PSYC 2310 Lecture Notes - Cichlid, On Aggression
11 Nov 2013
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Document Summary
Definition: aggression is any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming or infuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment . Not aggression if other person isn"t motivated to avoid treatment (masocism) Aggression is in our nature & nurture: a false debate! . Aggressive instinct (mcdougall): humans have 18 instincts that drive us to our behaviours. Does not explain what an instinct is. Death instinct, thanatos (freud): 2 instincts drive to destroy an organism, attacks others to bring them to nothing". Hydraulic theory: unexpressed emotions build up pressure which must be expressed to relieve that pressure (like water in a container). Human warfare originated in attempts to obtain valuable resources. Women; to make sure their children would survive. Gender differences in patterns of mate selection. Amygdala, an area in the core of the brain, is associated with aggressive behaiour. Testosterone is associated with aggression (high levels) Serotonin is associated with aggression (low levels)
