Remember It!

• 
  Biological explanations of aggression
  • Hormones (e.g. testosterone)
  • Chromosomes (extra Y chromosome)
  • Brain disease
• Psychodynamic explanations
  • Unconscious aggressive instincts
  • Failure of the ego to control aggression
  • Ego defence mechanisms – which lets out aggression slowly
• Social learning theories
  • Observing others, same sex parents
  • Monitoring
• Conclusions of studies
  • Murderers have lower levels of brain activity in prefrontal cortex
  • Testosterone increases aggressive behaviour
  • Convicted criminals have experienced ‘over control’ prior to crime.
• How can we reduce aggressive behaviour?
  • Drugs – people with ADHD can be helped with drugs
  • Psychosurgery
  • Sublimation – channelling aggressive energy
  • Frustrated-aggression theory – avoid frustrating situations

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Test It!

1. What are the biological explanations of aggression?
2. What is meant by the term ‘ego defence mechanism’?
3. What is the social learning theory of aggression?
4. What is meant by the term ‘monitoring’?
5. What differences have been found to exist between the brains of murderers and non-murderers?
6. Identify three methods used to reduce aggression. What are the potential limitations of each?
7. What relationship has been found to exist between aggressive behaviour and the following?

1. Hormones
2. Personality types
3. Television

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Some top tips!

1. Print out the Test It! Questions – it will allow you to replicate exam conditions and also allows you to give your eyes a rest from the computer screen whilst doing your crucial revision.
2. Make a copy of the Remember It! Section and put in a place that you often look at. i.e. front of a journal, next to a mirror, on a kitchen cupboard door, etc. That way you can do some cheeky psychology revision whilst doing those things you have to do!