HORMONAL MECHANISMSLesson three

Wider Evaluation-StarterThere are many studies that investigate the role of neural

mechanisms in aggression which use animals and/or specific types of people (e.g. criminals).

What potential problems could this pose?Text me

Use at least one Psychological term

Starter- On boards

What do you know about hormonal mechanisms in relation to aggression?

Write on the white boards

Objectives• Describe and evaluate the role of hormonal mechanisms

in aggression

• Outline and evaluate research into testosterone and aggressive behaviour

• Identify the issues of gender bias and determinism in research

Mismatch theory• Dominance

Status Level of Testosterone• Low High

• High low

MisMatch Theory Create a mime displaying mismatch theory in the modern world

The best group will get stickers

Mismatch theory

An alternative theory is the mismatch effect. This effect also reflects the view that testosterone links to dominance, so the higher the testosterone you have, the more dominance or status you also want.

According to the mismatch effect, testosterone only becomes important when there is a mismatch between the level of testosterone in the body and the status of the individual.

If an individual has high status and high testosterone, no aggression will result, but high testosterone and low status, or low testosterone and high status, will result in aggression.

Kreuz and Rose (1972)

Kreuz & Rose (1972) studied testosterone levels in a group of 21 young adult male prisoners and found a correlation between scores on psychological tests and testosterone.

Their testosterone levels did not relate to whether they fought with others whilst in prison, but it did relate to the nature of the crimes they had committed.

The 10 prisoners with histories of more violent crime such as assault and armed robbery did have statistically higher levels of testosterone than the 11 prisoners who had committed non-violent crimes.

What does this study suggest about hormonal mechanisms?

Any concerns about the research method or sample?

Article• Read the article

• Answer the questions

Josephs et al (2006)Josephs et al (2006) conducted an experiment using the saliva samples of participants and found that men and women high in testosterone levels reacted negatively after a loss of high status becoming stressed, confused, and anxious which is a state of mind that could lead to aggression.

However, men and women with low levels of testosterone who were put into a position of high status showed the same pattern of upset which could also lead to aggression.

What theory does this link to?What issue/debate/ approach could be relevant here?

Determinism• Watch this videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QIRao74tI

• Make notes on your handout • How is this relevant to hormonal mechanisms?

• How does it link to hormonal mechanisms? (extn- Neural mechanisms?)

• Why is this a problem?

Determinism (vs free will)• Determinism sees human behaviour of a product of forces

beyond the control of the individual.

• States that people have no control over their actions.

• Determinists would argue that internal and external forces control a persons behaviour. Two types of determinism are environmental determinism and biological determinism.

• This means behaviour should be predictable.

• Determinism is a scientific account of behaviour.

Strengths and weaknesses of taking a deterministic viewS = Emphasis on cause and effect= make the world more understandable and predictable= could be worthwhile in trying to change certain things in society.

S = Purpose and goal of science= make its more acceptable to society = scientific basis and objectivity.

W = Does not allow for freewill, freewill is an illusion - we think we have choice.

W = Can never fully explain behaviour because behaviour may be too complex.

Case studyA pharmaceutical company has introduced a new drug which suppresses testosterone and claims to lower the level of aggression in individuals. They are offering this

treatment to the NHS and prison services for service users displaying aggressive behaviour.

What moral and ethical issues does this raise?

Question- essay planJune 2011

• Discuss the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression.

(8 marks+ 16 marks)

• Bullet point / list a structure of this essay answer