Biological cause of violence

    

We can see acts of violence in all human races throughout history. It is an inherited biological trait that we possess in order to survive. As humans we are genetically wired to acquire food, a mate, and do whatever we can for survival.  Charles Darwin and other foundational fathers of psychology support this evidence.  

Some psychologists say that violence come in genes. Man believe that if they are aggressive, then women will be attracted to them for their capability to produce strong offspring and well in most of the cases that is true. Males will also show aggression if they believe that their mate is copulating with anyone other than them. Statistics show that men are indeed more aggressive then women. They are arrested for around 90% of all violent crimes, except for rape where they are arrested for 99% of the crimes. Males commit most acts of violence and aggression when they are in their young, which als happens to be the time they are most fertile. Also violence is affected by other big biological factor, aggressiveness and violent behavior has been linked to the following physical and biological causes tumors and disruptions affecting the limbic system, epileptic seizures, endocrine abnormalities, birth complications, nervous system abnormalities, hyperactivity genetics body type, learning disorders personality disorders, disconnect between the limbic and frontal cortex areas of the brain low blood sugar alcohol and drugs. Aggression is linked most to an area of the brain called the amygdala. When the amygdala is stimulated it causes animals to become violent, and when activity to the amygdala is blocked animals will become calm and docile.  It is not so common in humans because we use our common sense. As well, brain chemicals can influence aggression.

Humans are genetically made up to be violent when their well-being is threatened.  Not only can this be seen in most animal species, but also in humans since the Stone Age times of hunting and gathering. However our acts of violence have evolved and have been adapted to the society we currently live in.  Instinctually we are a violent species in order to protect ourselves and survive.            

http://www.adherents.com/misc/violence.html
http://knol.google.com/k/violence-and-aggression#Biological_Causes

Law of effect and operant conditioning

Edward Thorndike:

1. Explain Thorndike's puzzle-box experiment.

= Thorndike experiment consisted on putting a cat in a puzzle box and observed the cat’s behavior for escaping and getting food. He used foot pedals. If the animal stepped on the switch, the door of the cage opened. The object of the research was to study how quickly the cat learned to perform this response in order to get free. He made like a laberynth for the cat so he was able to go and get his food. 
2. Explain Thorndike's "Law of Effect".

=The law of effect responses closely followed by satisfaction, it will become definitely attached to the situation and therefore more likely to reoccur when the situation is repeated.
3. Explain Thorndike's "Law of Exercise".

= The law of exercise response connections that are repeating are the ones that are strength. The stimulus responses that are not used are weakened.

B.F. Skinner:

1. Explain Skinner's concept of Operant Conditioning

=Operant Conditioning involves reinforcement and punishment. It changes the behavior tendencies. It associates a stimulus with a response. 
2. What does reinforcement always do?

= it increases the strength and frequency of the response.
3. What does a punishment always do?

=negative reinforcement that happens when the behavior is not desirable.
4. Explain the difference between "positive" and "negative" as they are used in operant conditioning.

= Positive reinforcement is when a behavior is followed by a stimulus that is appetitive or rewarding, increasing the frequency of that behavior. The Punishment way occurs when a behavior is followed by a stimulus, such as introducing a shock or loud noise, resulting in a decrease in that behavior, while the negative way occurs when a behavior is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus, thereby increasing that behavior's frequency. In the Skinner box experiment, negative reinforcement can be a loud noise continuously sounding inside the rat's cage until it engages in the target behavior, such as pressing a lever, upon which the loud noise is removed. taking away a child's toy following an undesired behavior, resulting in a decrease in that 


http://tip.psychology.org/thorn.htmlbehavior. 
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.html