Summary Discuss the role of neural and hormonal mechanisms influencing aggression Essay Plan

Discuss the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in
aggression
Introduction
 Part of the biological explanations – aggression caused by certain genes,
internal, inherited. Includes imbalance of neurotransmitters and
hormones.

AO1 Neurotransmitters
 Chemicals – enable info to travel across synapse in nervous system
 Dopamine: Too high = aggression
 Serotonin: Too low = aggression
 Cases: In normal levels, serotonin exerts calming inhibitory influence on
brain

AO2 Neurotransmitters
Serotonin
 Brown: Looked at naturally occurring levels of serotonin. Mann:
Manipulated levels using dexfenfluramine. Both found correlation between
low levels of serotonin and high aggression.

 Methodological pluralism
X Correlation doesn’t prove causation

 Badawy: Studied effect of alcohol. Found alcohol consumption depleted
serotonin levels in susceptible individuals. Maybe cause aggression.

Dopamine

 Lavine: Looked at effects of taking amphetamines (increase dopamine
activity). Found increase in activity increased aggression.

 Buitelaar: Looked at effect of dopamine antagonists. Found to be successful
in reducing aggressive behaviour.