Animal Models of Human Aggression

Abstract

Much of our present understanding of human biology has been acquired directly from animal experiments. Animal research has strongly enhanced our understanding of neurochemical, neuroendocrine, and genetic factors in normal and pathological functioning of human beings. However, the role of animal research in the study of human behavior and psychiatry is still controversial, despite the frequent use of animal experimentation in the predinical screening of psychoactive substances. This controversy is mainly owing to an overemphasis of the direct clinical relevance of animal models. It is necessary, therefore, to discuss the rationale of animal models and their limitations first, before embarking on a detailed description of animal models on human aggressive behavior. The evaluation of the usefulness of animal models of aggression needs to be closely linked to the major purpose of developing the model. In a description of the use of animal models in the study of human affective disorders, McKinney (1989) discusses four categories of animal models:

• 1. Behavioral similarity models: models developed to simulate a specific sign or symptom of the human disorder;

• 2. Theory-driven models: models developed to evaluate etiological theories of human psychopathology;

• 3. Mechanistic models: models developed with the primary purpose of studying underlying mechanisms; and

• 4. Empirical validity models: models developed to permit preclinical evaluation of treatment methods.