PSYC 260 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Relative Deprivation, On Aggression, Serotonin
10 Dec 2013
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Aggression an intentional behavior aimed at causing either physical or psychological pain. Aggression need not be learned but can be modified by experience. Hostile aggression an aggression stemming from feelings of anger and aimed at inflicting pain or injury. Instrumental aggression aggression as a means to some goal other than causing pain. Eros the instinct toward life, posited by freud. Thanatos according to freud, an instinctual drive towards death, leading to aggressive actions. Amygdala an area in the core of the brain that is associated with aggressive behavior. Neural mechanisms can be modified by social factors; for example, being in the presence of other dominant apes vs. in the presence of less dominant ones. Seratonin a chemical in the brain that may inhibit aggressive impulses. Violent criminals have particularly low levels of naturally produced serotonin. Testosterone a male sex hormone associated with aggression. Juvenile delinquents have higher testosterone levels, less socially responsible, cruder, associated with social dominance.
