Hormones

Question 1

what are hormones?

Answer 1

Hormones are chemicals that affect behaviour. They are different from
neurotransmitters because they are secreted by glands in the endocrine system.

Question 2

what is testosterone

Answer 2

testosterone is a hormone has shown to be associated with levels of aggression

Question 3

what is the amygdala

Answer 3

the amygdala is a part of the brain associated with emotional response and prespres our body for the fight or flight response

Question 4

Study 1

Answer 4

Goetz et al

Question 5

Aim

Answer 5

to investigate whether testosterone might influence activity (or reactivity) of the amygdala

Question 6

Procedure

Answer 6

+ the study used 16 healthy young men who were tested over 2 days
+ it was a repeated measures design as all 16 participated in both conditions
+ all of their base-line testosterone levels were the same before the start of the experiment
+ in the treatment condition–> they were given a dose of testosterone.
+ the control condition–> received a placebo
+ after that they were placed in an fmri scanner and their brain activity was measured as they viewed images of faces expressing different emotions

Question 7

Results

Answer 7

the result showed that in the increased testosterone condition the reactivity of the amygdala was higher when participants were shown an angry face

Question 8

conclusion

Answer 8

testosterone is linked with aggression and affects the reactivity of the amygdala

Question 9

Study 2

Answer 9

Dabbs et al

Question 10

Aim

Answer 10

to study the relationship between levels of testosterone and kinds of offences and misbehaviour in prisons

Question 11

Procedure

Answer 11

+ 692 male inmates from a security prison were taken
+ saliva samples were taken from each of them and analysed for levels of testosterone
+ results of the analysis were categorised into: low, medium and high testosterone levels
+ each of their crimes were recorded and classified as violent (murder, rape) and non-violent (theft, fraud)
+violations of conduct/accounts of misbehaviour was also accounted for

Question 12

Results

Answer 12

• participants with high testosterone levels were more likely to serve for violent crimes and to have violated conduct
  -those with medium levels had more violent crimes than those with low levels

Question 13

conclusions

Answer 13

A clear [positive correlation can be seen between the amount of testosterone one has and the likelihood of engaging in violent crimes