Hormones

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hormones:
chemical messengers that regulate and control bodily functions

endocrine system:
produces several hundred hormones which interact with eachother and the nervous system to regulate short/long term processes

testosterone

cortisol

AO1

  • testosterone is produced in spurts
  • so levels can rise very quickly, taking effect within minutes
  • varies seasonally with some animals

males may be more aggressive than females as they produce more testosterone (though female ovaries do produce some testosterone)

AO3

Dabbs et al (1995) testosterone & crime:
692 male adult prisoners who committed sex & violence crimes had more testosterone than non violent crime prisoners

Kouri et al (1995) double blind testosterone placebo:

  • young men received testosterone or a placebo
  • paired with a fictitious ppt
  • told each person could reduce cash received by other ppt by pressing button
  • told fictious partner was pressing button
  • those with testosterone pressed button significantly more
  • experiment artificial, lacks mundane realism
  • small sample of men, low generalisability

Bain et al weakness of testosterone & aggression correlation:
found no signifciant difference in testosterone levels between men charged with murder vs non violent crimes

Wagner et al (1979) castration in mice:

  • castrated mice & observed lower aggression
  • injecting with testosterone increased aggression levels

AO1

AO3

  • people with low cortisol are aggressive
  • as their automatic nervous system is under aroused
  • aggressive behaviour is an attempt to create stressful situations
  • provokes release of cortisol

cortisol inhibits aggression as testosterone increases it

  • cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands
  • main job is to manage stress levels
  • also wakes us up in the morning

McBurnett et al (2000):

  • found inverse relationship between cortisol & aggression
  • 38 boys aged 7-12 that were referred to a clinic for behaviour issues
  • boys with lower cortisol 3x more aggressive than those with higher

Virkkunen (1985):
low levels of cortisol in violent offenders

Gerra et al (1997):
found higher cortisol in more aggressive ppts

  • hormones explanation is reductionist
  • doesn't account for nurture factors
  • Bandura studies disprove nature only
  • correlational evidence means you can't establish cause and effect
  • hormones could just be a byproduct of aggression