Aggression-Ethological explanation

Question 1

Define ethology

Answer 1

ethology is studying animal behaviour in natural settings
the main element is that aggression is instinctual

Question 2

how can the study of animals help understand human aggression

Answer 2

the study of animals helps to define aggression and understand other behaviours such as reproduction and threats

Question 3

define ‘Innate Releasing Mechanisms’ IRM

Answer 3

Innate Releasing Mechanisms is a built in physiological process

Question 4

what triggers IRM

Answer 4

an environmental stimulus triggers IRM which then releases a specific sequence of behaviours called a FAP
(a Fixed Action Pattern)

Question 5

define what a fixed action pattern (FAP) is

Answer 5

Fixed action pattern:
is a sequence of pre-programmed behaviours prompted by an innate releasing mechanism

Question 6

who is the researcher that investigated and suggested the 5 features that occur in Fixed Action Patterns
list the 5 Features did they suggested for FAP’s

Answer 6

Lea (1951)
suggested 5 features
1. stereotyped- behaviour occurred in the same way
2.Universal- behaviour was the same in all conspecific’s
3. Independent of individual experience- this means that innate behaviour with no learning involved
4. Ballistic- once triggered, the FAP cannot be stopped
5. Specific triggers- Each FAP has a specific trigger

Question 7

name the key researcher for ethology
what animal did he investigate on

Answer 7

Tinbergen (1951)
used male stickleback fish

Question 8

what was Tuinbergen’s aim and procedure

Answer 8

Tinbergen’s aim was to provide research evidence for IRM and FAP (Innate releasing mechanisms and Fixed Action Pattern)

procedure- alive stickleback fish were presented with not real objects which looked like thier species, 2 had red bellies and one did not

Question 9

what were the findings to Tinbergen’s research on stickleback fish

Answer 9

The fish attacked the 2 fish which had a red underbelly and not the silverfish object with no red belly

Question 10

what are the conclusions for the Tinbergen research

Answer 10

In this species, the environmental stimulus that leads to the release of the IRM, is due to the red belly
which causing the process of attacking because of the FAP

Question 11

In ritualistic aggression

define what a ritual is
give an example of a ritual using an animal - G

Answer 11

A ritual is is showing aggression in a form of a tradition in order to assert dominance
A gorilla’s ritual is banging their chests with their fists

Question 12

who did research on ritual aggression

Answer 12

Lorenz (1952)- claimed that species also have instinctive Inhibitions (stoppers) to prevent them being too aggressive to their own species

Question 13

explain the hydraulic model

Answer 13

• each Fixed Action Pattern, has a reservoir of energy called hydraulic fluid
• As this builds up, it places pressure on the piston, which gets pulled by external factors
• The FAP is triggered when this pressure and pulling exceeds a point

Question 14

a strength of the ethological explanation

Answer 14

P- research support, Tinbergen 1951
increasing external validity
E- It demonstrates the instinctive response that is universal, because all real fish acted the same to a specific environmental trigger (other object red belly fish)
E- stimulus= red belly
triggers= IRM
stimulates FAP= repeatedly swimming at belly (attacking)

L- Therefore showing a real example of this biological process
however, cant be generalised, which reduces its validity

Question 15

another strength of the ethological explanation

Answer 15

P- benefits to ritualised aggression is that it prevents conflicts from escalating , which is demonstrated by non-human species
E- For example, silverback Gorilla’s use this. However, there has been human research by Changnon 1992 - tribe in south America have club fighting contests and do chest pounding
E- Bc they are bale to settle conflicts through this before it gets into extreme violence
L- pos effect in high violent cultures, to reduce aggression, to prevent injury

Question 16

a weakness of the ethological explanation

Answer 16

P- Lorenz’s research is seen as reductionist
E- eg. Lehrman critised it as it under-estimated the role of environmental factors when discovering patterns in behaviour.
E- Lehrman believes that FAP now is being replaced with’ behaviour pattern’ as its no longer all innate, as experiences have shown to influence it
L- This is evidence against Lorenz’s claims, as there are small variations within same species, reinforcing lorenz’s research being reductionist

Question 17

another weakness of the ethology explanations

Answer 17

P- lacks generalisability towards humans, reducing it’s validity
E- eg. lack of evidence to imply humans have instinctive aggression
E- due to changing environment, which makes behaviour more flexible, which is more effective in adapting and responding to different environments, and a FAP would restrict us as humans
L- This suggests that even though non human species respond in a fixed way to a stimuli, therefore makes it not generalisable to humans as they are less predictable