Neural explanations for aggression:
AO1:
The Limbic System:
Set of subcortical structures – co-ordinate emotional behaviour
Comprises of: Cingulate gyrus, amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and thalamus
Synaptic transmission
Amygdala:
Key role in assessing and responding to environmental threats
Evaluates emotional importance of sensory information
Greater reactivity or stimulation of the amygdala is an important predictor of aggression
Hippocampus:
Involved in formation of long-term memories
Previous experiences which illicit fear may cause aggression
Impaired hippocampal function may prevents putting stimuli into context, leads to amygdala
responding inappropriately to stimuli, and exhibiting aggressive behaviour
Serotonin:
Inhibitory neurotransmitter – normal levels cause less firing of neurones and hence inhibit responses
to emotional stimuli which otherwise may cause aggression
Low levels reduce inhibitory effect so more likely to result in aggression
AO3:
Determinism – Governed by internal biology, could have ethical and legal implications, ignores role
of environment
Research support – Charles Whitman (1966) killed 13 people – found tumour was pushing against his
amygdala
Reductionism – Reducing aggression down to solely biology – ignores other social explanations such
as SLT and diathesis stress
Evidence from non-human animals – Used monkeys and found high tryptophan diets (increases
serotonin levels in the brain) exhibited less aggression
, Hormonal explanations of aggression:
AO1:
Responsible for development of male secondary sexual characteristics
High levels of testosterone lead to greater levels of aggression
Basal Model:
Change in dominance
More competitive, more dominant
Reciprocal Model:
More up for a challenge
Winners increase testosterone levels, losers decrease testosterone levels
AO3:
Research support – Dolan et al. (2001) positive correlation between testosterone levels and
aggressive behaviours in sample of 60 male offenders in UK maximum security hospitals
Research support – Giammanco et al. (2005) increased testosterone levels cause greater levels of
aggression in animals
Gender Bias – Mainly focused on men, women produce less testosterone, Eisenegger et al. (2011)
greater levels of testosterone could make women act ‘nicer’ rather than more aggressively
Dominance is not necessarily aggression – Mazur (1985) high testosterone increases dominance
behaviours which sometimes include violence but sometimes are non-violent
AO1:
The Limbic System:
Set of subcortical structures – co-ordinate emotional behaviour
Comprises of: Cingulate gyrus, amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and thalamus
Synaptic transmission
Amygdala:
Key role in assessing and responding to environmental threats
Evaluates emotional importance of sensory information
Greater reactivity or stimulation of the amygdala is an important predictor of aggression
Hippocampus:
Involved in formation of long-term memories
Previous experiences which illicit fear may cause aggression
Impaired hippocampal function may prevents putting stimuli into context, leads to amygdala
responding inappropriately to stimuli, and exhibiting aggressive behaviour
Serotonin:
Inhibitory neurotransmitter – normal levels cause less firing of neurones and hence inhibit responses
to emotional stimuli which otherwise may cause aggression
Low levels reduce inhibitory effect so more likely to result in aggression
AO3:
Determinism – Governed by internal biology, could have ethical and legal implications, ignores role
of environment
Research support – Charles Whitman (1966) killed 13 people – found tumour was pushing against his
amygdala
Reductionism – Reducing aggression down to solely biology – ignores other social explanations such
as SLT and diathesis stress
Evidence from non-human animals – Used monkeys and found high tryptophan diets (increases
serotonin levels in the brain) exhibited less aggression
, Hormonal explanations of aggression:
AO1:
Responsible for development of male secondary sexual characteristics
High levels of testosterone lead to greater levels of aggression
Basal Model:
Change in dominance
More competitive, more dominant
Reciprocal Model:
More up for a challenge
Winners increase testosterone levels, losers decrease testosterone levels
AO3:
Research support – Dolan et al. (2001) positive correlation between testosterone levels and
aggressive behaviours in sample of 60 male offenders in UK maximum security hospitals
Research support – Giammanco et al. (2005) increased testosterone levels cause greater levels of
aggression in animals
Gender Bias – Mainly focused on men, women produce less testosterone, Eisenegger et al. (2011)
greater levels of testosterone could make women act ‘nicer’ rather than more aggressively
Dominance is not necessarily aggression – Mazur (1985) high testosterone increases dominance
behaviours which sometimes include violence but sometimes are non-violent
