Discuss the Role of Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression Essay

Support that serotonin leads to truculent behaviour has been launch, as humanskind and animal research suggest that serotonin levels influence onset and violent behaviour. on that point seems to be a negative correlativity as low levels of serotonin, increase war-ridden behaviour. Although we gutternot determine a causal link up as the cause of aggression trampnot be attributed solely to serotonin. The link between dopamine and aggression is not as ex superstar double-crossere as with serotonin. Although there does seem to be a relationship between lavishly levels of dopamine and aggression.Dopamine is produced in receipt to rewarding stimuli such as food, trip and recreational drugs. Research suggests that some individuals campaign to find rapacious encounters because of the rewarding sensations it brings, caused by increases in dopamine. Researchers acquire also suggested that mess can become abandoned to aggression, in the comparable way that they become addi cted to food, gambling, etc. Ferrari et al. made a polecat fight for 10 consecutive days. On the 11th day it was not allowed to fight. Researchers show that in anticipation of the fight the rats dopamine levels had raised and serotonin levels had decreased.This shows that experience had altered the rats brain chemistry, gearing it up for a fight. This supports the idea that both neurotransmitters atomic number 18 compound in aggressive behaviour and suggests a possible cognitive element in aggression i. e. the anticipation the rats experienced seemed to altar the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. It is hard to extrapolate these results from animals to humankind as it is unclear whether the influence is the same for both. Hormonal mechanisms such as testosterone and cortisol, are chemicals which regulate and control body functions.It is state that hormone levels affect a souls behaviour. An example of a hormone which affects body functions is testosterone. This hormon e is found in both men and women, but in larger quantities in men. Testosterone makes aggression more(prenominal) likely, but there is not a causal link. Nelson found a imperious correlation between levels of testosterone and aggressive behaviour in male and female prisoners. however these levels were not measured during the aggressive action so we cannot be sure whether hormonal levels are a causal factor. experimental studies of children have shown that they tend to become more aggressive once they enter puberty and their testosterone levels rise. Pillay found that male and female athletes convoluted in aggressive sports have superiorer(prenominal) levels of testosterone than those involved in non-aggressive sports. despite these findings we can question this using the basal and reciprocatory model of testosterone. Did the male and females have noble levels of testosterone and so were more competitive and dominant, thusly enjoying aggressive sports as verbalize by the b asal model of testosterone.Or were the high levels of testosterone in those involved in aggressive sports exerted due to the aggressive sports, as stated by the reciprocal model of testosterone. Whether testosterone causes aggression has not been proved, although it does have an effect on aggressive behaviour. It also plays a deep role in encouraging otherwise behaviours i. e. dominance, impulsiveness and competition. These are all adaptive behaviours in human evolution and therefore truly important for our survival as species.Despite this, this is a deterministic view of human behaviour. If aggression is completely controlled by uneasy and hormonal levels then it follows that individuals dont exert any exculpate pass on over their actions and that their behaviour is completely located by their biochemistry. There are many a(prenominal) individuals who have high testosterone levels, who may spot not to act aggressively scour though they may be provoked. This demonstrates h ow a person can exert their free will and choose to override biologic impulses.By only understanding aggressive behaviour from a biological approach, these explanations can be criticised for being reductionist. Simpson argues that testosterone is just one factor linked to aggression and that the set up of environmental stimuli such as agitate and overcrowding have at times been found to correlate strongly. Likewise social psychological theories of aggression, e. g. social learning theory and deindividualisation have also received a cumulation of research support, for example the studies conducted by Bandura and Zimbardo.