Critics: emphasize biological factors too much, overlook the most evident origins of violence such as poverty and lack of education
However, if biological factors can be addressed, some violent people can have treatments. (e.g. inhance serotonin activity)

Biological studies of aggression are controversial

In a study, the most aggressive monkeys had the lowest levels of serotonin metabolites, which means they had the least serotonin released; mice with one of the serotonin receptor knocked out are hyper-aggressive; inhibitory role

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Aggressive behavior is modulated by neurotransmitter systems.
- Negative correlation between serotonin and aggression
- GABA and aggression
- Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

Aggression has several neurochemical correlates

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Negative correlation between serotonin and aggression

The balance between inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate appears to be important in aggressive response to stimuli; antiaggression treatment based on these research

GABA and aggression

experiments on mice: stimulate neurons in this area, the male mice would stop mounting a receptive female mice and start to attack her

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