biological approach

Flashcards covering key concepts, studies, and theories related to biological explanations of aggression.

What was the aim of Raine et al. (1997)?

To investigate the idea that dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, and amygdala are found more often in murderers than non-murderers using PET scans.

What was the sample used in Raine et al. (1997)?

41 murderers (NGRI) and 41 non-murderers, with controls matched for age, sex, and schizophrenia.

What is a generalizability weakness of Raine et al. (1997)?

Murderers who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity may not be representative of typical murderers, limiting external validity.

What controls were implemented in Raine et al. (1997)?

Participants were matched on gender, age, and schizophrenia; they were free from medication for 2 weeks and practiced the CPT.

What did the use of matched pairs in Raine et al. (1997) contribute?

Increased internal validity by controlling extraneous variables.

Describe the procedure used in Raine et al. (1997).

A continuous performance task (CPT) for 32 minutes to encourage uptake of the radioactive tracer, followed by a PET scan with 10 images.

What increases the reliability of Raine et al. (1997)?

Increased reliability due to standardized data collection; PET scanners are objective and less prone to bias because inter-rater reliability can be checked because the scan can be interpreted similarly by different researchers

What were the key results regarding prefrontal cortex activity in Raine et al. (1997)?

Murderers had lower glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex compared to controls.

What are the potential applications of Raine et al. (1997)'s findings?

May be used to develop early interventions for individuals with prefrontal cortex dysfunction to help control aggression.

What are the ethical considerations in applying the findings of Raine et al. (1997)?

Caution is needed to avoid stigmatization and misinterpretation of results; PET scans cannot determine guilt.

Raine's results showed that aggression can be viewed from which type of point of view?

A viewpoint where Raine's results looked objectively at specific brain area in relation to aggression and did subject to personal prejudice.

Why is Raines' study reductionist?

Raine's results only focussed on the relationship between actication in the cortex and subcortex and did not look into other biological factors.

What was the aim of Brendgen et al. (2005)?

To find out if there is a difference between physical and social aggression in 6-year-old schoolchildren, comparing MZ and DZ twins to determine genetic or situational links.

What was the sample in Brendgen et al. (2005)?

234 pairs of twins from the Quebec Newborn Twin Study (QNTS).

What are the generalizability weaknesses of Brendgen et al. (2005)?

Attrition and focus on 6-year-olds may limit the generalizability of aggression measures.

How did Brendgen et al. (2005) determine whether twins were MZ or DZ?

Physical resemblance and DNA testing to assign twins to MZ or DZ status.

What is the 'equal environments' assumption when investigating twins?

The ‘equal environments’ assumption. Based on this, It may not be true

How was data collected through the ratings in Brendgen et al. (2005)?

Teachers rated social and physical aggression on a 3-point scale; classmates nominated children matching behavioral descriptions.

How were the ratings and realiability ensured in Brendgen et al. (2005)?

Concurrent validity as questionnaires were standardised to measure aggression. Moreover, teacher and peer inter-rater reliability as correlations were drawn between their findings and they were similar.

What were the key findings in Brendgen et al. (2005) regarding genetic links to aggression?

Physical aggression was mainly explained by genetics (50-60%), while social aggression had weaker genetic links (20%).

What are the application of Bredgen's findings?

Interventions should focus on preventing or reducing physical aggression in the early years.

According to the Interactionist perspective in terms of Physical and Social Aggression, genes might give children a what?

Predisposition towards aggression.

Define aggression.

Behavior intended to cause injury, psychologically and physically, often to establish dominance.

What is the limbic system, with respect to aggression?

Brain’s emotional center, part of the sub-cortical area, related to survival, produces flight or fight response.

What is the amygdala's role in aggression?

Takes information from the thalamus, interprets threats, and produces fear or aggression.

What did Raine (1997) find in NGRI criminals using PET scans?

High activity in the amygdala and low activity in the prefrontal cortex compared to controls.

In terms of individuals who have a Damaged Amygdala according to, Yu Gao (2010), what are the effects in terms of an individual's levels of aggression?

Dysfunctional, meaning there is reduced fear response which leads to increasing levels of aggression.

What is the role of serotonin in aggression?

Has inhibitory effects on transmissions, normal levels associated with reasonable self-control.

According to Denson, what is the effect of decreased seratonin?

Decreased serotonin may disturb self-control, leading to more impulsive behaviors, including aggression.

What is the role of dopamine in aggression?

Can be either inhibitory or excitatory; involved in regulating motivated behavior and our experience of reward, interacts with serotonin.

How does under activity of seratonin stimulate aggressive behaviour?

Under-activity of this neurotransmitter stimulates dopamine over-activity, leading to aggressive behaviour.

Manson and Wrangham argued for which theory in the origins of aggression and specifically to explain what?

Evolutionary theory to explain gender differences in aggression as males are more aggressive because they make females will select them as the better hunter.

How does Freud theory link with hot and cold blooded aggression?

The distinction between “hot-blooded” and “cold-blooded” aggression; ‘Hot-blooded aggression' relates to the ID, domain and ‘Cold-blooded aggression’ is a response of the ego, where aggression is deliberate, ration and instruments

Dolan, researched what which supports aggressive theory. What was his findings?

Men found to be those who have impulsively violent behaviour showed a positive correlation between their testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours

Came and Nelta, support the dual-hormone hupothesis by suggesting that high levels of testoterone can cause aggression however, what other situation is require to make that aggression more likely to occur?

Suggests those with high levels of testosterone lead to aggressive behaviour BUT high cortisol blocks testosterones effects.

How does adrenaline relate to aggression through the fight-or-flight response?

Increases heart rate and sensory awareness, prepares the body for action, and can heighten arousal, facilitating aggression if interpreted as anger.

In terms of Oxytocin what are the primary functions as a neurotransmitter?

Prosocial effects and an increase to bonding, maternal-infant attachment, trust and increased trust/cooperation in the ecomonic game.

How does the Kety et al. study approach find an answer to whether those is a genetic basis for Schizophrenia?

Compares adoptive and biological families of schizophrenia sufferers to determine if there is a genetic basis.

In the Kety study, for the biological relatives of participants, what was the disorder that was shown to be inherited more often?

That there were sign of more shcizophrenic spectrum disorders in index biological participants' blood relatives in comparison to an adoptive relatives.

How did the control show strenth and internal validity for, Raine et al. (1997) ?

A matched pairs design, controlling for individual differences such as gender, age, and schizophrenia.

Name a strength and weakness of correlation?

Correlation = usefulness pilot test and experiment can be done after a correlation but an issue is that cause-and-effect cannot be seen.

How does natural selection link to aggression?

Those more aggressive are more likely to survive in different environments to reproduce

In a PET San - in what situation do we learn of how certain areas of the brain link to experiences?

The person is asked to look at a picture, solve a jigsaw puzzle etc, and the linked brain area can be identified

In an fMRI - what is one problem with the detail recorded?

The brain scans are too detailed; there is around a 5 time lag between the brain activity and the image appearing on the screen.

According to Freud what is the unconscious mind?

The unconscious mind - contains thoughts, memories and desires which we are unaware of.

Is aggression cathartic according to freud?

Aggression is not cathartic because letting off steam may lead to more aggression rather than less.

What is a famous respone that the Aggression often links to?

The 'flight or fight' response.

The procedure for the Kety study is described as having what type of reliability (high or low) and why?

The procedure is reliable due to the fact that group of psychiatrists can be used to rate on medical records which supports test-retest reliability

In the Kety study - why is it applicable for families with history of Schizophrenia and families looking to adopt a child?

That there is genetic link-schizophrenia- that this may not be prevented from happening in an upbringing with a healthy family.

Which situation causes the Amygdala to interpret and produce fear or aggression?

A threat, a flight or fight response.

Tell me about the impact of Serotonin.

Neurotransmitter that has inhibitory effects on transmissions, where serotonin disturbance disturbs levels of self-control