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.
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.
