Lesson three Neural mechanisms How does the research support the NM theory Crockett et al 2008 carried out a repeated measures experiment on 20 participants In both conditions the participants had fasted and were given a protein drink in the morning before taking part in the study Th ID: 615666
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Slide1
Hormonal Mechanisms
Lesson threeSlide2
Neural mechanisms
How does the research support the N.M theory?
Crockett et al (2008)
carried out a repeated measures experiment on 20 participants.
In
both conditions the participants had fasted and were given a protein drink in the morning before taking part in the study. The difference in the drink was the difference in the conditions: one drink contained tryptophan, which the body needs to make serotonin; the other drink did not contain it. On both days that the study took place participants played the ultimatum game. In this game one player poses a way to split a sum of money with a partner. In the condition where the participants had had the drink that did not contain tryptophan (so their serotonin levels were low) they showed increased aggression toward offers they perceived to be unfair.Slide3
Davidson et al (2000)
found that violent criminals had markedly lower levels of serotonin to non-violent criminals.
Mann et al (1990)
, who manipulated levels of serotonin. They administered the drug dexfenfluramine known to deplete serotonin levels, to 35 healthy adults. They then used a questionnaire to assess hostility and aggression levels, and found these levels had increased among males after treatment with the drug
.
Potegal
et al (1996)
researched hamsters and found that stimulation of the
corticomedial
amygdala increases aggression and lesioning of this area reduces aggression in hamsters.Slide4
Wider Evaluation-Starter
There
are many studies that investigate the role of neural mechanisms in aggression which use animals and/or specific types of people (e.g. criminals).
What
potential problems
could
this
pose?
Use at least one Psychological termSlide5
Objectives
Describe
and evaluate the role of hormonal mechanisms in aggression
Outline and evaluate research into testosterone and aggressive behaviour
Identify the issues of gender bias and determinism in research Slide6
Starter- On boards
As a spider diagram or a list…
What do you know about hormonal mechanisms in relation to aggression?Slide7
Explanations
High testosterone
High testosterone/low serotonin
Mismatch effectSlide8
Basic biological information on testosterone
Predominately a male hormone however women do have testosterone just much lower levels.
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the brain control testosterone production.
The hypothalamus instructs the pituitary gland on how much testosterone to produce
.
T
he P.G then sends messages to the testes (in males this is where most of the testosterone is produced)
Testosterone is involved in producing the male sex organs as well as adult male features.Slide9Slide10
Mismatch theory
An
alternative theory is the mismatch effect. This effect also reflects the view that testosterone links to
dominance,
so the
higher the testosterone you have, the more dominance or status
you also want
.
According
to the mismatch effect, testosterone only becomes important when there is a
mismatch
between the level of testosterone in the body and the status of the individual.
If
an individual has high status and high testosterone, no aggression will result, but high testosterone and low status, or low testosterone and high status, will result in aggression. Slide11
Mismatch theory
Dominance
Status Level of Testosterone
Low High
High lowSlide12
Evidence in relation to hormonal mechanisms
Kreuz
& Rose (1972)
BPS article
Josephs et al (2006)
Slide13
Kreuz
and Rose (1972)
Kreuz
& Rose (1972)
studied testosterone levels in a group of 21 young adult male
prisoners
and found a correlation between scores on psychological tests and testosterone.
Their
testosterone levels did not relate to whether they fought with others whilst in prison, but it did relate to the nature of the crimes they had committed.
The
10 prisoners with histories of more violent crime such as assault and armed robbery did have statistically higher levels of testosterone than the 11 prisoners who had committed non-violent crimes.
Questions:
Ground
this to the possible explanations for the role of testosterone on aggression
Any concerns about the research method or sample?Slide14
Article
Read the article from the BPS and answer the questions at the bottom of the sheet.Slide15
Josephs et al (2006)
J
osephs
et al (2006)
conducted an experiment using the saliva samples of participants and found
that men and women high in testosterone levels reacted negatively after a loss of high status becoming stressed, confused, and anxious which is a state of mind that could lead to aggression.
However
, men and women with low levels of testosterone who were put into a position of high status showed the same pattern of upset which could also lead to aggression.
Questions:
Ground this to the possible explanations for the role of testosterone on aggressionSlide16
Determinism (vs free will)
Determinism sees human behaviour of a product of forces beyond the control of the
individual.
States that people have no control over their actions.
Determinists would argue that
internal
and
external
forces control a persons behaviour. Two types of determinism are
environmental determinism
and
biological determinism
.
This
means behaviour should be predictable.
Determinism
is a scientific account of behaviour. Slide17
Strengths and weaknesses of taking a deterministic view
S = Emphasis
on cause and effect= make the world more understandable and predictable= could be worthwhile in trying to change certain things in
society.
S = Purpose
and goal of science= make its more acceptable to society = scientific basis and objectivity
.
W =
Does not allow for
freewill,
freewill is an
illusion -
we think we have choice
.
W = Can
never fully explain behaviour because behaviour may be too
complex.Slide18
Determinism
How is this relevant?
How does it link to hormonal mechanisms? (
extn
- Neural mechanisms?)
Why is this a problem?Slide19
IDA
(
P)
All explanations; serotonin, the role of the brain and testosterone: into aggression have also been
criticised
by psychologists for being deterministic
.
(
E)
All theories suggest that aggression is the result of neural and hormonal mechanisms- biological factors. All theories fail to consider the role of free will in that we have a choice in how we behave and thus fails to take into consideration individual differences shaped by situational factors
.
(
C)
With a lack of individual differences the theory fails to provide a good explanation into institutional aggression of all individuals. As a result the external reliability of all theories is weakened.Slide20
Evaluation of research (AO3)
Many
studies
conducted looking into testosterone and aggression are
based on correlational analysis or are natural experiments or have been conducted on animals.
Why do you
think the above causes
problems?
Comment
on the validity of the
supporting evidence.
Concluding evaluation?Slide21
Case study
A pharmaceutical company has introduced a new drug which suppresses testosterone and claims to lower the level of aggression in individuals. They are offering this treatment to the NHS and prison services for service users displaying aggressive behaviour.
What
moral and ethical issues does this raise?Slide22
Question- essay plan
June 2011
Discuss the role of neural
and/or
hormonal mechanisms in aggression
.
(8 marks+ 16 marks)
Bullet point / list a structure of this essay answer