Aggression

neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow impulses in the brain to be transmitted from one part of the brain to another.

LOW SEROTONIN & HIGH DOPAMINE = AGGRESSION

serotonin reduces ag by inhibiting response to emotional stimuli that might otherwise have led to an aggressive response

MANN ET AL- DRUG DEPLETED SEROTONIN=QUESTIONNAIRE=HIGH AG IN MALES

amphetamine drugs shown to increase ag levels in normal people, anti-psychotics whoch reduce dopamine also reduce ag behaviour

dopamine is produced as a response to rewarding stimuli

COUPPLS ET AL- PEOPLE SEEK OUT AG ENCOUNTERS BECAUSE OF DOPAMINE RELEASE THEY GET

hormones are chemicals that regulate and control bodily functions

testosterone male sex hormone and linked with ag

TESTOSTERONE LEVELS PEAK AROUND START OF PUBERTY, PEAK IN AG CORRELATIONAL LINK, NOT CAUSE AND EFFECT

tesosterone acts to sensitive neural circuits in brain in early days after birth causing changes in AG in childhood.

CASTRATION STUDIES ON ANIMALS- LACK OF TESTOSTERONE =LACK OF AGGRESSION

cortisol has a mediating effect on hormones as higher levels increase anxiety and inhibits tesosterone levels and thus aggression

HABIUTUALLY VIOLENT OFFENDERS HAVE LOWER LEVELS OF CORTISOL SO LINK

low cortisol levels are unpleasant and seeking aggressive encounters becomes more likely as a means to promote cortisol release to reduce such feelings

RALEIGHT- FEED MONKEYS SEROTONIN OR NONE, MORE S LESS AG, LESS S MORE AG

FERRARI- RATS FIGHT OVER 10 DAYS, 11TH DAY ANIMALS NO FIGHT- ELEVATED D LESS S

this showed how experience had changed the animals brain chemsity by altering levels

animal studies beneficial- draw conclusions of anatomy may work through experiementation rather than real humans which would be unethical

animal research unethical- not certain if can generalise to humans

BAIN NO SIG DIFF IN TESTOS LEVELS BETWEEN VIOLENT OFFENDERS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS CHARGE WITH BURGULARY

small samples, only men- gender bias

self report questionnaires- self serving bias

MCBURNETT- CHILDREN OVER 4 YEARS, LOW CORTISOL = 3 X MORE LIKELY TO BE AG

reductionist- social learning theory, deterministic- free will and choose to be aggressive