Discuss how one or more hormones affect human behaviour.

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of how one or more hormones affect human behaviour.

Responses should make a clear link between the function of the hormone(s) and human behaviour.

Relevant hormones may include, but are not limited to: adrenaline, cortisol, melatonin, testosterone, estrogen, oxytocin.

Any aspect of human behaviour (e.g. aggression, depression, stress, attachment) is acceptable as long as the response focuses on how the hormone influences the particular behaviour.

Examples of how hormones influence human behaviour could include, but are not limited to the influence of:

• cortisol on recall
• oxytocin on trust and social bonding
• adrenaline on memory
• testosterone on aggression.

If a candidate addresses the effects of a neurotransmitter on behaviour, credit should only be awarded where a neurotransmitter is accurately described as acting as a hormone, for example in an explanation of how noradrenaline acts as a hormone in the stress response.

Possible studies include, but are not limited to:

• Radke et al.’s (2015) study investigating the effects of testosterone on women’s responses to angry faces
• McGaugh and Cahill’s (1995) study on adrenaline and memory
• Newcomer et al.’s (1999) study on cortisol and memory
• Baumgartner et al.’s (2008) study on the role of oxytocin on trust in economic behaviour.

Critical discussion points may include, but are not limited to:

• methodological considerations
• how the findings of research have been interpreted and applied
• implications of the findings
• contradictory evidence or alternative theories/explanations.

Responses referring to research conducted on animals are acceptable as long as they are linked to human behaviour. 

HL:

Overall, candidates showed competent knowledge and understanding of how hormones affect human behaviour with most responses focused on the effects of oxytocin and/or cortisol. Well-written responses explained the effect of the hormone in detail and linked it specifically to human behaviours such as social bonding, empathy or memory formation. The higher scoring responses provided research that was clearly described and effectively used. Such responses also evaluated the studies well but also developed the critical thinking required for a top quality response by discussing applications and implications of research and acknowledging issues such as reductionism or alternative factors affecting the specific behaviour.

Weaker responses were those that did not address the command term so critical thinking in terms of balanced discussion was lacking. Such responses focused on methodological evaluation that was not elaborated on or justified, or focused on ethical issues which were of minimal relevance in this essay. Unfortunately, many responses were awarded very low marks as they focused on other biological factors such as neurotransmitters or neuroplasticity, not answering the question as set. A high proportion of responses made ineffective use of animal studies especially the studies of Romero et al. (2014) and Meany et al. (1988) as candidates struggled to link the findings to human behaviour. In most cases, any attempt at such a link was very superficial.

SL:

In general candidates demonstrated a good understanding of how hormones affect human behaviour and there was quite a narrow range of studies used in response to this question. Those occurring most frequently were Newcomer et al.'s (1999) study on Cortisol, McGaugh and Cahill's (1995) study and follow up (1996) on Adrenaline and Baumgartner et al.'s (2008) study on Oxytocin. Schachter and Singer was a problematic study. It was creditworthy if a candidate used it to demonstrate the role of adrenaline in emotion, but if candidates described the study in terms of cognitive labelling, the study was not credited.

The best answers were able to describe the origins of the hormone and its action within the human body and then make the link to show its influence on human behaviours such as attachment, memory and aggressive behaviour. Stronger candidates gave detailed accounts of either one hormone with two studies exemplifying different aspects of its influence on human behaviour, or, more than one hormone and accompanying studies which demonstrated the link to a behaviour. They also included detailed discussion of the implications of the findings and how they have been interpreted and applied.

Weaker candidates tended to focus their critical thinking solely on evaluation of studies which was quite generic and not elaborated. Unfortunately, in some responses to this question, candidates used irrelevant examples of neurotransmitters. Animal studies were rarely used. Discussion of ethics as a critical thinking point was inappropriate when evaluating research in this question as it was not directly relevant to a discussion of the effect of hormones on human behaviour.