Neural and Hormonal - reciprocal model suggests that testosterone is an effect and not a cause of dominance (study of 2100 ex RAF pilots over a ten year period found that their testosterone levels were lower when married and higher when divorced) and the basal model suggests that testosterone increases the levels of dominance this is supported by Macur and Booth's research which found that a high level of importance was associated with being either single or divorced and the number of arrests for violent crimes and weapon use. Testosterone is a angrogenous gene, and Nelson found that male and female prisoners with more testosterone in the blood stream acted more aggressively. Wagner found that castrated mice had few incidences of biting attacks, but when given injections of testosterone they became more aggressive
Role of serotonin - Leonardo found that the monkeys with the highest amounts of serotonin were more likely to get injured or die young.
Role of brain structure - lesioning different parts of a cats hypothalamus led to either predatory or vicious attacks. The pre frontal cortex was also though to be a very important in aggressive behaviour, Phineus Gage had a tamping iron forced through the skull, which came into contact with his pre frontal cortex - this led to a more aggressive personality

	Created by tinks209 about 9 years ago

AQA A Psychology Psya3