3.1.4 evolution

Question 1

define evolution

Answer 1

The gradual development of different kinds of living organisms, from earlier forms, over time

Question 2

define natural selection

Answer 2

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment are healthier, live longer and reproduce more frequently by passing on their genes (that made them reproductively fit) to their offspring.

often called survival of the fittest

Question 4

define sexual selection

Answer 4

Behaviours which increase reproductive success are passed on to the next generations of offspring

Aggression and mate retention strategies provide an advantage over competitors for reproductive rights because it helps to fend off reproductive rivals

Question 5

Male aggressive retention strategies - Guarding partner

evolution

Answer 5

Restricting partner’s freedom to prevent male gaining access

For example, stopping partner speaking/ interacting with other men

Question 6

Male aggressive retention strategies - Negative inducement (sexual jealousy)

evolution

Answer 6

Prevent female straying so genes are passed on

For example, shouting for looking at another man to discourage this behaviour

Question 7

Evolution and aggression

Answer 7

Mate retention techniques have evolved so males can deter their mate from leaving or cheating because without a mate, the chance of passing on genes is reduced.

Through infidelity (cheating), a male could be deceived into investing resources into someone else’s offspring so male sexual jealousy reduces the liklihood of this.

So these strategies enhance fitness (surviving and passing on genes - natural selection)

Question 8

AO1 of evolution and aggression

Answer 8

In human evolution being able to protect yourself and your partner would
have enhanced survival and reproduction, so would have been inherited
through natural selection.

Guarding beh. (mate retention techniques) prevents a partner from straying
by keeping tabs on where partner is and expressing sexual jelousy through
shouting.

Question 9

supporting evidence of evolution and aggression

Answer 9

P - Supporting evidence

E - Shackelford found a positive correlation between mate retentive behaviours in males and their levels of aggression. Furthermore, females who reported violence against them by their partners also reported they used retentive behaviours like guarding.

T - Valid

Question 10

contradictory evidence of evolution and aggression

Answer 10

P - Contradictory evidence

E: Dabbs supports the hormone theory and found that Testosterone levels (saliva swab) were higher in male prisoners who had been convicted of a violent crime compared to those who had been convicted of a non-violent crime. He Measured testosterone in the saliva of 87 female inmates and found that the degree of criminal violence used by these women, positively correlated with testosterone level

T - Therefore validity of this theory is reduced because the existence of
alternative explanations with supporting scientific evidence mean this
is not a full explanation.

Question 11

application of evolution and aggression

Answer 11

P: A strength of the theory is it has useful application

E: Aggressive/violent behaviour in a relationship can be harmful. We can use the theory to educate people about coercive beh. in relationships, how to spot the signs and how to leave relationships.

T: Thus useful to society because it shows how we can help to reduce the impact of agg. beh. in society.

Question 12

weakness of evolution and aggression

Answer 12

P - Biologically reductionist

E - It reduces aggressive behaviour down to inherited genes suggesting agg is innate, thus ignores environmental factors such as observing agg. role models (SLT)

T - Therefore less valid because it doesn’t consider how multiple factors interact to result in agg. behaviour