NEURAL MECHANISMS IN AGGRESSION

NEURAL MECHANISMS IN AGGRESSION

1. AO1

   • * SEROTONIN : LOW LEVELS ARE LINKED TO AGGRESSION. IS TESTED THROUGH COMPARING LEVELS OF SEROTONIN METABOLITE 5-HIAA IN PPS WITH AGGRESSIVE HISTORY. IF SEROTONIN PLAYED A KEY IN AGGRESSION, WE EXPECT TO SEE A REDUCED LEVEL OF 5-HIAA IN AGGRESSIVE PPS.
     • DOPAMINE : HIGH LEVELS ARE LINKED TO AGGRESSION. PATIENTS ON MEDICATION WHICH INCREASE THERE LEVEL OF DOPAMINE, BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE, SUGGESTING DOPAMINE AND AGGRESSION ARE LINKED.

2. AO2

   • + STANLEY ET AL : COMPARED CONCENTRATION OF 5-HIAA IN AGGRESSIVE AND NON AGGRESSIVE PSYCHATRIC PAITENTS. AGGRESSIVE PAITENTS HAD LOWER LEVELS OF 5-HIAA THAN NON AGGRESSIVE PPS.
     • + LINNOIA AND VIRKKUNEN : LOW LEVELS OF SEROTONIN ARE LINKED TO IMPULSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

3. AO3

   • - REDUCTIONIST : RESULT OF BIOLOGICAL FACTORS. IGNORES THE ROLE OF SITUATIONAL FACTORS SUCH AS INFLUENCE OF PEERS. FAILS TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC ACCOUNT, AND OVER SIMPLIFIES COMPLEX HUMAN BEHAVIOUR.
     • DETERMINISTIC : AGGRESSION IS A RESULT OF NEURAL MECHANISMS AND FAILS TO CONSIDER THE ROLE OF FREE WILL. IN THAT WE HAVE A CHOICE OF HOW WE BEHAVE AND FAILS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES.