Aggression

What are the biological approaches to explaining Aggression?

Genetic

Neural

Hormonal

Ethological explanation

what are the Social explanations for Aggression

Social learning theory

Frustration - Aggression

Deindividuation

Evolutionary

what factors affect deindividuation

Uniform —> Increases sense of anonymity and reduces sense of personal responsibility.

Drugs/alcohol —> lowers inhibition

Group size —> More diffusion of responsibility

Social explanation of Aggression what is Catharsis ?

emotional release of pent up aggression

Social explanation of Aggression what is Displacement

Aggression is not always directed to the source —> Project on to someone with lower status

Social explanation of Aggression what is Sublimation ?

Project our frustration on something socially more acceptable

what gene and allele are associated with Aggression

MAOA

MAOA-L ( allele)

what is frustration aggression ?

Any event that prevents us from reaching our goals 

only occurs when stopped from reaching goal

genetic explanation of aggression ( AO1) what is aggression

aggression is adaptive behaviour that can be inherited genetically

sexual preference for aggression

genetic explanation of aggression (AO3) XXY gene

XXY gene was a previously identified aggression candidate gene → outdated idea and over represented in prison population 

genetic explanation ( AO1) MAOA function

gene that codes for the enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters

faulty MAOA gene → higher levels of serotonin

serotonin is associated with impulsivity

genetic explanation ( AO1) MAOA L function

allele of MAOA

decreased activity → high levels of serotonin → lowered sensitivity to effects of inhibition

Neural explanation for Aggression

low levels of serotonin 

high levels of dopamine 

faulty amygdala 

Neural explanation for aggression (AO1) serotonin 

serotonin is a inhibitory neurotransmitter 

low serotonin → no inhibition for aggressive impulse 

Neural explanation for aggression (AO1) Dopamine

High levels of dopamine → increased dopamine response after successful aggression → encourages reproduction of aggression

Neural explanation for aggression (AO1) amygdala

amygdala is the primary centre → moderates your emotional response

faulty amygdala → emotion of anger

Hormonal explanation for aggression ( AO1) what are the hormones involved

testosterone

cortisol

Hormonal explanation for aggression ( AO1) role of testosterone

increased testosterone → increased dominant behaviour → expressed through aggression/ violence  

Hormonal explanation for aggression ( AO1) role of cortisol

stress hormone mediates the effect of testosterone 

low levels → unable to mediate aggressive effects of testosterone 

neural explanation for aggression (studies) (AO3)

Brown ( 1982) → aggressive people tend to have low metabolite in their cerebrospinal fluid 

Mann ( 1990) →  gave dexfenfluramine ( inhibits serotonin) to 35 healthy people measured aggression with questionnaire -  increase in male aggressiveness 

Rosado ( 2010) →   compared blood sample from aggressive/ non aggressive dogs → low levels in aggressive dogs 

advantages and limitations of neural explanation ( AO3)

A: practical applications → selective breeding and prisons → reduce severe cases of aggression

L: biological reductionism → ignores social factors 

L: Hard determinism → ignores free will and human choice

hormonal explanation for aggression studies (AO3)

Booth → men with increased  testosterone are more likely to use weapons 

Dabbs (1987) → testosterone levels in violent criminals are higher then non-violent criminals 

Archer ( 1991) → found a weak positive correlation between testosterone and aggression over 230 males over different studies 

Hormonal explanation for aggression ( AO3)

L: all correlational → no cause and effect relationship 

L: Gender bias ( all data is men in prison)

L: Van wingen →  testosterone stimulates the amygdala / hormone isn’t sole determiner 

genetic explanation for aggression studies

Brunner → family with low levels of MAOA was responsible for excessive impulsive aggression

Hutchings → strong correlation between adopted boys and biological parents being criminals  

Caspi →  500 male children linked MAOA to aggressive behaviour as adult only when triggered by poor development issues like maltreatment

suggests link between genes and environment is best determiner for aggression 

Deindividuation what are normative cues 

when in a state of deindividuation people follow norms of group their in.

display pro-social behaviour when there pro social group cues

how does frustration aggression describe aggression

part of the ID

follows psychodynamic approach

(AO3) what factors does SLT and frustration aggression ignore

social inequalities

challenges to social status

intimidation

(AO3) SLT studies

Philips → 12.5% increase in aggression after boxing matches

increase is in same ethnic groups as the aggressive model

Kang San tribe → low aggression in adults

no aggressive model / no reinforcement

collection of Banduras studies 

(AO3) deindividuation studies

Mullen ( 1986) →  lynching in USA were more brutal and aggressive in larger groups 

Downing (1979) → Milgram study → participants in KKK uniform → more aggressive ( higher volts)

nurse uniform → less aggressive  

Mann (1981) → suicide baiting

more aggressive crowds → larger, more distance longer duration.

evidence for factors affecting individuation

Mullen → group size

Downing → uniform

( AO3) frustration aggression studies 

Green ( 1968) → University students complete jigsaw with confederate → Frustration always led to aggression 

Pastore → created real frustration by missing a bus  

factors that make Frustration aggression stronger

closer to goal

threat of punishment is low

what is the aggressive- cues hypothesis ( AO3) Berkowitz

hypothesis that brings together all of social

aggressive cues are learnt from our social world

uniform/ group size → frame our aggressive tendencies

what are the 2 explanations for Institutional Aggression

Situational explanation

Dispositional explanation

What is the dispositional explanation for Institutional Aggression

Prisons are full of dangerous people

Aggression is due to prisoners nature 

What is the situational explanation for Institutional Aggression

prisoners are aggressive due to the environment of prisons

which model supports the Dispositional explanation

(Importation model) Prisoners import aggression into prison environment

import gang memberships and psychological issues into problems → leads to aggression

which model supports the Situational explanation

( Deprivation model) Prisoners are deprived of autonomy and security.

High temperatures and over crowding → Leads to aggression

Situational explanation studies ( AO3)

HMP Woodhill → good conditions = low levels of violence

McCorkle → situation factors are best predictor of assault in prison

Dispositional explanation studies ( AO3)

DeLisi → Prisoners with low self- control are the most aggressive

Marcel → Gang members are most violent

Limitations of Situational explanation (AO3)

all correlational evidence ( lacks cause and effect relationship)

Cost of improving prisons is too expensive

social sensitive issue

Limitations of Dispositional explanation (AO3)

offers little practical advice on reducing aggression

all correlational evidence and imported factors is vague

Ethological explanation What are the main features of FAPs( Fixed action plans)

Stereotyped → Behaviour is consistent across instances

Universal → all members of a species

Ballistic → runs to completion

situation specific

Ethological explanation (AO1) what is ritualistic aggression

most intraspecies aggression occurs through ritualistic behaviours and end with appeasement displays ( signs of surrender showing neck)

Ethological explanation ( AO1) what is Ritualistic behaviours

A series of predetermined signals such as snarling

Ethological explanation (AO1) why is ritualistic Aggression adaptive?

Constant lethal outcomes in aggression would lower species population → putting species at threat

Ethological explanation ( AO1) what is a IRM ( Innate releasing mechanism) and FAP

IRM → Innate process triggered by a stimulus that sets off a FAP

how is the Ethological aggression described

innate and adaptive shaped by natural selection to increase survival

Ethological explanation AO3 limitations and Advantages

A: findings can be extrapolated to human behaviour

Yanomamö tribe chest pounding prevent physical conflict → Ritualistic behaviour

L: not always ritualistic → Goodall discovered groups of chimpanzees males were systematically slaughtered ( despite appeasement displays)

Evolutionary explanation when are males always aggressive ( AO1)

Reproduction

resource gathering

protecting social group

Evolutionary explanation what is the role of aggression

increases individual survival and reproduction success

Evolutionary explanation why is aggression successful

females prefer it as they look for men with most resources → aggressive individuals are more able to compete aggression must be successful as successful men reproduce more

Evolutionary explanation what are the two male retention strategies

Direct guarding → Controlling or intrusive behaviour

Negative inducements → indirect threats / emotional blackmails

Evolutionary explanation how is aggression described in relationship

Aggression stems from sexual jealousy against potential rival to avoid cuckoldry and ensure that genes are passed on

develop retention strategies