Outline and evaluate hormonal
mechanisms in human aggression
Cortisol AO1
Dabbs
Cortisol decreases
aggression because it
increases anxiety and the
likelihood of social
withdrawal
Virkkunen
Cortisol inhibits testosterone. Low levels of cortisol in habitual offenders
This was also
found in violent
school children
(Tennes & Kreye)
Cortisol AO2
McBurnett et al
4 year old boys with behavioural
problems were found to have low
cortisol levels
Boys with consistently low cortisol levels had
3x the level of aggressive behaviour compared
to boys with high or fluctuating cortisol levels
Suggests that while testosterone may be the main
influence in aggressive behaviour, low cortisol levels
increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviour
It's been claimed that boys with low cortisol
levels might be less afraid of punishment, so
may not experience anxiety at the threat of
punishment and so don't avoid aggressive
situations in the same way that others might
Testosterone AO1
Dabbs et al
Measured salivary
testosterone in
violent & nonviolent
criminals. Those with
highest levels had a
history of violent
crimes, while those
with lowest levels had
committed
non-violent crimes
Lindman
Young males who behaved aggressively
when drunk had higher testosterone levels
than those who did not act aggressively
Testosterone AO2
Albert et al
Claimed many studies
found no relationship
between testosterone
and aggression
Mazur
There’s a difference between
dominance and aggression.
Suggests testosterone increases
dominance, so animals show this
just through aggression, but it can
take many forms in humans
Book et al
Meta analysis of 45 studies,
found 0.14 positive correlation
Gender bias IDA
Archer et al
Effect of testosterone on
women is worse for behaviour
Successful career women were also found to have higher testosterone levels
Klinesmith
Male college
students played
with a gun,
salivary
testosterone was
significantly
higher
afterwards
compared to
control group