1. Aggression

2. Biological
Amygdala- assess a response to a situation, therefore a poor amygdala can be responsible for irrational responses
Neural mechanisms- serotonin has an inhibitory affect at controlling behaviour. Low serotonin can lead to irrational behaviour
Hormonal- testosterone released into the blood stream. Abnormal amounts can lead to aggressive behaviour. Testosterone said to regulate behaviour.
Basal model suggests high testosterone is a result of a abnormal functioning endocrine system.
Evaluation
Sheep research castration of the sheep resulted in lower levels of aggression. Addition of false testis resulted in increased aggression.
Suggested that both serotonin and testosterone need to be present to affect behaviour
Lab research lacks mundane realism but high internal validity
Correlational research based on cause and effect

3. Genetic factors
We may use; family studies, twin studies, selective breeding or adoption studies to study genetical influences
Family studies- looks at the family history of aggression
Twin studies- looks at aggression in MZ and DZ twins. Cocaro direct assault; MZ 50% DZ 28%
Adoption studies- sees if the biological parents or the inherited parents also suffer from aggression.
Selective breeding- mates non aggressive and aggressive mates together to see if they produce aggressive offspring
Research shows when breeding two non aggressive and two aggressive mice together. By the 19th time 52% in aggressive and 2% in non aggressive
XYY chromosome- gives males increased testosterone
MAOA-L linked to the regulation of enzyme in the brain that breaks down serotonin and adrenaline. A low level will lead to not enough serotonin broken down and a increased amount of serotonin.
Dutch family support this- 28 members of the Dutch family aggressive all had the MAOA-L gene.
Evaluation
non 100% genetic co-ordinance rate proves too simplistic and incomplete another factor
Deterministic saying people who are aggressive will have the disposition

4. Ethological explanation
Adaptive reasons; increased survival, successful reproduction, dominance
Ritualistic aggression- verbal signals to show aggression before a fight (roaring)
Ritualistic appeasement- acceptance of defeat e.g. whimpering
Innate releasing mechanisms and fixed action patterns- trigger releases a sequence of behaviour
6 features of fixed action patterns; stereotyped, universal, ballistic, single purpose.
Evaluation
Tinberg stickleback vs a shapes with and without a red dot. As long as the shape had a red dot the stickleback would attack it. Shows fixed action patterns.
Done in lab experiments
Cant generalise the findings done with animals

5. Evolutionary explanation
Aggression done; create survival advantage and reproduction ability
Infidelity; sexual- engaging in sexual activity with someone other than your partner or emotional- creating an emotional bond with someone other than your partner
Infidelity threatens to reduce reproduction males- is the child theirs, female- take resources elsewhere
Mate retention strategies- males aggression to establish dominance
Females- verbal aggression
Evaluation
Chagnon tribe the most dominant male gets to choose who to reproduce with.
Not gender biased different approaches for each sex
Practical applications the more aggressive males will be able to reproduce and that’s why more people are violent

6. Psychological explanation- frustration aggression
Frustration will always lead to aggression and is caused by the blocking of a goal.
Displacement- where the aggression is displaced onto something else because of fear of punishment
Environmental cues- environmental causes trigger the aggression
Frustration aggression model- attempt to reach a goal- blocked- aggression- environmental cue- displaced aggression
evaluation
Green got university students to try to complete a jigsaw. There where 3 possibilities; one the puzzle was impossible to solve, a confederate made them run out of time or confederate insulted them for not being able to solve the puzzle. The insulted group had the most aggression
Too simplistic doesn't’t take into account genetics and doesn't’t explain all cases
Research is based in labs and therefore lacks ecological validity.

7. Psychological explanation- SLT
Observer observes the aggressive act taking place
Vicarious reinforcement- when a child sees someone being rewarded for a behaviour
4 conditions for observational learning; attention, retention, motivation and reproduction.
Characteristics of a model; age, social status, likeable
Self efficacy- belief to complete tasks and reach goals. Confidence grows as they observe aggression gain rewards.
Evaluation
Bandura bobo doll; soccerroo, stay down, to the nose, observer adults being violent.
Bandura 75 violent acts observed on tv
Controlled nature on lab experiments
Too deterministic saying if people observe aggression they will become aggressive
Incomplete- fails to take into account there are two types of aggression proactive and reactive

8. Deindividuation
When in a crowd people loose constraint and have the freedom to behave as they want
Therefore with the loss of our identity we loose our internal morale's
Self awareness- during deindividuation there is a change in our self awareness
Reduced private self awareness- we loose our internal morale’s
Reduced public self awareness- we don’t care what other people think of us
Model; being part of a group, deindividuation, loss of self awareness, diffusion of responsibility of those around us, behaviour with no fear, increased aggression.
Evaluation
Zimbardo prison experiment allocation of numbers and no names and glasses and moustaches lead to increased aggression.
Deterministic not all crowds will lead to aggressive acts
Practical applications of dealing with the aggressive behaviour cctv

9. Institutionalisation aggression
Example abu graib- military prison for suspected terrorists
Three main approaches; situational, dispositional and interactionist
Situational- due to a deprivation of prisons and the harsh conditions leading to the frustration lack of freedom
Deindividuation- the environment of being part of a crowd and the loss of identity
Popcorn model- once one is aggressive the rest will follow with aggressive behaviour
evaluation
Deterministic- not a lot of riots in prison anymore.
Real life cases such as Abu Graib support the theory
Good interactionist model considers multiple factors
Dispositional explanation of importation model suggesting that the aggressive people are brought into the prison causing the aggressive behaviour
Evaluation
Deterministic as not all violent people remain violent in prison
Research uses correlations of cause of effect

10. Media violence
Desensitisation caused through the media and people being exposed to aggressive content. Accepted as more normal behaviour
Earls showed people a video of a straw dog being raped they then watched a non-sexual violent film and where not disturbed by what they saw
Disinhibition- frequent exposure will allow us to socially accept that behaviour
Cognitive priming- gets us ready for the after events of the violent event
This behaviour is all unconscious
Evaluation
Earls research showing the men the violent film after the straw dog being raped
Correlational nature of the research
Practical applications leads to age ratings
Contradicts other theories

11. Video game violence
Computer games lead to increased violence because; computer games are active, people are able to identify with the characters, direct reward for the aggressive behaviour
Evaluation
People believe computer games can result in reduced aggression because they can vent anger
Aggression could be from failure not necessarily video games
Research shows that those who played tiger woods where less aggressive when completing a task than those who played mortal combat. After playing the game they had to take a reaction time task while noise levels where recorded. Those who played mortal combat had louder noises suggesting greater levels of aggression
Lacks mundane realism the research
Practical applications of age ratings