3.1.3 - Brain Structure and Aggression

What are the main structures that can affect aggression?

• Prefrontal Cortex

• Amygdala

Where is the prefrontal cortex and what is it responsible for?

Located in the front of the brain

• Decision making

• Impulse control

• Social Behaviour

How does prefrontal cortex relate to aggression?

If damaged or underactive causing:

• Impulsive actions

• Struggle to control anger

• Shows increased aggression

Where is the amygdala located and what is it responsible for?

Part of limbic system

• Emotions especially fear and anger

• Threat detection

What’s its role with aggression?

• Triggers aggressive response when threat is perceived

• If overactive it can lead to:

• Heightened anger

• Aggressive reaction when not necessary

• Supported by animal studies

What is the interaction between brain areas?

Aggression is more likely to occur:

• Amygdala us overactive

• Prefrontal cortex is underactive or damaged

What are the strengths for this explanation?

• Helps explain uncontrolled or impulsive aggression

• Supported by scientific research such as Raine et al’

• Used PET scans to study murders not guilty by reasons of insanity comparing them to control group

• They found reduced activity in Prefrontal Cortex

• Increased activity in Amygdala

• Suggests aggression is linked to poor impulse control and heightened emotional responses

What are the weaknesses?

Reductionist

• Ignore social factors like environment

• Brain differences may not cause aggression

Deterministic -

• Suggests behaviour is biologically fixed