc.

Question 19

What is the ID and pleasure principle? (Freud)

Answer 19

Primitive, unconscious, origin of aggressive energy. Demands immediate gratification of desires.

Question 20

What is the Ego and reality principle? (Freud)

Answer 20

Rational, mostly conscious, directs id responses in a realistic way.

Question 21

What is the superego? (Freud)

Answer 21

Moral role, conscience, ideal self-image. Opposes id urges with guilt and shame

Question 22

How does catharsis and aggression link?

Answer 22

Expressing aggression reduces drive. Can be indirect (e.g. displacement)

Question 23

Evaluate Freud’s explanations of aggression. (Explains different types of aggression)

Answer 23

Hot-blooded (impulsive) = failure of ego to control id
Cold-blooded (logical) = success of ego.

Question 24

Evaluate Freud’s explanations of aggression. (Aggression is not cathartic)

Answer 24

Venting increases aggression rathe than decreasing (e.g. Bushman 2002)
However, ranting rather than venting can be cathartic, control over anger (Graham et al. 2008)

Question 25

Evaluate Freud's explanations of aggression. (Application to reducing aggression)

Answer 25

Harmless ways to vent in everyday life (displacement) an also in therapy.

Question 26

Evaluate Freud's explanations of aggression. (Issues and debates)

Answer 26

Compare similarities between Freud and biological approach, both see aggression as instinctive/ innate/ useful for survival.

Question 27

What are hormones?

Answer 27

Produced in endocrine glands, travel in bloodstream to target cells/ organs, widespread effect.

Question 28

What is the role of testosterone?

Answer 28

Increased levels linked to aggression in male animals and humans (e.g. Dolan et al. 2001)

Question 29

What is the dual-hormone hypothesis?

Answer 29

Aggression occurs in interaction between high testosterone and low cortisol.

Question 30

What is the role of testosterone in females?

Answer 30

Testosterone linked with both high and low aggression and also greater sociability.