Is Violence Written in Our DNA? The Science of Aggression

Are we born violent — or shaped by our environment?

This video explores how genetics influence human aggression, focusing on the MAOA gene and its role in regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These systems are essential for impulse control, emotional regulation, and behavioral responses.

However, genes do not act in isolation.

Scientific research shows that aggression often emerges through gene–environment interaction — when biological predispositions combine with stress, trauma, or adverse environments.

Large-scale studies estimate that up to ~50% of variation in aggressive behavior may be linked to genetic factors, with the remainder shaped by life experience.

Understanding aggression requires integrating biology, psychology, and environmental context.

science, genetics, neuroscience, psychology, human behavior, aggression, DNA, brain, biology, education
🔬 Sources

Caspi et al., Science (2002)
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12191908/

Gene–environment interaction
👉 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4865459/

Genetic contribution to aggression (~50%)
👉 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3696520/

Serotonin & aggression (review)
👉 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-021-01257-2

MAOA & reactive aggression
👉 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2650118/