Evaluate the biological basis of aggression. To what extent can human aggression be controlled by biological intervention?
Aggression is associated with anger as usually aggressive behaviour is acted upon when a person is angry or upset. Anger is a normal human emotion and it’s a natural response to threatening circumstances that may create aggressive feelings or the fight or flight response. When anger isn’t kept under control a person may become hostile. People have to express their anger and rather than resorting to aggression and can do this by being assertive. There may be personal influences that make it difficult for a person to control their aggression. Aggression cannot be attributed to a sole cause, however there are a number of possible …show more content…
It is believed that low levels of serotonin can increase appetite for water, food, aggressive behaviour and drug abuse (Pihl & Peterson, 1993) cited by (Garrett, 2015). (Meyer et al. 2008) states that people who increase in impulsive aggression have lower levels of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex and also in the anterior gyrus which also manipulates emotional balancing. Garrett also cites (Moeller, 1996) and some of his colleagues performed an experiment where they had males drink an amino acid mixture, this lowered tryptophan which forms serotonin. The men engaged in a computer game, the points they earned on the game were exchangeable for money but points were also taken from them by a fake competitor if the answered incorrectly. The screen would indicate how many points were lost and rewarded to the false competitor. The participant’s reaction was more hostile after drinking the amino acid …show more content…
(Carlson) believes that cases of aggression that are thought to be caused by high levels of testosterone can be treated with drugs that block androgen receptors and therefore stop androgens from causing their usual effects. It is believed that testosterone influences and increases activity in the amygdala, this may enhance a person’s irritability and cause them to be more aggressive, therefore by controlling testosterone levels you can also control the amygdala’s response to threat. Low levels of serotonin can be treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs are used as a type of antidepressant medication usually given in severe circumstances. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are believed to increase levels of serotonin in the brain (NHS, 2014). There is no solid proof that these factors influence aggression or that they don’t. Though treatment for these has be proven to reduce aggressive
Aggression is associated with anger as usually aggressive behaviour is acted upon when a person is angry or upset. Anger is a normal human emotion and it’s a natural response to threatening circumstances that may create aggressive feelings or the fight or flight response. When anger isn’t kept under control a person may become hostile. People have to express their anger and rather than resorting to aggression and can do this by being assertive. There may be personal influences that make it difficult for a person to control their aggression. Aggression cannot be attributed to a sole cause, however there are a number of possible …show more content…
It is believed that low levels of serotonin can increase appetite for water, food, aggressive behaviour and drug abuse (Pihl & Peterson, 1993) cited by (Garrett, 2015). (Meyer et al. 2008) states that people who increase in impulsive aggression have lower levels of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex and also in the anterior gyrus which also manipulates emotional balancing. Garrett also cites (Moeller, 1996) and some of his colleagues performed an experiment where they had males drink an amino acid mixture, this lowered tryptophan which forms serotonin. The men engaged in a computer game, the points they earned on the game were exchangeable for money but points were also taken from them by a fake competitor if the answered incorrectly. The screen would indicate how many points were lost and rewarded to the false competitor. The participant’s reaction was more hostile after drinking the amino acid …show more content…
(Carlson) believes that cases of aggression that are thought to be caused by high levels of testosterone can be treated with drugs that block androgen receptors and therefore stop androgens from causing their usual effects. It is believed that testosterone influences and increases activity in the amygdala, this may enhance a person’s irritability and cause them to be more aggressive, therefore by controlling testosterone levels you can also control the amygdala’s response to threat. Low levels of serotonin can be treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs are used as a type of antidepressant medication usually given in severe circumstances. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are believed to increase levels of serotonin in the brain (NHS, 2014). There is no solid proof that these factors influence aggression or that they don’t. Though treatment for these has be proven to reduce aggressive