Aggressive behavior is routinely observed in humans and animals. It’s a disposition that varies from person to person and animal to animal.
Although research has shown that environmental factors, such as the way we grow up, greatly affects one’s tendency towards aggression, it’s becoming clearer that genes also play a role in the development of aggressive behavior. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how genetics may contribute to aggression running in certain families.
Understanding Aggression
Aggressive behavior isn’t a single trait but rather a broad concept that encompasses several behaviors. It can range from verbal hostility to physical attacks.
The reason behind aggressive behavior can vary from defense of territory to being frustrated. Several environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status or upbringing, can contribute to aggressive behavior in humans.
Moreover, there’s been an increasing amount of evidence from twin and family studies that suggest that heredity plays a role in aggression too.
The Genetic Influence on Aggression
Heredity involves the passing of genetic information from biological parents to their offspring. Genes are the building blocks of inheritance and are responsible for the physical traits and biological characteristics we inherit from our parents.
When it comes to aggression, certain genes have been shown to have an impact on the likelihood of a person developing aggressive behavior. For example, research has suggested that a variation of the MAOA gene is associated with aggressive behavior in humans.
The MAOA Gene and Aggression
Studies suggest that a variation of the MAOA gene, which creates an enzyme responsible for lowering the levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters that regulate mood and aggression, may be associated with aggressive behavior.
When there is a deficiency in the functioning of the MAOA gene, the levels of serotonin are not regulated correctly, resulting in an increase in aggressive behavior. It’s important to note, however, that aggression is also impacted by multiple genetic and environmental factors, which means that even individuals with the gene variation might not display aggressive behavior if other factors are not present.
The Role of the Environment
While genetics may play a role in the development of aggression, the environment also has a significant impact on aggressive behavior.
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Environmental factors like the quality of family relationships, upbringing, and how individuals deal with conflict and stress can be essential in determining whether someone becomes aggressive or not. However, just because an environmental factor may play a pivotal role, it doesn’t necessarily mean that genetics isn’t involved. Genes and the environment often interact to produce aggressive behavior.
Twin Studies and Aggression
Twin studies provide evidence that aggression is at least partially influenced by genetics. Identical twins share the same exact genes while fraternal twins only share around 50% of the genes.
In twin studies, researchers look at the difference in aggressive behavior between identical and fraternal twins to determine the role of genetics and the environment. For example, if aggression tendencies in identical twins are much more similar than those in fraternal twins, researchers reason that genetics plays a more significant role in the development of aggressive behavior.
Family Studies and Aggression
Family studies have also contributed to the understanding of the heritability of aggression. Typically, siblings share around 50% of their genes, and thus comparing the aggression tendencies of siblings over time can show how genes influence aggression.
Research has shown that brothers with a criminal record are more likely to have each other’s criminal records, suggesting a genetic factor. However, it’s important to note that environmental influence cannot be ignored.
Epigenetics and Aggression
Epigenetics refers to the study of changes to gene expression that don’t affect the underlying DNA sequence. In other words, epigenetics is studying how genes are turned on or off based on environmental factors.
Some studies suggest that environmental factors can affect the expression of aggression genes. For example, chronic exposure to stress can lead to changes in the expression of MAOA gene, leading to more aggressive behavior.
This interplay between genetics and the environment can lead to behavioral changes and is a crucial area of research in the study of aggression and other behavioral disorders.
Conclusion
Aggressive behavior is influenced by many factors, including genetics and the environment. While our genes can impact our predisposition to aggressive behavior, it’s not a determining factor.
We should look into ways to reduce these behaviors from happening to prevent further incidences of aggression, taking into consideration the multiplicity of factors that play a role in developing aggressive behavior. It is also important to note that preventive measures should involve addressing environmental factors that trigger aggressive behaviors and addressing the psychological impacts of aggression on its victims.
