Genetic Theories of Aggression
- Created by: PickJ
- Created on: 14-05-14 16:32
View mindmap
- Genetic Theories of Aggression
- AO1
- MAOA-L Gene Variant
- This gene is believed to produce an enzyme called MAO-A which regulates serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline
- Individuals predisposed to aggressive behaviour inherit a genetic abnormality
- MAOA-L, they don't produce enough MAO-A
- Individual likely to act aggressively due to excess levels of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline
- MAOA-L, they don't produce enough MAO-A
- Individuals predisposed to aggressive behaviour inherit a genetic abnormality
- This gene is believed to produce an enzyme called MAO-A which regulates serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline
- MAOA-L Gene Variant
- AO2
- Supporting Evidence
- Family studies support the role of MAOA-L in aggressive behaviour
- Brunner
- Conducted a study of violence in a family with genetic abnormalities
- Observed a family from the Netherlands where males were affected by abnormal aggressive behaviour
- Studied five males and data was collected from their urine samples every 24 hours
- Findings showed signs of a defect in MAO-A mutation in their x chromosome
- Studied five males and data was collected from their urine samples every 24 hours
- Observed a family from the Netherlands where males were affected by abnormal aggressive behaviour
- Conducted a study of violence in a family with genetic abnormalities
- Brunner
- Twin and adoption studies
- McGue
- Assessed aggression using personality scale
- 54 pairs of MZs and 79 pairs of DZs
- Found that in MZ twins there was an was an accordance of 0.43 for aggressive behaviour, DZs had an accordance of 0.30
- 54 pairs of MZs and 79 pairs of DZs
- Assessed aggression using personality scale
- Hutchings and Mednick
- Conducted a meta analysis of over 14,000 adoption studies in Denmark
- Found a positive correlation between number of convictions for criminal violence among biological parents
- and number of convictions for criminal violence among their sons who were adopted
- adds to the validity of the genetic explanation suggesting that the MAOA-L gene variant may not only be an inherited abnormality
- but also that genetic similarity to an aggressive relative is an accurate predictor of aggression
- adds to the validity of the genetic explanation suggesting that the MAOA-L gene variant may not only be an inherited abnormality
- and number of convictions for criminal violence among their sons who were adopted
- Found a positive correlation between number of convictions for criminal violence among biological parents
- Conducted a meta analysis of over 14,000 adoption studies in Denmark
- McGue
- Animal research studies
- Case studies on mice genetically engineered to lack MAO-A
- Mice experienced severe behavioural alterations
- e.g. being more aggressive during mating
- Findings suggest that MAOA-L can be accepted as a reliable explanation of aggression,
- the findings from animal research studies were consistent with findings from human research studies
- Findings suggest that MAOA-L can be accepted as a reliable explanation of aggression,
- e.g. being more aggressive during mating
- Mice experienced severe behavioural alterations
- Case studies on mice genetically engineered to lack MAO-A
- Family studies support the role of MAOA-L in aggressive behaviour
- Supporting Evidence
- IDA
- Gender Bias
- Research largely based on males making it androcentric
- Research tends to overlook sex differences, so demonstrates beta bias
- Disadvantage provides little understanding of aggression in females
- Likely aggression can be explained differently in females
- e.g. found that low expression of MAO-A can be linked to higher levels of happiness in females
- Due to this gender bias it is difficult to generalise this explanation of aggression to females
- therefore considered incomplete
- Due to this gender bias it is difficult to generalise this explanation of aggression to females
- e.g. found that low expression of MAO-A can be linked to higher levels of happiness in females
- Likely aggression can be explained differently in females
- Disadvantage provides little understanding of aggression in females
- Research tends to overlook sex differences, so demonstrates beta bias
- Research largely based on males making it androcentric
- Gender Bias
- AO1
Comments
No comments have yet been made