The role of hormonal mechanisms in aggression

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What does this theory state causes aggression?
High levels of testosterone
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What has testosterone been linked to?
testosterone has been linked to the need for dominance rather than simply aggression.
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How do high levels of testosterone and low levels of seratonin effect an individual?
High testosterone = the need to seek dominance which ultimately puts the individual in situations where frustration over dominance may occur. low seratonin= less control over the pre-frontal cortex(amygdala) which leads to more impulsive behaviours.
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What is the second element of this explanation?
the mis-match theory
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what is the mis-match theory?
the idea that higher levels of testosterone=more dominance the person seeks. where the person has high testosterone but low status aggression can occure and vis versa.
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What is a suitable IDA point for this explanation?
Biologically determinist
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Why is this theory biologically determinist? (IDA)
people cannot easily manipulate their levels of testosterone and therefore have little/no control over their aggressive behaviour.
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Why is this explanation also socially sensitive? (IDA)
it could result in labelling, when someone has discovered they have high levels of testosterone but are not aggressive they may be labelled as aggressive regardless.
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Name two pieces of research
Kreuz and Rose, Josephs
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What did Kreuz and Rose find?
found that the 10 prisoners with a history of more violent crimes had higher levels of testosterone in their blood samples than those who had committed less violent crimes.
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How does the research by Kreuz and Rose support the theory?
it shows a relationship between the high levels of testosterone and high levels of aggression.
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What is a bad element of the research by Kreuz and Rose? (Research not AO3)
the behaviour element was measured based on past behvaiours whereas their levels of testosterone were measured a period of time after. their levels of testosterone could have changed in this time considerably.
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What did research by Josephs find?
that men and women with high levels of testosterone reacted negatively after a loss of status showing signs of anxiety, stress and confusion. they also found the same results when people were put into high status roles but had low levels of test.
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How does the research by Josephs support the theory?
it PARTIALLY supports the mis-match theory, it shows that people with mis-matched levels of test. and status behave in a similar way(same for men and women)
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What is a bad element of the research by Josephs? (Research not AO3)
the behaviours identified in the study could be considered a reasonable response to demotion and the researcher cannot prove that this would have lead to aggressive behaviour.
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What was a bad element of the method by Kreuz and Rose (AO3)
it was a natural study, therefore there was low internal validity due to the many possible extraneous variables. overall difficult to establish cause and effect.
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What is a suitable wider evaluation point for this explanation?
the idea that solely hormones (levels of test.) cause aggression is reductionist. this is very unhelpful as the theory ignores other valid factors that could cause aggression, such nurture and environmental factors.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What has testosterone been linked to?

Back

testosterone has been linked to the need for dominance rather than simply aggression.

Card 3

Front

How do high levels of testosterone and low levels of seratonin effect an individual?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the second element of this explanation?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

what is the mis-match theory?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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