The Neuroscience of Violence Research Paper Example

📌Category: Genetics, Health, Mental health, Science, Social Issues, Violence
📌Words: 1179
📌Pages: 5
📌Published: 21 April 2022

Abstract

Following the genetic pool of adolescents and their parents, the trait of violence has created a very strong conduct of research. Within the next few paragraphs there has been a collection of evidence to back up the hypothesis of the hereditary trait of violence. With the factors of brain functions, environment, behavior and mental disorders, substance abuse, mental retardation etc. Examining the effects that violent behavior has on not only adults but adolescents as they are more likely to adopt traits while their brains develop. The specific genetic mutations found in those that are considered violent/aggressive. How and why this topic is important and ideal and more sufficient ways to prevent the growing numbers of people with this trait. 

Violence. Is It a Hereditary Trait?

Violence, defined as “The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community.” For individuals with violent backgrounds, these studies help benefit a better understanding of the trait. When researching the act of violence, a common question during the research is if violence is a passed-on hereditary trait. These examinations of violence being hereditary are important data to research and for knowledge purposes. To understand this research, a collection of data needs to be formed together about brain functions, genetics, and improvements. 

Brain Functions

Neurobiology and Violence

The study of neurobiology of violence has linked many purposes in an individual’s life that progresses into a violent individual. Those that have been raised or surrounded by people with existing mental issues are more likely to be violent as they develop. These traits are then adapted at a young age while the brain is still malleable (this trait is majorly passed down to males rather than females). Jan Volavla did an overall review and research of how the brain functions when it has a violent gene within its host, “TPH genotype was associated with impulsive-aggressive be havior in male (but not female) patients.”( Volavka, J., 1999).  Individuals with a high level of this genotype are reported to have a high level of impulsive aggressiveness and suicidal behavior. The 5-HT receptor gene is linked to issues with alcohol as well as impulsive violent behavior. Furthermore, Jan explains “Growth hormone response to clonidine, an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist, was related to irritability” (Volavka J., 1999), males have a higher chance of being more aggressive/ violent rather than males due to testosterone and the alpha-2-adrenergic receptor. An enzyme called Mao is existent in two forms A and B, “In a large kindred, several males showed consistent impulsive vi olent behavior and mental retardation; each of these males had a point mutation in the MAO-A structural gene that resulted in a complete and selective deficiency of the activity of this enzyme.43 Male “knockout” (ge netically altered) mice lacking the MAO-A gene showed aggressive behavior.44 Thus, low levels of MAO activity were associated with impulsive aggression.”, Volavka, J. (1999). The Neurobiology of Violence. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 11(3), 307–314. https://doi.org/10.1176/jnp.11.3.307. These two forms are present inside of the hosts brain, low forms of MAO Is found in violent individuals and a high level of MAO is associated with aggressive behavior. These behaviors are developed through genes, or are formed from forms of child abuse, chronic elevations of glucocorticoids and catecholamines (related to stress).

Hereditary Traits

Genetics

Examinations show that just like mental disorders, violence too can be passed down from parents onto their children. Findings reported by 3 individuals display that those who were adopted compared to violent behavior with biological parents were way higher. Not with violent acts, just being more aggressive as they developed. As the genetics for violent traits have been studied it is a constant debate between “nature and nurture”, but as these theories have been studied throughout time violence is a higher cause of nurture rather than nature. Yes, behavior can be mimicked at an adaptable age, but the human behavior process proves that genetics contributes to a vital role in behavior. Violence itself is not initially hereditary it is a causing factor from hereditary behavior and psychological disorders (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and alcoholism). 1993, a group of researchers found a gene associated with aggression and violence in a Dutch family (specifically the males within the family). David Wasserman’s journal about this topic states that there was a gene identified as the MAOA, “MAOA is involved in the metabolism of serotonin, a neurotransmitter thought to play a major role in neuro-chemical regulation, and in mediating between genes and behavior. Serotonin has been implicated in psychiatric and behavioral conditions rang ing from depression to impulsive violence. Critics argued that the link between MAOA and violence and aggression…” Wasserman, D. (2004). Is There Value in Identifying Individual Genetic Predispositions to Violence? Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 32(1), 24-33. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720X.2004.tb00445.x. The finding of the MAOA gene does not always mean “aggression”, but it is also a result of being less intelligent and they will use violence and aggression to mask themselves. “High MAOA activity had been associated with low serotonin levels, and low serotonin levels with impulsivity and anti-social behavior, among a host of psychiatric and behavioral disorders” (Wasserman, D. (2004), implying that those with either the specific MAOA gene or an offspring from behavioral or psychiatric disorders have a higher chance of adapting aggressive or violent actions. 

Improvements

What Improvements Can Be Made?

The importance of this topic is to decrease the numbers of aggression, this emotion may lead to more serious matters like suicide, homicide, and severe mental disorders. People raised in small environments have the highest cases of violence/aggression inside of their communities. Modifying their environments would give an opportunity to distract and understand their internal conflicts. “Environmental control can aid in containing violence, and it is essential to catch the patient in these earlier stages leading up to aggression and provide some measure of control to de-escalate building violence”, Rueve, M. E., & Welton, R. S. (2008). Violence and mental illness. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 5(5), 34–48. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2686644/. Techniques that will be used with environmental control will teach their patients how to relax, close observation, personal space, and refraining from direct confrontation (Rueve & Welton, 2008). Learning individual triggers such as loud noises, sensory issues, and past trauma will help de-escalate the violent behaviors of the patients. Pharmacotherapy is a type of directed therapy that is used for chronic patients to assist them in living a more consistent lifestyle. 

Why is this Important, and Who Does it Effect?

Obviously, all age groups can be violent and have some type of aggression, but to break the cycle of this will specifically affect children and young adults. Chronic community violence effects children with expressing emotions, academic failure, and early substance use. Children will act out by bullying their peers in order to get out their inner aggressions.’ It includes inten tional behaviors like teasing, hitting, threatening, name calling, ignoring, and leaving someone out (Bradshaw et al, 2007). Examiners believe that anxiety would balance out and be used as a “protection function” for adolescents with violent and aggressive behavior. “g youth who live in violent communities from being further exposed to violence (e.g., fear may motivate them to remain indoors)”, (Boyd et al, 2003). 

Conclusion

After examining the research above, readers can make the conclusions from brain functions and genetics that violence is a complex trait. It is a mixture of hereditary traits with a small amount of environment, (mostly found in men) and can go as far as effecting the academic achievements of an individual. This trait can lead to criminal activity, behavior/ mental disorders, and even mental retardation. Violence is a difficult action to track down in the aspect of genes, but enough research has been conducted to successfully back up the hypothesis.

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