AQA Psychology - Agression

Which neural mechanism is implicated in agression?

Which neural mechanism is implicated in agression?

Limbic System

What is the Amygdala?

• Responsible for emotion & agression

• If damaged, aggressive behaviour results

Show research support for the riole of the Amygdala in agression

Pardini et al. (2014)

↳ Londitudinal study of 56 males w/ a history of violence

• Found a negative correlation between the volume of their amygdala + higher levels of violence

  • Also the case study of Phineas Gage

Name one neurotransmitter linked to agression levels

Serotonin

Explain the role of serotonin on agression

• Normal levels of serotonin are inhibitory, so lead to greater self-control (reduced aggression)

• Decreased Serotonin disturbsthis mechanism + reduces self-control, increasing impulsive behaviours (including aggression)

Give research support for the role of serotonin in aggressio/n

Berman et al. (2009)

↳ found that low levels of serotonin are associated with increased aggression

• Higher levels of serotonin are associated with decreased aggression.

• Serotonin plays a crucial role in regulating aggressive behavior, according to the study.

Give an issue with the neural explanation of aggression

Nomothetic

↳ The research evidence is nomothetic, based on a universal evidence which disregards the need for idiographic insight. This is an issue as it doesn’t account for unique individual experiences

Give one example of a hormonal mechanism involved with aggression

Testosterone

Outline the role of Testosterone

• Responsible for the development of masculine features

• Males are more aggressive to other males at ~20yrs

Give an example of research which supports the role of testosterone in aggression

Wagner et al. (1979)

↳ Measured aggression levels in male mice before castrating them making agression levels

• Testosterone was restored through HRT, and agression reached pre castration levels

• Male mice given testosterone showed increased aggression towards other males

• The amount of aggression was related to the dose of testosterone given

Give research evidence for hormones in female aggression

Ziomkiewicz et al. (2012)

↳ Low levels of the hormone progesterone have been linked to female aggression.

• A negative correlation was found between progesterone levels and self reported aggression

Give an issue with the hormonal explanation of aggression

Biological Reductionism

↳ Oversimplifies a complex behaviour down to high levels of testosterone, which doesn’t look holistically at all factors that can influence aggression

How do Twin Studies show evidence of the role of genetics in aggression?

Berkowitz (1993)

↳ Measured the concordance rate for aggressive behaviour in MZ and DZ twins

• 87% for MZ twins

• 72% for DZ twins

Give an issue with using twin/adoption studies to explain agression?

Lacks validity as it is very difficult to separate environmental and genetic factors

What is the MAOA gene?

Gene that break down neurotransmitters, meaning if it doesn’t work properly a build up of excess neurotransmitters cause people to stress aggressively.

What is poor MAOA function?

People show agression due to a low function MAOA gene that is unable to produce enough of the MAOA-L gene

How can MAOA-L gene be triggered?

Diathesis-Stress

↳ It can be triggered into low function through diathesis-stress, such as prolonged abuse in childhood

Give supporting evidence of genetics in agression

• Caspi's New Zealand Study is a longitudinal study that provides evidence of genetics in aggression.

• The study followed a cohort of 1,037 individuals from birth to age 26.

• Those with a specific genotype were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior when exposed to stressful life events.

• This suggests that genetics play a role in the development of aggression.

Summarise Brunner’s study into aggression in families

• Brunner's Dutch family study investigated the genetic basis of aggression in families with a history of violent behavior.

• The study found that a mutation in the MAOA gene was associated with increased aggression in males.

• However, the increased aggression was only observed in males who had experienced childhood maltreatment.

• The study suggests that genetic and environmental factors interact to influence aggressive behavior.

Give an issue with the genetic explantion of aggression

Hard Determinism

↳ The MAOA-L gene suggetss that if a person has the gene + a childhood of abuse, the will be aggressive meaning they are not responisble for their actions

What is meant by ethological explanations of aggression?

Study of animal behaviour which helps us understand human aggression

According to ethology, aggression is…

• Adaptive

• Ritualistic

• Innate

• Ballistic

• Universal

• Specific

Why is aggression adaptive?

• Reduces competition

• Establishes dominance

Why is aggression ritualistic?

• The behaviour is in a set order, to show dominance without causing death

What is an IRM?

Innate Releasing Mechanism

↳ A neural network that is triggered by a sign stimulus activates the Fixed Action Pattern

What is FAP?

Fixed Action Pattern - innate sequence of movements that cannot be altered once triggered

Give research support for the ethological explanation of aggression

• Tinbergen (1951) supports the ethological explanation of aggression

• Stickleback fish have an IRM for other males who have a red belly.

• They attack other males when they see their red belly, so Tinenberg put colour clay models in the water

• Sticklebacks attacked all red belly objects regardless of the fact they looked nothing like fish

• He proposed that aggression is an innate behavior that has evolved through natural selection

What does the evolutionary explanation suggest the purpose of human aggression is?

• Individual Survival

• Procreation

Show evidence for agression in Sexual Competition

• Men have 75% more muscle mass than females (Lassek & Gaulin, 2009)

• Men are far more likely to die violently (Buss, 2005)

• Men have more robust skulls and brow bridges than females

What is anti-cuckoldry behaviours?

Men avoiding raising a child who is not biologically his

What is Sexual Jealousy?

Responses to possible infidelity

↳ Sexual jealousy is stronger in males (compared to females) due paternity uncertainty

↳ For females, they can be certain of maternity but worry about a loss of time and emotional infidelity

Give research support for

What are Mate Retention Strategies?

• Direct guarding + vigilance

• Negative Inducements

What is direct guarding?

Insisting on knowing where your partner is and who she is with

What are negative inducements?

Threatening behavoiurs to prevent straying from the relationship

↳i.e threats of suicide to avoid infidelity

Male Bullying

• Physical

  ↳ bullying ensures access to females and reduces threats from males

Femal Bullying

• Verbal

  ↳ By insulting other women, she helps to secure the partner’s fidely by insulting other women

Give research support for sexual jealousy and aggression

Shackleford

↳ Mate retention strategies are associated wih sexual jealousy and aggression

• Shackelford's (2005) research found a positive correlation between men who used mate retention strategies (MRS) and their use of violence against their partners in heterosexual relationships.

• The study surveyed 461 men and 560 women.

• There was also a positive correlation in women between those who had jealous partners and being the victims of violence.

• The research suggests that aggression may have arisen as another mate retention strategy, used to deter infidelity, and so supports the evolutionary explanation.

Outline the research of Dobash & Dobash

• Dobash and Dobash's study in 1979 focused on sexual jealousy as a common trigger for violence in domestic relationships

• They interviewed women who had experienced violence from their partners.

• The violence was often triggered by the man's belief that the woman had not fulfilled her duties as a wife.

• The violence was often part of a pattern of control and domination within the relationship.

Give one issue that is dealt with by the evolutionary explanation

Gender Differences

↳ Males engage in physically aggressive acts whereas women often enagein verbally aggressive acts which accounts for the gender differences in behaviour

What are the three Social Psychological explanations of human aggression?

• De-individuation

• Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

• Social Learning Theory

Outline the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

Dollard et al. (1939)

1. We attempt to achieve something and have a goal

2. Our efforts to reach a goal are blocked leading to frustration

3. This creates an aggressive drive which can lead to aggression

4. If we express trhis anger physically, verbally or by fantasizing, we experience catharsis

   ↳ This reduces our emotional tension

5. If the target of aggression is unavailable, we could displace our emotions leading to punishment

6. This then leads to further frustration

How does proximity affect the likelihood of aggression happening?

• Harris (1974) conducted a study on the effect of proximity on aggression.

• Participants were placed in a room with either a confederate or no one.

• The confederate was either in close proximity or far away from the participant.

• Results showed that participants were more likely to behave aggressively towards the confederate when they were in close proximity.

• Proximity can increase the likelihood of aggression happening.

How does justification affect the likelihood of aggression?

Pastore (1952)

↳ Suggested that only unjustified frustrations produce aggressive reactions

• He asked his students to how they’d react if a city bus failed to pick them up

• The students would not be angry if the bus seemed full

• The source of the frustration is key to whether it leads to aggression or not

How does displacement affect the likelihood of aggression?

• It is not always appropriate to respond aggressively to the source of frustration

• By displacing the aggression onto a scapegoat, catharsis is achieved

How did Berkowitz revise the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?

• According to Berkowitz (1989), it is the negative feelings that causes us to be aggressive not the frustration

• Unanticipated interference is more likely to provoke an aggressive response than an anticipated interference as the latter is experience is less unpleasant.

What does SLT suggest about aggression?

• Agression is learned

• Agression is copied by observing others

• We copy behaviours from models (parents, friends and celebrities)

What are the 4 components of observaional learning?

1. Attention

2. Retention

3. Production

4. Motivation

What increases the likelihood of an individual copying a modelled behaviour?

1. It results in an outcome (reward) they value

2. The model is powerful, respected and admired (by the learner)

3. The model is seen as similar to the learner (age, sex, interests).

4. The task to be imitated is neither too easy nor too difficult

5. The learner has low self-esteem or lacks confidence in their own abilities.

How does Bandura’s (1961) research show support for Transmission of Aggression through Imitation of Aggressive Models?

• Children in the aggressive condition showed significantly higher scores than the non-aggressive or control groups

• 70% of children in non-aggressive and control groups showed no aggression towards Bobo

• Boys were more influenced by a male model

• Girls showed more physical aggression with a male model, and more verbal aggression with a female model

• Modelling and observational learning were seen to lead to aggressive behaviour

Give an example of research that challenges the SLT explanation of aggression

Charlton et al. (2000)

• Children (aged three to eight years) were observed through cameras set up in the playgrounds of two primary schools on the island

• In 1994 (before the introduction of television), the researchers filmed free play in the school playgrounds and observed behaviour again in 2000

• The researchers analysed the children’s aggressive behaviour and compared it to the amount of television that children were exposed and conducted interviews

• Very little difference was found in children’s behaviour after the introduction of television to the island

• This implies that children may learn aggressive behaviour but they may not exhibit it.

Give an issue with the SLT explanation of aggression

• Socially Sensitive to teach children aggressive behaviour

• Environmental Reductionism

• Nurture side of the N/N debate

What factors increase de-individuation?

• Uniforms

• Groups/Crowds

• Masks

• Hoods/hats

• Intoxication

• The Dark

• Bieng Online

What is meant by De-Individuation?

A diffusion of responsibility leading to disinhibited behaviour reducin

What is Disinhibited Behaviour?

• Occurs in any situation wsere identification is restricted

• Blame + Responsibility cannot be given to specific individuals

• Lower Inhibitions leads to no longer conforming to social roles

What is Public/Private self-awareness?

Private: A cincern we have for our own thoughts and feeling (when we forget ourselves)

Public: A concern about the impressiomn resented to other people - This can be reduced by anonymity

Give an example of research that featured deindividuation?

Zimbardo Prison Experiment (1971)

Gergen, Gergen & Barton (1973) Dark Room Arousal

Real Life: Abu Ghraib (Iraq)

What is menat by Institutional Agression?

Agression in institutions (schools, prisons, military compunds)

Outline the Importation Model/ Dispositional Model

Prisoners bring in their own social histories + traits into the prison environment

• The traits influence their subsequent behaviour in the institution

• For many prisoners, these traits are the reaosn they’ve been imprisoned in the first place

• Some pre-existing conditions such as Alcoholism can affect the levels of aggression (Weeks, 1998)

Give research support for why the Dispositional/Importation Model holds

Kane & Janus (1981)

• These groups are likely to become disenfranchised and separate from mainstream norms and values that promote less aggressive ways of resolving interpersonal conflict

• Many will live in in a subculture where aggression is valued, respected and reinforced

What is the Situational Model?

Recognises the environment of the institution plays a key part in aggression exhibited due to organisational factors, physical factors + Staff Factors

What did Sykes (1958) believe caused aggression within institutions?

Deprivation

1. Deprivation of liberty

2. Deprivation of heterosexual relationships

3. Deprivation of goods and services

4. Deprivation of adequate living conditions

5. Deprivation of security

6. Deprivation of autonomy

What did Folger + Skarlicki (1995) suggets made prisons aggressive?

The Popcorn Model

• When an individual becomes heated, other prisoners become angry to and begin to ‘pop’

• To reduce the aggression levels, the prison must find the intiial ‘heat’ that caused them to ‘pop’ in the first place

What did Dilulio (1987) suggest caused aggression in prisons?

The Mangement Model

• Aggression in prisons occurs as the reult of failed maagement, high staff turnover + lack of staff discipline

• McCorkle et al. (1995) found that educative programs within prisons had positive effects for both prisoners and staff

Evidence for Situational Model

Zimbardo

I/D - Nurture v. Nature + Environmental reductionism

What are media influences?

Findings of research looking at the correlation of aggression and TV/Video Games

What 2

Give research support for Gaming and its role in

How does desensitisation show evidence for media?

• Normally, when we witness violent actions we experience physilogical arousal associated with the SNS

• When children reperatedly view aggression on TV or play aggressive computer games, they become habituated to its effects

• Negative attitudes towards violence weaken, less empathy is felt for victims, and their injuries are minimised/dissmissed (Funk, 2004)

Give research support for desensitisation

Krahe (2011)

showed participants violent (and non-violent) film clips, while measuring physiological arousal using skin conductance tests.

• Participants who were habitual viewers of violent media showed lower levels of arousal when they watched the violent clips

• They also reported higher levels of pleasant arousal and lower levels of anxious arousal

• Lower arousal in habitual violent media users reflects desensitisation to the effects of violence, and a greater willingness to be aggressive.

How does disinhibition explain aggressive behaviours?

• Disinhibition explains that social inhibitions against using aggression as a means to resolve conflict are loosened after exposure to violent media

• Aggressive behaviour is often made to appear normative and socially sanctioned

Give an example of a study whihc supports the disinhibition explanation

• Berkowitz & Alioto (1973) found that participants who saw a film depicting aggression as vengeance gave more (fake) electric shocks of longer duration to a confederate.

• This suggests that media violence may disinhibit aggressive behaviour when it is presented as justified (therefore socially acceptable).

Outline how Congitive Priming explains aggression

Cognitive priming is when a stimulus affects a person's response to another stimulus. Aggressive cognitive priming happens when exposure to aggressive stimuli, like violent media, can make a person more likely to act aggressively

↳ The process is automatic and unconscious

Outline research into cognitive priming

• BJ Bushman's (1995) research found that exposure to violent media can prime aggressive thoughts and increase aggressive behavior.

• Participants who played a violent video game in Bushman's study were more likely to deliver loud and long blasts of noise to a confederate than those who played a non-violent game.

• This suggests that exposure to violent media can have a priming effect on aggressive behavior.