3.1.5 - Biological explanations and Frued

What are the two main biological explanations to aggression?

• Genetic influence

• Neurbiological

What is the genetic influence?

• Research such as Hutchings et al show aggression might be heritable with adoption studies indicating there may a genetic component

• Genes associated with neurotransmitter systems like serotonin and aggression have been linked to aggressive behaviour like low serotonin level are often linked to aggression

Briefly describe Hutchings et al?

• Studied adopted children and bio and adopted parents - found children with biological parents who had criminal records linked to violent crimes were more likely to exhibit aggr4esssive behaviours themselves regardless of adoptive environment

What are the neurobiological factors?

• Brain regions involved in aggression like the amygdala crucial for processing emotions and the prefrontal cortex regulates control

• Dysfunction in these areas can lead to heightened aggression for example those with damage in the prefrontal cortex may exhibit impulsive aggressive behaviours

Briefly describe a research to support this?

Serotonin and Dopamine:

• Shows lower levels of serotonin are associated with increased aggression for instance studies of violent offenders have indicated that they often have lower serotonin levels compared to control group

What can you compare the biological explanation to?

Freuds Psychodynamic explanation

What is the evaluation of the biological explanations?

Strengths:

• Scientific research to support theories - reliable

Weaknesses:

• Reductionism - only focus on biological factors and ignore social and environmental factors like upbringing

• Determinism - aggression is controlled by an internal system and cant be changed ignores personal responsibility and causes for question and ethical issues for example blaming biology for a crime committed

What are the 3 components of Freuds Theory?

• ID

• Ego

• Superego

Describe these 3 components?

ID-

• Driven by basic instincts and desires

• Pleasure principle - seek immediate gratification w/o considering reality of morality

EGO -

• Mediates id and superego

• Operates on the reality principle trying to satisfy the ID’s desire in socially acceptable ways

SUPEREGO-

• Represents morality

• Control ID’s impulses and strives for perfection can lead to feelings like guilt when moral standards aren’t meet

What is the unconscious mind?

• Significant portion of out thoughts, feelings and memories are stored in the unconscious mind

• Influences behaviour, often manifesting as repressed memories

What are a few defence mechanisms?

• Repression

• Denial

• Projection

What is the catharsis?

• Expressing repressed emotions and conflict like aggression can lead to psychological relief - process = catharsis which can help individuals confront and r4esolve their unconscious issues

What is the evaluation for this theory?

Strengths:

• Explains uncontrollable aggression - suggests aggression builds up internally and must be released

Weaknesses:

• Catharsis isn’t supported - not reliable = research shows thee opposite, expressing aggression can increase aggressive behaviour not reduce it

• Ignores social factors, free will and the conscious control = believes behaviour is driven by pure unconscious instincts