Lesson 4.3.8.1

4.3.8.1 Neural, hormonal and genetic mechanisms in aggression Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.3.8.1, Neural, hormonal and genetic mechanisms in aggression: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Psychology (7182), Unit 3: Issues and options in Psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which brain structure is part of the limbic system and is strongly linked to aggressive responses?

    • The medulla oblongata
    • The amygdala
    • The cerebellum
    • The occipital lobe

  2. What role does low serotonin activity play in aggression?

    • Raised serotonin is always associated with violent behaviour in every individual
    • Reduced serotonin is associated with impulsivity and reduced control over aggressive responses
    • Reduced serotonin is associated with calm behaviour and increased control over all impulses
    • Serotonin has no link to aggression, since it only affects sleep patterns

  3. What is the role of testosterone in aggression?

    • Testosterone has no effect on aggression, which is controlled only by cortisol
    • Higher testosterone levels are associated with increased aggressive behaviour in some contexts
    • Testosterone only affects the heart rate and never the brain or behaviour
    • Higher testosterone levels always prevent aggression in all situations

  4. Which gene has been linked to aggression through its role in breaking down neurotransmitters?

    • The BRCA1 gene
    • The FTO gene
    • The HTT gene
    • The MAOA gene

  5. In the study by Caspi and colleagues, what did the researchers find about the MAOA gene?

    • Boys with the high-activity MAOA variant were more likely to show violence whatever their experiences
    • The MAOA gene had no interaction with maltreatment in any group of participants
    • Girls with the low-activity variant showed the highest rates of violence in all conditions
    • Maltreated boys with the low-activity MAOA variant were more likely to show antisocial behaviour

  6. Which evaluation point applies to research on the MAOA gene and aggression?

    • The MAOA gene has been shown to have no effect on any behaviour in any study, so it should be removed from all research on aggression
    • Gene-environment interaction means genetic effects are not simply deterministic, which limits any single-gene explanation
    • The MAOA gene fully determines aggression in every person, so environment and experience have no role at all in any individual case
    • The MAOA gene can only be studied in animals, so human research is impossible and all the findings are limited to laboratory mice

  7. Which neural mechanism is associated with serotonin's role in controlling aggression?

    • Serotonin acts on regions such as the prefrontal cortex, which helps to regulate impulses
    • Serotonin is produced only in the adrenal glands and is never found in the brain
    • Serotonin acts only on the spinal cord and has no effect on the brain's regulation of behaviour
    • Serotonin stimulates the cerebellum to produce fixed action patterns of aggression

  8. A researcher finds that aggressive men have higher testosterone levels than non-aggressive men on average. Which limitation of this finding is most important?

    • The result shows that aggression is entirely genetic and unaffected by testosterone levels
    • The result is correlational, so it cannot show that testosterone causes aggression
    • The result shows that testosterone and aggression are completely unrelated in men
    • The result proves that testosterone is only found in women and never in men

  9. Which best describes the limbic system's role in aggression?

    • It has no connection to emotion, so it does not influence aggressive behaviour
    • It processes emotion and threat, and it can produce strong aggressive reactions when activated
    • It controls only the voluntary movement of the arms and legs in all situations
    • It produces the hormone cortisol that suppresses all forms of aggression

  10. Which combination best describes the biological explanation of aggression?

    • Only genetic factors determine aggression, and there is no role for hormones or the brain
    • Aggression is entirely learned and has no biological basis of any kind
    • Neural, hormonal and genetic factors interact to influence the likelihood of aggressive behaviour
    • Only hormonal factors determine aggression, and genes and the brain have no role

  11. A person has a damaged prefrontal cortex and begins to act aggressively when frustrated. Which explanation best fits?

    • Increased ghrelin that causes the person to feel hungry and so act aggressively
    • Reduced neural control over emotional and impulsive responses, linked to prefrontal regulation
    • Increased leptin that removes the person's ability to feel anger at all
    • Increased cortisol that protects the person from frustration and aggression

  12. Which evaluation point applies to twin and adoption studies of aggression?

    • They have never been used to study aggression in any published research
    • They show that aggression is entirely due to genes, with no environmental influence
    • They show that aggression is entirely due to environment, with no genetic influence
    • They suggest a genetic influence but cannot fully separate genes and environment in every case

  13. Which hormone is linked to increased aggression in some research on male behaviour?

    • Melatonin, a hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep and wake cycle over each twenty-four hour period
    • Leptin, a hormone released by fat cells that signals energy stores to the hypothalamus and reduces appetite
    • Testosterone, which is linked to aggression in some research on male behaviour, though the effect depends on context
    • Ghrelin, a hormone released from the empty stomach that stimulates appetite and hunger signals sent to the brain

  14. What does the MAOA gene code for?

    • A receptor that binds to ghrelin in the stomach to stimulate hunger
    • A protein that forms the myelin sheath around axons in the brain
    • A hormone that is released by the adrenal cortex in response to stress
    • An enzyme that breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine

  15. Which statement describes a low-activity MAOA variant?

    • It produces more enzyme, so monoamine neurotransmitters are broken down more quickly
    • It produces cortisol directly, which stimulates aggression in every person
    • It produces less enzyme, so monoamine neurotransmitters may be broken down more slowly
    • It produces no enzyme at all, so neurotransmitters are never broken down

  16. Why is the Caspi study considered an example of gene-environment interaction?

    • The effect of the MAOA variant on antisocial behaviour depended on whether the boys had been maltreated
    • The effect of the MAOA variant was the same regardless of whether the boys had been maltreated
    • The study found that maltreatment alone caused antisocial behaviour in all participants
    • The study only looked at girls, so no interaction could be measured in any boys

  17. Which hormonal explanation of aggression is most consistent with a research finding on men and testosterone?

    • Testosterone may increase aggressive responses in situations that involve status or threat
    • Testosterone reduces the amygdala's activity, which makes all aggression impossible
    • Testosterone only affects women and never affects aggressive behaviour in men
    • Testosterone always makes people calm and reduces their willingness to compete

  18. A researcher proposes that a drug increasing serotonin will reduce impulsive aggression. Which prediction follows from the serotonin explanation?

    • Impulsive aggressive responses should decrease, because serotonin helps regulate impulses
    • Impulsive aggressive responses should increase, because serotonin stimulates the amygdala
    • No change should occur, because serotonin has no effect on any behaviour
    • Hunger should increase, because serotonin is produced by the stomach

  19. Which statement about genetic factors in aggression is most accurate?

    • Genetic factors determine aggression completely, so environment and learning have no role in any person
    • Genetic factors affect only the size of the heart, which has no connection with any behaviour
    • Genetic factors have no link to aggression, since all aggressive behaviour is learned from others
    • Genetic variation influences the likelihood of aggression, but its effect is shaped by environment

  20. A researcher measures testosterone in athletes before a competition and finds it rises before a win. Which conclusion is most appropriate?

    • The rise is a correlation that does not show testosterone causes the win, so caution is needed
    • The result shows that testosterone falls before every win, which shows it is not linked to aggression
    • The result shows that athletes never experience a change in hormones during competition
    • The win proves testosterone is the only cause of successful performance in every sport

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