Premium Essay

Discuss Genetic Factors Involved in Aggression

In:

Submitted By shreyataneja
Words 783
Pages 4
Discuss genetic factors involved in aggressive behaviour
A way to study the hereditary of aggression is through twin studies. There are two types of twins; monozygotic who are identical and share all the same genes are dizygotic who are non-identical and share only 50% of genes. If there is a 100% concordance rate between monozygotic twins it suggests that share genes may be responsible for aggressive behaviour rather than the environment. Caccaro et al found that there was a 50% variance in aggressive behaviour of adult twin pairs and that it was caused by genetic factors suggesting that genetics are involved with the aggression of individuals.
Research that supports the link between genetics and aggression was conducted by Rhee and Waldman who conducted a meta-analysis of 51 studies and found that there was a relationship between genetic factors and anti-social behaviour suggesting that genetics does have an effect on levels of aggression.
Adoption studies have looked at examining levels of aggression between adopted children and their biological parents. If a positive correlation is found between the adoptee and biological parent then a genetic factor is implied but if a positive correlation is found between the adoptee and rearing family then a environmental factor may be implied suggesting that it is not only genetic factors that influence levels of aggression.
Research that supports adoption studies was conducted by Hutchings and Mendick who studied 14,000 adoptions in Denmark. They found that boys who were sentenced to criminal conviction, their biological parents also had criminal conviction suggesting that genetics play a role in the aggressive behaviour of individuals.
Another research that supports twin and adoption studies was conducted by Miles and Carey. They conducted a meta-analysis of 24 twin and adoption studies that supported the genetic

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Video Games and Aggresion in Children

...Video Games and Aggression in Children Video Games and Aggression in Children Video games cause violence and aggression in children. This is a popular misconception that many people share. The fact is, according to federal crime statistics, the rate of juvenile violent crime in the United States is at a thirty year low (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010). This comes at a time when video games are more popular, more violent and more realistic than ever before. The idea that video games expose our youth to a level of violence that will in turn lead to aggression and violence is simply false. Many people believe there are more likely causes of aggression and that video games are merely a scapegoat. I will argue that playing video games can actually have a positive effect on children, and that environment, personality, and lack of parental involvement are responsible for violence and aggression in our nation’s youth. In today’s world there are numerous reports on television and in newspapers and magazines about video games causing aggression and violence in children. Numerous politicians and watchdog groups claim that video games are leading our children down a dangerous path. This is entirely untrue. Since the early 1990s, video games have exploded in popularity. Conversely, in that same time period, violent crime rates in the United States and Canada have plummeted (Ferguson, 2008). Christopher Ferguson, a licensed psychologist and professor who researches...

Words: 1020 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Human Service

...Annathur.Kalingan Wednesday, April 18, 2012 W201527095 TEST.III Learning Objectives & Review of Chapters.8, 9 &10. Chapter.8. Schizophrenia Objective.1. Discuss the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, as well as the current criteria for brief psychotic disorder. What is the typical age of onset? What percent of people will develop this schizophrenia? Following is the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. i. Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated): 1. Delusions 2. Hallucinations 3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence) 4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior. 5. Negative symptoms, (affective flattening, alogia, or avolition ii. For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work or school, interpersonal relations, or self-care is markedly below the level expected for the individual or achieved prior to the onset. iii. Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or two or more symptoms listed in Criterion...

Words: 6953 - Pages: 28

Free Essay

Developing a Healthy Child

...Developing a healthy child. 1. Nature versus Nurture: an ongoing debate describing the differences in child development. The prime question of this debate is whether genetic factors or environmental factors determine the development of a child. Nature or genetic factors refers to biological or hereditary genes imbedded in a child. Nature factor determines a child’s physical appearance like the eye color, hair color, height and other traits that are inherited. Nativists or a group of people who believe strongly in Nature, form an assumption that each individual is different due to his individual genetic code. Characteristics that are not observed at birth but which emerge later in life are formed due to maturation. On the contrary, environmental factors or Nurture refers to a child’s daily interactions with various people. The Nurture factor determines a child’s personality which he adapts due to his surroundings. Empiricists or people who are strong believers of Nurture, believe that a human mind at the time of birth is a blank slate or tabula rasa and is gradually formed due to environmental influences. They believe that psychological characteristics and behavioral differences that emerge through infancy and childhood are a result of learning. (Book) * A child’s reaction of a specific behavior and the influence of Nature-Nurture Anger, an emotion characterized by resentment toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done something wrong to you. Anger can...

Words: 1174 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Biological Explanations Of Major Depression

...In this paper I will discuss the difference in theories of the psychological and biological explanations of major depression. Psychological explanations refer to the cognitive and behavioral theories of major depression such as negative cognitions, learned helplessness, and hopelessness. While biological explanations refer to genetic and neurochemical factors to explain the development and maintenance of major depression (Davey, 2011). Major depression, also commonly referred to as clinical depression, major depressive illness, major affective disorder, or unipolar mood disorder, is a clinical mood disorder including one or more episode of serious depression lasting two or more weeks with no manic episodes. Symptoms include fatigue, impaired...

Words: 874 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Essay Guide

...A2 Psychology What types of questions will there be? In AS Psychology you learned how to write short 8/10/12 mark answers, in which the AO1 and AO2 marks were divided equally. In A2, the essays are 24 marks each and you get 8 marks for AO1 and 16 marks for AO2/3/Issues, Debates and Approaches (IDA). So, you need to make a lot more evaluative points in A2! Here are some 24 mark questions from past papers: Topic: Relationships Discuss the influence of childhood experiences on adult relationships. (8 marks + 16 marks) Topic: Eating Behaviour Discuss explanations of one eating disorder. (8 marks + 16 marks) The questions can also be ‘parted’ like these: Topic: Eating Behaviour Discuss the role of one or more factors that influence attitudes to food. (4 marks + 8 marks) Outline and evaluate the role of neural mechanisms in controlling eating. (4 marks + 8 marks) Topic: Aggression Outline the role of genetic factors in aggressive behaviour. (4 marks) Outline and evaluate one social psychological theory of aggression. (4 marks + 16 marks) So it’s important to know when and how much AO1 and AO2/3/IDA to write. Also, don’t skip revising any parts of topics as they might come up in the parted questions. Different types of evaluation. AO2: This is where you provide evidence to support an AO1 idea e.g. about a theory, model or study. AO3: In AS you did this as part of AO2. AO3 is where you comment on the strengths and weaknesses of...

Words: 3260 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Crimanal Behaviour

...responsibility. Discuss Carl Ikejezie Criminal behaviour is one of the negative aspects of the human society and it affects the whole world. Its causes are innumerable, from lack of jobs to lack of education to poor family upbringing and genetic predisposition. Criminal behaviour is any behaviour that has a criminal intent, or results in punishment by law enforcement of some type. This essay intends to show with evidence from research that criminal behaviour is a matter of social responsibility more than individual responsibility. The following are some of the crimes: sexual abuse, robbery, drug dealing, fraud, arson, theft, manslaughter, etc. The causes of this behaviour are many; because of the nature of this essay only four will be discussed here, namely: poor upbringing, lack of education, lack of jobs, and genetic predisposition. Poor upbringing is responsible for many criminal behaviours in society. Parental involvement in children’s upbringing is essential. The early learning can be enhanced or inhibited by the environment in which a child grows up. If the child witnesses family conflict and disorders, he is more likely to be a victim of violence that can hurt him for life. One research reveals that the absence of the father in family is determinant in the behaviour of young people, and is defined as “hyper masculine”. These young ones are more likely to commit crimes against life and property, and of aggression and sexual abuse...

Words: 970 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Myths of a Racist Criminal Justice System

...CRJS-6137-4 Analysis of an Offender Larry Tyus April 10, 2016 ABSTRACT My topic is about being a drug dealer and addressing all of the concepts of what and constitute and define a drug dealer, and it does get a bad rap, but at the same times it is glorified through songs and movies. We will address the issue of whether being a criminal is an inherent trait or learned behavior, the average age group of most dealers and their family and social environments. I will only use data as it pertains to cocaine, whether it is powder or crack, heroin and methamphetamine since they are the preferred choice. What constitute criminal behavior Criminal behavior is a behavior in which the offender commits an offense that has been deemed as being unlawful act and punishable by the government and usually it is against individuals or property. Criminal behavior is seen as being prohibition or possession that constitutes a menace against the general public or society. In hope of confining and understanding criminal behavior researcher begin to study the brain of violent crime and compare their findings to the brain imaging “normal” individual. Through doing this they came up a new field of study called neurocriminology. Adrian Raine has studied the brain image of murders, violent criminals and psychopaths and from this research, he is convinced that there is a social and environmental cause to violent behavior. Although he is also convinced there exist a biology side of this type of behavior (npr...

Words: 3406 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Media Bias

...PSYCHOLOGY and your life chapter 1 introduction to ps ychology 2 chapter outline A Gift of Life It was every subway rider’s nightmare, times two. Who has ridden along New York’s 656 miles of subway lines and not wondered: “What if I fell to the tracks as a train came in? What would I do?” And who has not thought: “What if someone else fell? Would I jump to the rescue?” Wesley Autrey, a 50-year-old construction worker and navy veteran, faced both those questions in a flashing instant yesterday and got his answers almost as quickly. Mr. Autrey was waiting for the downtown local at 137th Street and Broadway in Manhattan around 12:45 p.m. He was taking his two daughters, Syshe, 4, and Shuqui, 6, home before work. Nearby, a man collapsed, his body convulsing. Mr. Autrey and two women rushed to help, he said. The man, Cameron Hollopeter, 20, managed to get up, but then stumbled to the platform edge and fell to the tracks, between the two rails. The headlights of the No. 1 train appeared. “I had to make a split decision,” Mr. Autrey said. So he made one, and leapt. Mr. Autrey lay on Mr. Hollopeter, his heart pounding, pressing him down in a space roughly a foot deep. The train’s brakes screeched, but it could not stop in time. Five cars rolled overhead before the train stopped, the cars passing inches from his head, smudging his blue knit cap with grease. Mr. Autrey heard onlookers’ screams. “We’re O.K. down here,” he yelled, “but I’ve got two daughters up there...

Words: 17380 - Pages: 70

Premium Essay

Lifespan Development and Personality Paper

...different cycle phases of human beings is what developmental psychology sets out to accomplish. The psychological development of humans is also described through developmental psychology. Lifespan development study of humans involves psychological, behavior, and genetic alterations from birth to the end of one’s life. How one progresses through life is mainly influenced by environmental and hereditary (nature and nurture) factors that involve cognitive, physical, moral, personality, and social development (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000).  This paper will discuss the influences on physical and cognitive development of middle childhood years (6 – 12 years). As a child progresses into these years, physical, moral, cognitive, personal, and social traits are further developed. All of these traits are imperative in the personality development of humans. Understanding how humans develop traits as physical, moral, and social during the middle childhood years will give insight into lifespan development (Karpov, 2005).  Physical Development Factors During childhood years, the physical development stage ranges from gross motor development skills to fine motor development skills. Hereditary factors are an important aspect in characteristic and physical development during childhood years. The physical stage is also witnessed by weight gain, body growth, and physical agility of the body. During the childhood stage, muscular movements and strength development...

Words: 1357 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Aaah

.................................. 4 Person-centred care ..................................................................................................................... 6 Key priorities for implementation .................................................................................................. 8 1 Guidance ................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1 Principles of care for people with dementia ...................................................................................... 11 1.2 Integrated health and social care ..................................................................................................... 17 1.3 Risk factors, prevention and early identification ............................................................................... 18 1.4 Diagnosis and assessment of dementia ........................................................................................... 20 1.5 Promoting and maintaining independence of people with dementia ................................................ 25 1.6 Interventions for cognitive symptoms and...

Words: 14252 - Pages: 58

Premium Essay

Behavioural Approach

...Discuss the behavioural approach to explaining psychological abnormalities (12 marks) The behavioural approach focuses on the behaviour of an individual in order to explain psychological problems. Behaviourists claim that abnormal behaviour is learned through experiences in the same way as most other behaviour through classical and operant conditioning. Behaviourists believe the concept of classical conditioning can be used to explain the development of many abnormal behaviours, including phobias and taste aversions. The theory of classical conditioning is used to explain how behaviour is learnt through ‘stimulus-response’ associations. An event in the environment (stimulus) results in a physiological reaction (response) in the individual. Then the events and reactions are forged into an association which can lead to the development of phobias. For example a person may climb the top of a high hill and when looking down (environmental stimulus) may experience nausea or dizziness (physiological response). This then will be made into a stimulus-response association and will lead to the development of a phobia e.g. the fear of heights, which means the person, will be scared of heights and will avoid them whenever possible. Watson and Rayner demonstrated how phobias are learnt through conditioning in their experiment involving “Little Albert”. They experimented with an 11-month-old boy, ‘little Albert’, producing fear of a white rat by associating it with loud and frightful noise...

Words: 1024 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Human Resouces Management

...feL82809_ch01_002-047.indd Page 2 8/2/10 9:46 PM user-f465 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Psychology /Users/user-f465/Desktop feL82809_ch01_002-047.indd Page 3 8/2/10 9:46 PM user-f465 /Users/user-f465/Desktop Key Concepts for Chapter 1 MODULE 1 What is the science of psychology? ● What Psychologists at Work are the major specialties in the field of The Subfields of Psychology: Psychology’s Family Tree psychology? ● Where do psychologists Working at Psychology PsychWork: Licensed Social Worker work? MODULE 2 What are the origins of psychology? ● What are the major approaches in contemporary psychology? ● What are psychology’s key issues and controversies? ● What is the future of psychology likely to hold? A Science Evolves: The Past, the Present, and the Future The Roots of Psychology Today’s Perspectives Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Psychology Matters Psychology’s Key Issues and Controversies Psychology’s Future MODULE 3 What is the scientific method? ● What role Research in Psychology do theories and hypotheses play in The Scientific Method psychological research? ● What research Descriptive Research methods do psychologists use? ● How do Experimental Research Psychological Research psychologists establish cause-and-effect relationships using experiments? MODULE 4 What major issues confront psychologists conducting research? Research Challenges: ...

Words: 22475 - Pages: 90

Premium Essay

Conduct Disorders

...they suffered as a child. Her clients who have Conduct Disorders do not respect authority, have little regard for others, and breaks major rules; they also exhibit aggressive behaviors that threaten physical violence, theft, property damage, or attempting to run away. Often times their continued AWOL behaviors and being a flight risk is what gets them place in a level 14 facility. A client with a Conduct Disorder is often times resentful and short-tempered. The basis of Conduct Disorder is a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Treatment plans should include behavior therapy with the client, family therapy, if they family is involved and medication support from a psychiatrist. In this paper the author will discuss treatment and intervention strategies to work with people who have this disorder. In addition, the author will describe the theoretical basis for the approaches, present how the counselor would work individually with the client, and discuss outcome research. Current approaches Children who display conduct disorder behaviors should obtain an evaluation. Many adolescent clients with a conduct disorder have parallel conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, and ADHD which can also be addressed. Research illustrates that adolescents with conduct disorder are likely to have continuous problems if...

Words: 1414 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Alcoholism-Nature or Nurture?

...Alcoholism-Nature Or Nurture? Alcoholism can affect anyone. It has enormous costs as it pertains to societies, families, and individuals. It is not prejudicial towards any race, color, sex, religion, or economic level. Although we do have ideas as to what alcoholism is, what we do not know is the exact cause(s) of this problem. Researchers are continually seeking answers to the long-standing nature versus nurture debate. Different views are split between a biological paradigm and a psychological paradigm. No one explanation seems to be better than another is. I will present views of the effects alcoholism has on society and an insight to the factors that serve to fuel the nature or nurture debate concerning alcohol abuse and alcoholism. STATISTICS: The abuse of alcohol alone is estimated at $144.1 billion dollars annually. Every man, woman and child in America pays nearly $1,000 a year to cover the costs of unnecessary health care, auto accidents, crime and loss of productivity resulting from alcohol abuse. Alcohol deaths account for approximately five percent of all deaths occurring in the United States. Alcohol is considered to be one of the most widely used drugs as it attacks the central nervous system. Two-thirds of all adults drink alcohol; one-third of those are under the age of eighteen. The term alcoholic is commonly used to refer to a person who is severely dependent on alcohol as a result of their drinking pattern. Not everyone with an alcohol problem becomes an...

Words: 6352 - Pages: 26

Premium Essay

Personality Traits in Individuals

...denotes an important research finding. denotes an issue that you should be able to discuss or explain. | PERSONALITY: an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting (Myers, 2005, p. 429) example: a person's characteristic outgoing, extraverted personality; another person's hard-driving, competitive style 4 MAJOR PERSPECTIVES ON PERSONALITY The Psychoanalytic Perspective The Trait Perspective The Humanistic Perspective The Social-Cognitive Perspective [Myers labels two of these as "historic perspectives": psychoanalytic and humanistic, and two as "contemporary": trait and social-cognitive.] THE PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE EXPLORING THE UNCONSCIOUS: FREUD Sigmund Freud The "father of psychoanalysis" psychoanalysis: a method for exploring the unconscious and a treatment techniquefree association Say whatever comes into your mind ... Don't censor. Don't try to be logical. Don't try to be creative, or to give "good answers." Just say whatever comes into your mind. (Harder than it sounds.) * Free association helps to reveal the repressed fears and hidden wishes of the unconscious. unconscious not conscious, but influences behavior and experience ... according to "Dr. Fraud" (oops--a classic "Freudian slip") repression of sexual and aggressive urges the two major instincts, which provide motivation for all of personality: sex and aggression Freud's iceberg metaphor conscious preconscious unconscious Dreams provide evidence...

Words: 1397 - Pages: 6