Display Of Aggressive Behavior Research Articles

Environmental Influences, the Developing Brain, and Aggressive Behavior

In this article the authors review research on highly stressful environments that are known to support the development and display of aggressive behavior in childhood, adolescence, and beyond. They also examine some of the mechanisms through which such stressful environments may influence adolescents' aggressive behavior. The review concentrates on adolescents' understanding of the social behavior of others and possible changes in the neurobiology of the brain. Finally, they briefly summarize the broad body of literature linking aggressive behavior in childhood and adolescence to long-term adjustment. The authors conclude with recommendations for public policy and intervention strategies designed to mitigate the development and display of aggressive behavior.

Correlates of achievement goal orientations in physical activity: A systematic review of research

There has been a plethora of studies in the past decade investigating task and ego achievement goal orientations in physical activity settings and how they might be associated with various cognitive, affective and behavioral variables. Although comprehensive narrative reviews of the field exist, no systematic review has been reported except one meta-analysis on only goals and affect. The present paper, therefore, reports a systematic review of 10 correlates of achievement goal orientations across 98 studies and 110 independent samples (total N = 21,076). Studies are invariably cross-sectional, leading to an inability to conclude causal effects, and are biased towards young people. Frequencies and effect size calculations show associations of varying magnitude between a task orientation and (a) beliefs that effort produces success (positive association: +); (b) motives of skill development and team membership (+); (c) beliefs that the purpose of sport/PE is for fostering mastery, fitness, and self-esteem (+); (d) perceptions of competence (+); (e) positive affect (+); (f) negative affect (negative association: -); (g) parental task orientation (+); and (h) various measures or markers of behavior (+). Associations of varying magnitude were found between an ego orientation and (a) beliefs that possessing ability produces success (+); (b) motives of status/recognition and competition (+); (c) beliefs that the purpose of sport/PE is for social status (+); (d) perceptions of competence (+); (e) unsportspersonlike attitudes, endorsement of intentionally aggressive sport acts, and the display of aggressive behaviors in sport (+); and (f) parental ego orientation (+).

Aromatase activity and regulation of sexual behaviors in the green anole lizard

WINKLER, S. AND J. WADE. Aromatase activity and the regulation of sexual behaviors in the green anole lizard. PHYSIOL BEHAV 64(5) 723–731, 1998.—Sexual behaviors in green anoles are regulated by steroid hormones. Androgens activate the display of masculine courtship and copulatory behaviors, and estradiol activates feminine receptivity. Testosterone can also facilitate receptivity in females. The present study was conducted to test the role of converting testosterone to estradiol (aromatization) in the regulation of sexual and aggressive behaviors. Adult males and females were gonadectomized and implanted with a Silastic capsule containing either testosterone propionate (T) or estradiol benzoate (E) or with an empty (blank, BL) capsule. T- and BL-treated animals were then given injections of either Fadrozole (FAD, an aromatase inhibitor) or saline (SAL). E-treated animals received saline injections. Each individual was then tested alternately with male and female stimulus animals. Overall, T stimulated masculine sexual behaviors and receptivity, but the androgen had little effect on the display of aggressive behaviors. The inhibition of aromatase activity by treatment with Fadrozole eliminated the effect of T on receptivity. In contrast, Fadrozole treatment had no effect on mounting behavior or the frequency of courtship bouts. The inhibition of aromatase activity did increase the number of dewlap extensions (the display of a red throat fan) during courtship. These results suggest that the metabolism of testosterone to estradiol is a mechanism through which androgens can facilitate receptivity, and that such aromatization of testosterone is not required for the display of masculine sexual behaviors. In addition, females performed courtship and mounting behaviors less frequently than males, suggesting that an organizational component to steroid hormone regulation of sexual behaviors may exist in the anole.

Psychomotor stimulant effects ofd-amphetamine, MDMA and PCP: aggressive and schedule-controlled behavior in mice

The objective of the present experiments was to characterize psychomotor stimulant effects of d-amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and phencyclidine (PCP) on conditioned performance and on aggressive behavior in mice. In a novel protocol with alternating periods of schedule-controlled responding and aggressive behavior toward an intruder it was possible to assess a range of species-specific agonistic acts, postures, and motor activities as well as response rates and patterns engendered by a multiple Fixed Interval (FI) and Fixed Ratio (FR) schedule within the same animal. Initially, it was confirmed that d-amphetamine and, less reliably, MDMA and PCP, increased FI, but not FR responding in mice. In the next experiment, mice confronted an intruder at the midpoint of the 1-h daily session; following the display of aggressive behavior, the rate of FI responding showed an amphetamine-like increase, whereas only a transient change occurred after non-aggressive encounters. Thirdly, using this new protocol, PCP, d-amphetamine and MDMA altered FI and FR responding in a way that was closely similar to the first experiment. Low PCP and d-amphetamine doses increased aggressive behavior erratically in certain individuals, but not reliably for the group. MDMA dose-dependently decreased aggressive behavior, and all drugs disrupted aggressive behavior at higher doses. The characteristic increases in walking and decreases in rearing after higher doses of PCP and d-amphetamine were greatly attenuated when the intruder was present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Plasma androgens and aggressiveness in captive winter white-throated sparrows ( Zonotrichia albicollis)

Captive white-throated sparrows ( Zonotrichia albicollis), held under a natural photoperiod, were pair tested to evaluate dominance and aggressiveness in relation to plasma androgen levels and plumage morphology. Androgen levels were determined in November, 1 week before behavioral testing began; in January, at the conclusion of behavioral testing; and again in March. November plasma androgen levels of captive birds did not differ from those of a group of feral birds and were greater than androgen levels in January and March. Androgen levels of male and female white-striped and tan-striped birds did not differ for any collection date. November plasma A levels were significantly positively correlated with the display of aggressive behaviors by test birds and were inversely correlated, though not significantly, with hierarchy position. Plasma androgen levels determined in January and March were not related to aggressiveness or dominance. These data suggest that circulating androgens and morphological characters may act synergistically, at the onset of flock formation, to influence avian winter dominance hierarchies.

Estrogenic arousal of aggressive behavior and masculine sexual behavior in male and female mice

This experiment sought to determine the extent to which estrogenic stimulation of gonadectomized male and female mice could mimic the well-established effects of androgen replacement therapy on the display of aggressive behavior and masculine sexual behavior. Administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) to castrated male mice resulted in enhanced aggressive behavior and enhanced masculine copulatory behavior. EB injections given to ovariectomized female mice failed to arouse either aggressive behavior or masculine-like copulatory behavior. Apparently, the neural tissues mediating aggressive behavior and masculine sexual behavior in the male are not exclusively specific to androgens.