Biological Psychology - Aggression
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Experiment and Sample AO1
Quasi experiment. 41 prisoners pleading NGRI to murder charge reasons including SZ, TBI, drug abuse, etc. Control group 41 non-murderers matched in terms of age, sex, SZ. All ppts kept medication free for 2 weeks prior to scan.
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Procedure AO1
Trial continuous performance task for 10 mins then injected with glucose tracer and continued CPT for 32 mins then given PET scan after task was complete. NGRI's and controls compared on activity levels (glucose metabolism) in both hemispheres of the brain.
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Results AO1
NGRI's prefrontal cortex low activity (responsible for self control, remorse) and cerebellum high activity (responsible for movement and body monitoring) compared to control sample
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Conclusion AO1
Anger and violence caused by dysfunctional areas in brain but caution needed as findings don't explain cause of brain dysfunction
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - R AO3
Standardised CPT's. Can be replicated to check consistency of results about aggression
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Controls AO3
Control variables of NGRI's and control group as matched based on age, sex and SZ. High validity more accurate explanation of aggression
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Bias AO3
PET scans interpreted by researchers. Subjective and at risk of bias therefore less validity.
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - Objective AO3
PET scans are images that show objectivity of how agression is caused but doesn't explain why therefore less accurate
Raine CLASSIC study (1997) - A AO3
Can predict future aggressive and violent behaviours but doesnt consider social factors that could affect the way people behave aggressively
Evolution Theory - Characteristics AO1
We gradually change over time to adapt to changes within the environment to ensure survival of the species
Evolution Theory - Reproduction AO1
Reproduction is essential for evolution as genes need to pass along generation to ensure survival (survival of the fittest)
Evolution Theory - Males AO1
Males evolve to be bigger and stronger to ensure they can protect and feed their family to pass specific genes to their children. Being bigger and stronger can attract a potential mate as the males are able to attack in dangerous situations.
Evolution Theory - Females AO1
Females are less physically aggressive and more emotionally and verbally aggressive so if a female threatens another female they would denigrate them instead of using physical violence.
Evolution Theory - S AO3
Mazur (1997): males fight less as they grow older as they have found a partner by their late 20's so no longer need to show their dominance with other males as they have won a mate.
Evolution Theory - C AO3
Wolfgang (1967): Aggression is discouraged from childhood among Kug San people whereas Yanomami tribe use aggression to gain status so criticises theory as doesn't consider cultural views on aggression
Evolution Theory - O AO3
Doesn't consider that a dysfunctional brain could also cause aggression. For instance, the amygdala is responsible for regulating instinctive emotional responses so damage to the amygdala can cause excessive aggression. Therefore evolution is a limited explanation of aggression.
Evolution Theory - D AO3
Scientific explanation of human behaviour as based on a careful examination of fossils of numerous species found and analysed by scientists. Increases reliability of evolution theory explaining aggression. Can be used to predict cause of aggression in results of future studies.
Evolution Theory - A AO3
Useful as women more likely to be victims of domestic abuse compared to men but fails to consider people who don't want children and homosexuality.
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - Frontal Cortex AO1
Responsible for decision making, regulating aggressive response and impulse control so damage could lead to poor decisions about appropriate responses to different situations.
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - Hippocampus AO1
Responsible for transferring information between STM and LTM. Damage could lead to not storing the correct way to behave in situations in memory so will be aggressive
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - Amygdala AO1
Regulates instinctive emotional responses so damage would cause aggression as response would be excessive
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - Hypothalamus AO1
Regulates hormone production like testsosterone which is implicated in aggression. Damage can affect hormone levels so more aggressive
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - S AO3
Phineas Gage: Tamping iron lodged into skull during explosion damaging frontal cortex. Became more irresponsible and aggressive after accident.
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - C AO3
Downer's (1961): monkeys with one amygdala removed didnt process presence of humans as aggressive but attached amygdala monkeys are aggressive with humans suggesting amygdala is responsible for aggression
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - O AO3
Evolutionary Theory: Males have evolved to become more aggressive so that they can attract mates as they can protect and provide for offspring. Suggests brain structure and functioning is an incomplete explanation of aggression as it doesn't take into account factors such as competition for a mate
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - D AO3
Ignores ID as not everyone who is aggressive will have a damaged area of the brain as there may be a different reason for instance hormone levels
Brain Structure and Functioning Theory - A AO3
Can put people with damaged brain ares into a controlled environment after scanning them in order to help them stop behaving aggressively in society but can be socially controlling and unethical to use knowledge to incarcerate people
Hormone Theory - Oxytocin AO1
Increases prosocial behaviour but oxytocin will just increase aggression in aggressive people. In males, oxytocin boost will cause agression to those around them to assert dominance. In females, defensive aggression will occur in situations like protecting children
Hormone Theory - Testosterone development AO1
Testosterone levels increase until their 20's (highest testosterone levels) and then decreases over time as testosterone is produced less
Hormone Theory - Testosterone AO1
Develops and maintains male characteristics so more dominant in males as increased competitive aggression compared to females. Also released immediately after birth leading to increase in cell growth in amygdala and hypothalamus leading to aggression. Over-production of testosterone can lead to aggression
Hormone Theory - Cortisol AO1
Dual-hormone hypothesis: Coritsol protects body against stress. Cortisol low and testosterone high leads to high aggression levels. High cortisol can block influence of testosterone on increased aggression
Hormone Theory - S AO3
Dabbs (1987): analysed saliva samples from 89 male prisoners and found that those with high testosterone levels committed violent crimes. 10/11 violent criminals had high testosterone levels.
Hormone Theory - C AO3
Eisenegger et al (2011): giving females from general population testosterone dose they behaved more generously and sociably
Hormone Theory - O AO3
Doesnt account for brain functioning. Damage to brain areas like amygdala (responsible for decision making and adaptation of instinctive and motivational behaviours) can lead to making irrational decisions and aggression.
Hormone Theory - D AO3
Scientific as testosterone levels have been measured to identify that males become more aggressive in their 20's when their testosterone levels are the highest compared to when they are older with lower testosterone levels.
Hormone Theory - A AO3
Could make a treatment programme to measure and to regulate hormone levels by injections but labelling could occur so unethical and can be considered as social control.
Key Question - Definition AO1
Feelings of anger that can result in violent actions. If biological, individual cannot control anger and can be used as an excuse for crime.
Key Question - Study Statistic AO1
Williams (2012) estimates 60% of young adult males in prison have some form of TBI which suggests TBI can cause criminality and can be used as predictor of likelihood to reoffending
Key Question - General Population AO1
Men have twice odds of having TBI compared to women explaining why more males than females in prison as biologically at risk of aggression
Key Question - Social Control AO1
Could lead to discrimination in society as could lead to overtesting of those seen as potential risk of being aggressive based on biology - if parent aggressive then children could be targeted and monitored in the future.
Key Question - Amygdala AO2
If doesnt function, can lead to aggression as impacts on emotional responses for instance if right overactive and left underactive, then instinctive aggression will occur as left cant control right so supports nature as cause of aggression
Key Question - Prefrontal cortex AO2
Responsible for decision making and if damaged it can cause poor decision making leading to aggression withoout considering consequences so due to innate responses
Key Question - Testosterone AO2
Peaks during teenage years and 20's which coud explain why males can be more aggressive during adolescence supporting view males are biologically more aggressive than females
Key Question - Evolution AO2
Males evolved to be bigger and stronger to attract a mate to pass on their genes supporting nature as suggests competitive aggression is occurring for this drive to biologically reproduce
Key Question - Raine AO3
Lower glucose metabolism in prefrontal cortex in those pleading NGRI compared to control group. Supports aggression being due to nature as irregular functioning of brain areas causes aggression
Key Question - Charles Whitman AO3
Tumour pressing on limbic system led to killing spree (17 victims died) supporting damage to brain areas is responsible for emotions that cause violence and aggression
Key Question - Eisenegger et al (2011) AO3
Giving females from general population testosterone dose they behaved more generously and sociably
Key Question - Reductionist AO3
Simplifies to evolution of males to attract a mate by using aggression is the explanation of aggression but doesnt fully explain as doesnt take social factors into account like upbringing
Key Question - Conclusion
Treatment programmes can be made like CBT to help people with for instance TBI to manage emotions. However, not all ppts will participate so less effective in reducing aggression
Psychodynamic theory - Id AO1
Driven by instincts including Eros (driving force to sustain life to continue species including statisfy sexual insticts, thirst hunger, pain avoidance) and Thanatos (destructive force unconcious desire to die. Id = pleasure principle, present at birth
Psychodynamic theory - Ego AO1
Develops from 2 years old, balances Id and Superego, conscious awareness, reality princple. Satisfies instincts in socially appropraite ways
Psychodynamic theory - Superego AO1
Develops between ages 3-6, morality principle, conscience, opposes id with guilt feeling as not meeting social standards
Psychodynamic theory - Catharsis AO1
Aggression satisfied by displacement towards a person or object, sublimation like playing a sport, or projection to justify feelings
Psychodynamic theory - S AO3
Verona et al (2008): People who reacted aggressively when frustrated have reduced heart rate than those who didn't act aggressively when frustrated so shows aggression can be released
Psychodynamic theory - C AO3
Bandura: children learn aggression through observation and imitation of role models, not due to need of release built up energy
Psychodynamic theory - O AO3
Biological theories like having a faulty amygdala can cause aggression therefore psychodynamic theory is a limited explanation of aggression
Psychodynamic theory - D AO3
ID - Males expressing thanatos aggression outwards to others by fighting and females inwards by self harm
Psychodynamic theory - A AO3
Can develop treatment programmes like sport sessions to apply catharticism to rid of anger but not everyone will want to play sports so unethical