Genetic explanations of aggression

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  • Genetic explanations of aggression
    • Warrior gene
      • MAOA-L is more frequent in pops with warfare history, as about 2/3 of the pop have MAOA-L
      • McDermott (09) found that MAOA-L PP’s had higher levels of aggression when provoked compared to  MAOA-H Ps
    • Studies
      • Twin Studies
        • Both MZ and DZ twins share the same environment but on MZ twins have the same DNA
      • Adoption studies
        • Hutchings (75) found that out of 14,000 Danish adoptees that a significant no. with crimes had bio dads with crimes
    • MAOA
      • An enzyme called MAOA has been associated with aggression
      • MAOA breaks down neurotransmitters e.g. dopamine and serotonin
      • Low levels of MAOA = neurotransmitters are not broken down and the brain gets desensitised and + aggressive
      • Brunner (93), studied a Dutch family in which male members were violent + aggressive and committed crimes (All had low levels MAOA)
    • MAOA variations
      • MAOA-H (high levels MAOA) MAOA-L (low levels)
      • Caspi found  that Ps with MAOA-L  were more likely to be anti-social but only if they had been maltreated as children.
    • Evaluation
      • Many of the studies focused on Ps convicted of crime which is a small minority
      • This explanation is too reductionist because it does not take into account enviroment
      • Many of the studies have used self-reports which can lead to DC
      • Tiihonen (15) studied Finnish Pr's showing that MAOA-L combined with CD13 is associated with extremely violent behaviour. 
      • Niehoff (14) suggests that gender differences may result from gene vulnerability. MAOA  is linked to the X CH. Women have 2 X CH + men have 1

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