Aggression Essay Plan

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Sophie Courtier

Aggression Essay plans

GENETIC EXPLANATION OF AGGRESSION – PLAN.

A01

Brief intro –

Nature VS Nurture – What extent aggression is due to genetic factors.

Psychologists look at levels of aggression in closely related individuals as levels of aggression between the two individuals will be more similar if closely related (If aggressive behaviour is down to genes).

Twin Studies

Levels of aggression in Mono-zygotic twins (who share 100% of genes) are compared with levels of aggression in Dizygotic Twins (who share 50% of genes). Similarities in aggressive behaviour should be greater in mono-zygotic twins if genetic factors ARE a significant factor.

  • Using twins in studies enables researchers to control extraneous variables such as environmental factors as Mz and Dz twins will have been brought up in the same environment.
  • However, it is argued that Mono-zygotic twins may be treated more similarly than Di-zygotic twins.
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Adoption Studies

Researchers compare an adopted child with either a biological parent or their adoptive parent. If genetics is a major factor of aggression, then we would expect similarity between child and biological parents. (E.g. father has history of violent crimes).

  • Difficult to tell whether aggressive behaviour is due to extraneous variables.

Gene for aggression

Monoamine Oxidase A

Gene responsible for producing a protein called monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) has been associated with aggressive behaviour. MAOA regulates the metabolism of serotonin in the brain and low levels of serotonin are associated with impulsive and aggressive behaviour. Has been ...

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