paper 3 - aggression

Question 1

Define aggression

Answer 1

Refers to a range of behaviour that can result in both physical and psychological harm to yourself and others.
Aggression is a strong emotion marked by a heightened motivation to do harm to another person combined with a lack of fear for the consequence.

Question 2

The limbic system

Answer 2

The limbic system is a key structure/region in the brain and associated with AGGRESSION.
The regions amd systems has been widely studied and linked for emotional responses.
JAMES PAPEZ (1937) linked the limbic system to the emotional behaviours like aggression.

Question 3

The limbic system is subcortical structure in the brain including….

Answer 3

HYPOTHALAMUS AND AMYGDALA

Question 4

AMYGDALA

Answer 4

Amygdala is responsible for evaluating the emotional importance of sensory stimuli- it detects fear or danger.

Amygdala In humans and mammals is an important predictor of aggressive behaviour.
The amygdala has a key role in how mammals assess and respond to environmental threats.
(E.g the more responsive the amygdala is, the aggressive the person is)

Question 5

Gospic Et Al (2011)

Answer 5

Some participants were subjected to a mild provocation (a statement tend to make someone angry). When participants reacted aggressively FMRI scans showed a fast and heighten response by the amygdala.
A BENZODIAZEPINE drug (which reduces arousal of the autonomic nervous system- regulates certain body processes) taken before the provocation lead to two effects:
It DECREASES the activity of the AMYGDALA
AND
HALVED the number of rejections (i.e. reduced aggression)
This illustrates strong evidence of the role of the amygdala.