Hormonal mechanisms

Question 1

What is testosterone?

Answer 1

An adrogen responsible for development of masculine features

Question 2

How is testosterone linked to aggression?

Answer 2

Many have observed men are generally more aggressive than women
Men more aggressive towards other men at time in development (after 20 years) when testosterone levels are highest
Role in regulating social behaviour via influence on certain areas of brain implicated in aggression

Question 3

What do castration studies of animals show?

Answer 3

Removing testes reduced aggression in males of many species
Injections of testosterone to same animals restores aggressive behaviour

Question 4

What do human studies show similar to animal?

Answer 4

Dolan et al
Positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours in a sample of 60 offenders in UK maximum security hospitals
Men mostly has personality disorders
Histories of impulsively violence behaviour

Question 5

What is progesterone?

Answer 5

Female ovarian hormone

Question 6

How is progesterone linked to important role in aggression in women?

Answer 6

Levels of progesterone vary during ovulation cycle
lowest during and just after menstruation
Ziomkiewicz et al
Negative correlation between progesterone levels and self reported aggression
Suggesting low levels of progesterone are linked to increased aggression in women

Question 7

What is a strength of hormonal explanations?

Answer 7

Support from research with animals
Giammanco et al
Review of studies
Confirms role of testosterone levels and aggressive behaviour during mating season
Rats - castration of males reduces testosterone and mouse killing behaviour
Injecting female rates with testosterone increased mouse killing
Findings show role of testosterone in range of animal species

Question 8

What is a limitation of hormonal explanation?

Answer 8

Mixed evidence of link between testosterone and aggression
Carre and Mehta
Dual hormone hypothesis
Claim high levels of testosterone lead to aggressive behaviour but only when levels of cortisol are low
Cortisol is high - testosterones influence on aggression is blocked
Hormone cortisol - central role in bodies response to chronic stress
Combine activity of testosterone and cortisol may be better predictor of aggression than either hormone alone