This document covers every possible essay that may come up for Aggression (AQA A-Level Psychology). They are simplified and easy to learn yet still have lots of detail to ensure you achieve the highest grade possible. There are abbreviations throughout that you should understand as a psychology stu...
Outline and evaluate neural and/or hormonal explanations of aggression (8) / (16)
(don’t need all points - tailor to what the question asks)
Outline: neural explanations - brain structures - amygdala (AO1)
● The structure of certain parts of the brain causes aggression
● Limbic System → brain area that helps coordinate behaviours that satisfy
motivational and emotional urges such as aggression
● Two key structures associated with aggression are the amygdala / hippocampus
● Amygdala → responsible for emotional responses, linked to aggression
● High activity levels (hyperactivity) in the amygdala may be linked to aggression
● Reduced amygdala volume is also associated with aggression
Strengths: evidence for the amygdala (AO3)
● LeDoux: lab rats - found stimulation of the amygdala = aggression
● Electrical stimulation of the amygdala produced fear and rage on lab rats
● Supports amygdala's role in aggressive behaviour (result of direct stimulation)
● BUT, Eager and Flynn found stimulation of the amygdala would increase or
decrease aggression, depending on the region stimulated
● BUT we can’t assume human behaviour comparable to animals (very complex)
Outline: neural explanations - prefrontal cortex (AO1)
● PFC controls outward signs of aggression
● It directly connects to the limbic system / regulates amygdala-driven emotion
● Suggestion that damage to / reduced activity (hypoactivity) in the PFC is linked to
aggressive behaviour as it results in loss of control, impulsivity, altered emotionality
Strengths: evidence for the PFC (AO3)
● Raine’s research supports the role of the PFC in regulation of aggressive behaviour
● He scanned brains 41 murders - found they had reduced activity in their PF
● Evidence uses brain scanning techniques - highly objective / replicable
● Results in scientific credibility of the research
● Empirical evidence impaired PFC functioning is linked to aggressive behaviour
Outline: neural explanations - neurotransmitters (AO1)
● Serotonin is an inhibitory NT that exerts a calming effect
● Typically inhibits amygdala activity
● Low levels of serotonin associated with increased impulsive behaviour / aggression
Strengths: evidence - Raleigh (AO3)
● Studied verent monkeys on high tryptophan diets (increase serotonin levels)
● Found they exhibited decreased levels of aggression
● Suggests aggression may be due to differences in serotonin levels
● Limitations of applying human behaviour to that in monkeys
● There are many aspects of aggression due to complexities of behaviour
● NT’s alone can’t account for all aggressive behaviour - have a role in explaining it
,Outline: hormonal explanations (AO1)
● Evidence shows men are more aggressive than women
● Testosterone (male sex hormone) has been linked to aggression
● Sapolsky identified 3 explanations for the relationship:
testosterone = aggression / aggression = ↑ testosterone / don’t affect each other
Strengths: evidence - Sapolsky (AO3)
● When mice castrated (removing T production) their aggressive behaviour
(measured in biting attacks) dropped significantly
● When injected with testosterone, the aggression levels began to increase
● Suggests a direct impact of the androgen testosterone on aggressive behaviour
● Evidence supporting testosterone causes aggression / affects behaviour
● (BUT levels don’t return to normal - suggest T may impact something else)
● Mice not the same as human - findings can’t be applied to human behaviour
Weakness: issues and debates of neural / hormonal explanations (AO3)
● Reductionist - ignores other factors that could cause aggression
● Methodological - correlation ≠ causation
● Animal - can't be generalised to humans / unethical
● Deterministic - suggest if we have abnormal brain structure (etc) = aggression, so
we have no control over our behaviour
● Therefore this explanation is not good enough to explain human aggression
, Genetic factors in aggression
Discuss genetic factors involved in aggressive behaviour, refer to the MAOA gene (16)
Para 1 → Outline: twin studies (AO1)
● Coccaro compared MZ / DZ twins on aggressive behaviour (direct physical assault)
● Concordance rates of 50% for MZ twins / 19% for DZ
● Suggests aggression has a genetic basis - more genetically similar to someone who
displays aggressive behaviour, more likely you are to also be aggressive
Para 2 → Outline: MAOA gene (AO1)
● Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) regulates MAOA enzyme in the brain
● It breaks down NTs: serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline
● MAOA removes excess amounts of NTs so neurons communicate more effectively
● NTs linked to mood and buildup can cause people to respond aggressively to stress
● Problems with MAOA gene may cause abnormally high levels of the NTs
● This may then cause an increase in aggressive behaviour
Para 3 → Strengths: evidence - Brummer (AO3)
● 28 male members of a Dutch family (history of violence)
● All had MAOA gene (aka warrior gene) + abnormal levels of MAOA in their brains
● Implies its involvement in aggressive behaviour - less MAOA enzyme is produced,
therefore leads to build up of the NTs
Para 4 → Weakness: difficulties in determining the role of genetics (AO3)
● More than one gene usually contributes to aggressive behaviour
● Many other non-genetic influences (e.g environment) for aggressive behaviour
● Evidence suggests there’s an interaction between genes (nature) and
environmental influences (nurture)
● Caspi suggests genetic vulnerability (MAOA-L gene) may lead to aggression under
certain environmental conditions (maltreated as a child)
● Suggests strong influence of the environment
Para 5 → Strengths: explains gender differences (AO3)
● MAOA gene research offers an explanation for uneven rates of violence in M and W
● Niehoff - consequence of differential genetic vulnerability M/W have to MAOA gene
● The MAOA gene is linked to the X chromosome (Women have 2 / men have one)
● Men more likely to be affected by the X linked gene inherited from their mothers
● Women inheriting the gene are generally unaffected - have second X chromosome
with ‘normal’ gene for MAOA that prevents expression of the abnormal version
● Could explain why men typically show more aggressive behaviour than women
Para 6 → Weakness: application - criminal justice system (determinism) (AO3)
● People may be discriminated against for having the genes
● Or some criminals use it as an excuse to receive reduced sentences.
● If genetics cause aggressive behaviour, identifying aggressive individuals is easy
● But, not everyone with MAOA-L displays aggressive behaviour - suggests we can
exert free will on our behaviour
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