Ch 9

Question 1

What are the 7 forms of aggression?

Answer 1

1. Predatory aggression- directed at another species to obtain food; no learning required.
2. Intermale aggression- within species for access to limited resources.
3. Territorial aggression- boundary marking, chasing trespassers away.
4. Defensive aggression- defense of self or kin.
5. Maternal aggresssion- defense of young by mother.
6. Irritable aggression- induced by frustration or pain.
7. Instrumental aggression- learned via conditioning.

Question 2

Threat and appeasement

Answer 2

Threat: self-maximizing postures, angry facial expressions, angry tone of voice.
Appeasement: self-minimizing postures, withdrawal, female sexual postures.

Question 3

Infanticide in males and females

Answer 3

Males: direct aggression to offspring who are kin of another male; due to intermale competition.
Females: direct aggression to young who are weak or due to lack of support or resources.

Question 4

Castration reduces…

Answer 4

or eliminates intermale aggression in many species, reduced testosterone implicated in this process.

Question 5

Aggression in red deer

Answer 5

Testosterone, antler growth and aggressive behaviour all peak in male deers around the same time: mating season.

Question 6

Prenatal environment and aggression

Answer 6

Interfemale aggression increases by about 85% in 2M females compared to 0M females.

Question 7

In winners and losers what changes occur?

Answer 7

In winners, aggressiveness, assertiveness, sexual activity, catecholamines and testes increase, and adrenals decrease.
In losers, aggressiveness, assertiveness, sexual activity, catecholamines and testes decrease, and adrenals increase.

Question 8

In humans, testosterone relates more to ____ than _____

Answer 8

social dominance; aggression

Question 9

Examples of social status and testosterone changes in humans

Answer 9

Testosterone levels change based on passing or failing medical licensing exams, and winning or losing sports competitions. New army recruits show decreased levels of testosterone upon joining.

Question 10

Hypothalamus and 2 forms of aggression

Answer 10

Affective Attack: Halloween cat posture, erect fur, screaming, induced by stimulating medial HT.
Quiet Biting Attack: no emotion, searching for prey, quick bite to head or neck, induced by stimulating lateral HT.

Question 11

The Rabies virus attacks the whole brain, but especially the ______ and the _______

Answer 11

temporal areas; amygdala

Question 12

Tumours in this area can induce rage behaviour

Answer 12

temporal lobe

Question 13

________ are very active during aggressive encounters in mice

Answer 13

Natural brain catecholamines (dopamine and norepinephrine)

Question 14

What do studies on cortical suppression of aggression show?

Answer 14

The prefrontal cortex regulates aggressive behaviour. Electrical stimulation of the prefrontal cortex suppresses the affective and quiet biting attacks in cats, but not flight responses. Humans with damage to the prefrontal cortex often display aggressive and impulsive behaviour.

Question 15

Intermittent explosive disorder patients…

Answer 15

are more likely to make mistakes labeling emotions and are more likely to label neutral faces.

Question 16

Outline a difference between instrumental aggression and irritable aggression

Answer 16

Instrumental aggression can be influenced by the removal of a negative stimulus, whereas irritable aggression can be influenced by the introduction of a negative stimulus.

Question 17

Key point of Chapter 9 Reading on defeat/victory in males and females

Answer 17

The same hormonal responses are seen in males and females following defeat or victory in a sporting competition. Testosterone levels decrease and cortisol levels increase after defeat similarly in men and women, although there are lower circulating levels of testosterone in women.