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1. Neural and hormonal influences on aggression

   • Neural influences
     • The limbic system
       • The Amygdala
       • The hippocampus
     • Serotonin
   • Hormonal influences
     • Testosterone

2. Genetic factors in aggression

   • Studies
     • Twin studies
     • Adoption studies
   • MOAO (warrior gene)

3. Ethological explanations of aggression (Lorenz)

   • Aggression is an innate, pre-programmed behaviour
     • Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)
     • Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM)
     • Sign stimulus
     • Ritualistic aggression
   • Studies animal aggression
   • Key study: Tinbergen et al

4. Evolutionary explanations of aggression

   • Aggression is an adaptive strategy developed by our ancestors to survive
     • Sexual competition
     • Sexual jealousy
       • Cuckoldry
     • Warfare

5. The frustration-aggression hypothesis (Dollard et al)

   • All aggression is the result of frustration and all frustration leads to aggression
     • When a person is prevented from fulfilling a goal, they experience frustration, which activates an aggressive drive that leads to aggressive behaviour. This aggression is cathartic
   • The revised frustration-aggression hypothesis (Berkowitz)
     • Frustration creates a 'readiness' for aggression and aggression is actually caused by the presence of aggressive cues in the environment

6. Social learning theory (Bandura)

   • Aggression occurs when individuals observe and imitate behaviours
     • Observation, identification, vicarious reinforcement, imitation
     • Mediational processes
       • Attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
     • Self-efficacy
     • Key study: The Bobo doll experiment

7. Deindividuation 0Zimbardo)

   • When an individual enters a large crowd, they become anonymous/ hard to identify. This frees them from inner restraints of social norms and causes them to enter a deindividuated state where they carry out aggressive acts without worrying about the consequences.
     • Dark environments, stimulants (drugs and alcohol), uniforms/disguises
   • Key study: Zimbardo

8. Institutional aggression in prisons

   • Dispositional explanations: The importation model (Irwin and Cressey)
     • Prison aggression occurs because inmates import their aggressive histories/ traits into prisons (e.g., childhood trauma, substance addiction, economic poverty)
       • Anger, anti-social personality and impulsivity
       • Low self-control
   • Situational explanations: The deprivation model (Sykes)
     • Prison aggression occurs because of the oppressive deprivations experienced in prison environments (e.g., loss of autonomy, goods, security and heterosexual relationships0
       • Overcrowding
       • Heat and noise
       • Job burnout
   • Interactionism?

9. Media influences on aggression

   • Computer games
     • Experimental studies (Barthalow and Anderson)
     • Longitudinal studies (Anderson et al)
     • Correlational studies (DeLisi et al)
     • Meta-analyses (Anderson et al)
   • TV programmes/films
     • Experimental studies (Bjorkqvist)
     • Longitudinal studies (Huesmann et al)
     • Meta-analyses (Bushman and Huesmann)

10. Explaining media influences on aggression

    • Desensitistion
    • Disinhibition
    • Cognitive priming