Running head: SOCIETAL OVER BIOLOGICAL
Humans Are Not Predisposed To Be Violent: Societal Over Biological
Raymond C. Williams
Grand Canyon University: PSY-510
January 8, 2012
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SOCIETAL OVER BIOLOGICAL
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Humans Are Not Predisposed To Be Violent: Societal Over Biological
Aggression resulting in violence among humans has been a significant subject of research
among scientists and psychologist for many years. Some researchers conclude that aggression
can be attributed through genetics or other biological causes but others determine that the
evidence is inconclusive but instead societal influences are the main contributor. The purpose of
this paper is to refute the theory that some humans are biologically prone to be violent by
introducing the strengths and limitations of societal over biological conclusions as well as
present the validity and consequences of using psychological principles to predict dangerousness.
Biological Strengths and Limitations
Although much of the research regarding aggression and violence has concentrated
primarily with social, family and, cultural influences, there has been more focus on the genetic
and biologically- related influences in more recent years (Christopher & Kevin, n.d.).
Separating the nature and nurture influences on behavior in order to measure the effectiveness of
each is an important focus of science (Levitt & Pieri, 2009). One of the most common and most
effective methods used to study the theory of genetic influence on aggressive behavior and
violence is by using monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) where the twins from each
group are separated at birth in which one is raised with an adopted family and the other with the
biological parents of equal environments (Levitt & Pieri, 2009). “Results of these studies, which
have been based on thousands of sibling pairs, have pointed to the inescapable conclusion that
genetic factors are implicated-at least to some degree-in the etiology of violence” (Christopher &
Kevin, n.d.). The samples analyzed, however, are limited because the exact genetic
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polymorphisms associated with the development of aggression and violence cannot be
conclusively identified (Christopher & Kevin, n.d., para.5).
Additional research to determine biological evidence for aggression can be found in an
experiment using a trial of human subjects free from medication or currently diagnosed
psychiatric disorders (Meyer, Wilson, Rusjan, Clark, Houle, Woodside, Arrowood, Martin, and
Colleton, 2008). People with aggressive and/or violent behavior are characterized by containing
extracellular serotonin levels in their brain which is relevant in the prefrontal cortex contributing
to abnormal aggression and violence (Meyer, Wilson, Rusjan, Clark, Houle, Woodside,
Arrowood, Markin, and Colleton, 2008)
The purpose of this study was to analyze the prefrontal cortex binding potential of brain
serotonin density found in the study sample (Meyer et al., 2008). Meyer et al., explain that the
metabolite of serotonin known as 5-hydroxindolactic acid (5-HIAA) appears deficient in the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in those subjects that displayed the aggressive behavior (p.500, para.1).
However, since (CSF)(5-HIAA) is indirectly related to brain serotonin, low levels of serotonin in
the brain could also be the result of low serotonin metabolism which also shares a common
characteristic of aggressive behavior (Meyer et al., 2008). This is another example of the
inconclusive nature of biological and genetic theory of aggression and violence, hence validating
the societal theory of influence.
The Strengths of Societal Influence
The validity of societal influence on aggression and violent behavior can best be revealed
by observing the research on how media can and has had on humans. “Research on violent
television and films, video games, and music reveals unequivocal evidence that media violence
increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term
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contexts” (Anderson, Johnson, Linz, Malamuth, & Wartella, 2003). This concern for the past
fifty years has prompted several major United States Government investigations and reports
including the 1954 Kefauver hearings, the 1969 National Commission Causes and Prevention of
Violence, the 1972 Surgeon General’s report, and the 1982 National Institute of Mental Health to
contribute to this research (Anderson et al., 2003).
The effects media has on aggressive behavior and violence becomes a significant topic of
discussion usually after a serious even such as the occurrence of a school shooting (Gentile &
Bushman, 2012). This leads to a culprit mentality meaning an immediate need to identify a
specific reason, or cause for the tragedy (Gentile & Bushman, 2012). The complexity of violent
behavior prohibits the identification of a specific cause so Gentile & Bushman (2012) introduce a
study that considers several risk factors-a risk and resilience approach (p.139). They examined
six risk factors for aggressive behavior that included: hostile attribution bias, participant’s sex,
media violence exposure, and parental involvement in media (p.141). The objective of this
research was to validate how these risk factors independently and cooperatively were associated
with aggression (Gentile & Bushman, 2012, p.143). The conclusion of this research found that
although exposure to violent media contributes to aggressive and violent behavior, also
introduced in past research, but that there are other related factors such as parental involvement
with media that lends a contribution (Gentile & Bushman, 2012).
The use of psychological principles to predict dangerousness in patients and convicted
criminals by using risk cues such as history of assaults, hostility, medication non-compliance,
paranoid delusions, presence of psychosis, and family problems has proven in research to be a
valid predictor of future violence in offenders and psychiatric patients (Odeh, Zeiss & Huss,
2006). One of the contributors to the lack of validity with the use of risk cues in predicting
SOCIETAL OVER BIOLOGICAL
dangerousness is the failure to conduct more recent research (Odeh, Zeiss & Huss, 2006). The
reasoning for this is the cost and time involved to conduct such research, hence causing validity
consequences for future researchers (Odeh, Zeiss & Huss, 2006).
In conclusion, there are limitations and inconclusive evidence regarding the validity of
genetic and biological influence on aggressive and violent behavior. The validation for societal
influence has been introduced in the form of mass media mediums such as television, movies,
and video games. The use of risk cues in predictions of dangerousness can be an important
indicator but only if the research is kept current.
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References
Anderson, C. A., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, L., Johnson, J. D., Linz, D.,
Malamuth, N. M., & Wartella, E. (2003). The influence of media violence on youth.
Psychological Science in the Public Interest (Wiley-Blackwell), 4 (3), 81-110. doi:
10.1111/j.1529-1006.2003.pspi_1433.x
Christopher J., F., & Kevin M., B. (n.d.) Natural born killers: The genetic origins of extreme
violence. Aggression and Violent Behavior,14,286-294.
doi:10.1080/14636770902901629
Levitt, M, & Pieri, E. (2009). “It could just be an additional test couldn’t it?” Genetic testing for
susceptibility to aggression and violence. New Genetics & Society, 28(2), 189-200. doi:
10.1080/14636770902902901629
Meyer, J. H., Wilson, A. A., Rusjan, P., Clark, M., Houle, S., Woodside, S., Arrowhead, J.,
Martin, K., & Colleton, M. (2008). Serotonin2A receptor binding potential in people
with aggressive and violent behavior. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 33 (6), 499508
Odeh, M. S., Zeiss, R. A., & Huss, M. T. (2006). Cues They Use: Clinicians’ Endorsement of
Risk Cues in Predictions of Dangerousness. Behavioral Sciences & The Law, 24 (2), 147156. doi: 10.1002/bsl. 672