Outline and Evaluate Biological Explanations of Aggression

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Another criticism of the research is that is does not take into account both nature and nurture. Such explanations only deem our nature to impact on our levels of aggression. However, Bandura et al demonstrated that children’s aggressive behaviour was influenced through the social learning theory. His findings show that children who had observed an adult behaving aggressively towards a doll, showed more aggressive behaviour and were more likely to imitate the role model compared to another group that had not witnessed such behaviour. Banduras findings therefore shows a link between levels of aggression and observation. This theory cannot account for such explanations. For example Goodwin et als findings that a person who has a family history of criminal activity has lower levels of serotonin only takes into account the hormonal aspects. It can be said that the children may have observed such criminal behaviour and therefore impacted the behaviour as they aged since that behaviour had been role modelled to them. This suggests that only nature cannot account for aggressive behaviour and other factors such as nurture play apart in aggressive actions too. Therefore the research lacks a holistic outlook into the factors that can effect aggression and only takes into account half of the explanations of aggression and thus further generalisations cannot be made.

However it can be said that the research does have real life application. Even though the research appears to be flawed, it can be said we can apply the findings to aspects in real life. Biological explanations into aggression has highlighted that some people are more vulnerable to display aggressive behaviour. If a person is born with neural or hormonal deficiencies or have a genetic link to such aggressive behaviour, hey are more likely to be aggressive. From young children we can now put things in place such as anger management and counselling so that from early years children who are more vulnerable to aggressive tendency’s and learn how to control their aggression. Also subsequent research into the effects of serotonin has been carried out and resulted in methods that can help control our serotonin levels. Research found that the production of serotonin is closely linked to the availability of vitamin B6 and the amino acid tryptophan. If our diet lacks sufficient protein and vitamins, we run a greater risk of serotonin deficiency. We know understand that in order to keep high levels of serotonin or if we have a genetic disposition of having low levels of serotonin, taking vitamin B6 and amino acid tryptophan can help avoid aggressive behaviour. Therefore biological explanations into aggression can be praised for having real life application and helping find solutions that help avoid aggressive behaviour.

All in all research into biological explanations has created a great platform for subsequent research. It has provided plausible insight into how neural/hormone deficiencies and genetic can factor in aggressive behaviour, as well as providing solutions that reduce aggressive behaviour. However due to the atomistic explanations that fail to provide adequate findings we simply cannot apply the research universally since we still do not understand what actually factors in our aggressive behaviour.