Aggression Flashcards
What is ethology?
The study of animal behaviour in a natural setting
Who founded ethology?
Lorenz
Lorenz argues _____ species aggression is ____________
intra
Adaptive i.e. we have evolved with it because it is necessary for our survival
What were Lorenz’s theories?
Hierarchy
Territory
Aggression is useful as it creates & maintains _____________ hierarchies
dominance
What is the benefit for those at the top of the dominance hierarchy?
Those at the top of the hierarchy have greater access to mates & resources
Aggression is beneficial in spreading a species’ territory because…..
losers of aggression are rarely killed but are forced in to new territory = more resources and the species grows
What is a ritual?
a series of behaviours carried out in a set order
Lorenz noted that most intra-species aggression didn’t lead to much physical damage but consisted mostly of…….
ritualistic displays of aggression e.g. dogs bare their teeth
What do ritualistic displays of aggression often end in?
Appeasement displays of surrender
Why is ritualistic aggression that doesn’t end in death adaptive?
It leads to the continuation of the species (1) not killing each other (2) new territory being found
What are innate releasing mechanisms?
Internal, physiological processes that detect stimuli and release/ trigger behaviour sequences (FAP’s)
What are the 6 features of FAP’s?
- stereotyped (unchanging)
- universal (same in all members of a species)
- ballistic (once triggered completion is inevitable)
- single purpose (situation specific)
- in response to a specific sign/ stimulus
- unaffected by learning (based on innate instinct)
What was Tinbergen’s procedure?
Tinbergen took male sticklebacks in mating season and presented them with plastic models of various shapes with red underbelly’s (the red is the specific sign stimulus that triggers the IRM) -
What did Tinbergen find?
He found when presenting the stickleback’s with the red bellied models the stickleback responded with the same aggressive behaviour every time (FAP’s) - when a realistic model without a red underbelly was shown no FAP was produced
What happens to male sticklebacks during mating season?
Male sticklebacks create nests, guard eggs, become territorial and develop red underbellies
What is a strength of the ethological explanation of aggression?
Genetic research support - studies into human aggression support the ethological approach e.g. Rhee & Waldman’s adoption studies
What are three limitations of the ethological explanation?
cultural differences - type of aggression varies by culture - reactive homicides are more common in southern American states than northern because southern states have more of a culture of honour - not innate learned by culture - incomplete
Lorenz didn’t account for non ritualistic aggression - Jane Goodall noticed that in a pack of chimps a smaller group broke away which initiated a 4yr war and the bigger group killed the smaller group - not always beneficial
FAP’s as reductionist (too simplistic) - unlikely all members of a species respond the same way to a specific stimulus - research has found otherwise and has also suggested with learning FAP’s can be changed - can’t be applied to human aggression as animals more so move in packs
Who is sexual jealousy more common in?
More common in men = motivation for aggression
Why is aggression adaptive for men?
It can prevent women from infidelity & reduce their risk of cuckoldry
What two fears fuel sexual jealousy?
- Paternity uncertainty (men can never be 100% sure the child is theirs)
- Cuckoldry (infidelity)
Who defined mate retention strategies?
Wilson & Daly
What are the two mate retention strategies proposed by Wilson & Daly?
- Direct guarding
- Negative inducements
What is direct guarding?
Male vigilance over their partners behaviours e.g. checking their phones, consistently checking their whereabouts etc
What are negative inducements?
threats of consequences for infidelity or abandonment e.g. guilt tripping (threatening self harm)
What can mate retention strategies act as a precursor for?
physical violence (domestic)
Wilson asked women about their partners mate retention strategies - found a link between those who reported strategies and experience of domestic violence
What is the definition of bullying?
A more powerful person uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person
How is bullying adaptive for men?
Bullies tend to be at the top of dominance hierarchies = boosted attractiveness & so more access to mates and resources
Why is a man being at the top of the dominance hierarchy attractive to women?
An attractive quality to women as it means safety and resources for offspring
How can bullying be adaptive for women?
Bullying in relationships secures fidelity and resources for offspring
Why is physical aggression maladaptive for women?
It puts the survival of them & their offspring at risk
What are strengths of the evolutionary explanation of aggression?
Gender differences - evolutionary explanations explains why there are differences in male & female aggression as physical aggression is maladaptive for women as it risks her and her offspring’s survival - boosts validity
Real world application - sexual jealousy - mate retention strategies are reliable precursors of domestic violence - improving knowledge of these could reduce domestic violence - effective/necessary
Real world application - bullying - if we know that children bully for status we can impose harsher sanctions and greater rewards for pro social behaviours - rather than associating aggression with rewards the children will begin to associate it with a loss of status/punishment & are discouraged from engaging in future aggression - effective
What are limitations of the evolutionary explanation of aggression?
Cultural differences - levels of aggression differ culturally - if aggression is adaptive (as this expl argues) the features should be universal and consistent - !Kungsan tribe in Botswana where aggression is frowned upon and discouraged from a young age i.e. displays of aggression decrease & diminish status - this suggests aggression is learned not innate - incomplete explanation - lowers validity
Biological determinism - if we blame domestic violence on evolution we are not accounting for choice or free will as well as learning - not conducive with our legal system as it diminishes responsibility of the aggressor providing them an excuse for their behaviour
What is direct reinforcement?
When we behave aggressively and it is successful
What is indirect reinforcement?
When we see others behave aggressively and it is successful
What is vicarious punishment?
When we see others behave aggressively and it is unsuccessful
What is self efficacy?
Our confidence that our aggression will be successful
Bandura studied _________ learning of aggression in his _____ doll studies
indirect
Bobo
Outline Bandura’s Bobo doll study into modelling (1961)
3x groups of 24 kids
G1) model displays aggressive behaviour with BD
G2) model displays non aggressive behaviour with BD
G3) no model = control group
What group was most aggressive in Bandura’s bobo doll study? (Modelling)
G1) model displays aggressive behaviours with BD - most aggressive group
Outline Bandura’s Bobo doll study into vicarious reinforcement (1963)
3x groups of 24 kids
G1) aggressive displays with BD and rewarded
G2) aggressive displays with BD and punished
G3) aggressive adult model (control)
What group was most aggressive in Bandura’s bobo doll study? (Vicarious reinforcement)
G1) aggressive displays with BD and rewarded = most aggressive to BD
What are two strengths of Bandura’s bobo doll studies into aggression?
Research support - Poulin & Bolivian - aggressive boys befriend each other and mutually reinforce each others proactive (planned) aggression - leads to increased self efficacy as a result of continued direct reinforcement - increases validity of SLT explanation for aggression
Practical application - limiting children’s access to aggressive media e.g. the watershed to decrease vicarious reinforcement and in turn aggression levels in children - useful in the real world
What are two limitations of Bandura’s bobo doll study into aggression?
Counter evidence to Poulin & Boivin - the idea that aggressive boys befriend each other and mutually reinforce each others proactive aggression can’t be applied to/isn’t true for reactive aggression - limited scope of explanation for the most common type of aggression - diminishes validity of social psychological explanation for aggression
Underestimates nature - in Bandura’s studies boys overall used more physical aggression than girls in all conditions - suggests boys have an innate biological drive to behave aggressively which the study doesn’t consider - incomplete theory - diminishes validity of findings
Who proposed the frustration aggression hypothesis?
Dollard
What is the frustration aggression hypothesis?
The idea that frustration always leads to aggression is always the result of frustration
The frustration aggression hypothesis states frustration is a ____________ drive
Biological
According to the frustration aggression hypothesis how do we fix/solve frustration ?
We fix it by being aggressive
According to the frustration aggression hypothesis the act of using aggression to solve frustration is….
cathartic