Aggression - Ethological explanations Flashcards
What are 5 points to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
Aggression Is adaptive to reduce competition
establish dominance
much aggression is ritualistic
IRM is triggered by an environmental stimulus
FAP is ritualistic, universal and ballistic
Explain aggression Is adaptive to reduce competition
to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
reduce competition as defeated animal is rarely killed but instead forced into territory elsewhere,reducing competition pressure
Explain aggression Is adaptive to establish dominance
to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
such as a male chimpanzees dominance gives him special status , including mating rights over females
Who looked at aggression Is adaptive to establish dominance
to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
Pettit et al (1988)
What did Pettit et al (1988) do and find
observed how aggression in playgroups played an important role in how some children became dominant over others which is adaptive because dominance over others brings benefits
Explain much aggression is ritualistic
to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
Intra- species aggression usually ends with an appeasement display which indicates acceptance of defeat and inhibits aggression in the winner this is adaptive as every aggressive encounter ending with death of an individual could threaten the existence of the species
Explain IRM is triggered by an environmental stimulus
to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
an IRM is built-in psychological process
(network of neurons ) which acts as a filter to identify threatening stimuli - an enviro stimulus activates the IRM and triggers a fixed action pattern
What does IRM stand for
innate releasing mechanism
Who looked at much aggression is ritualistic to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
Lorenz (1966)
What did Lorenz (1966) do and find
observed most intra-species aggression mainly ritualistic signalling e.g. displaying teeth and early became physical
explain using a study how FAP is ritualistic, universal and ballistic to describe the ethological explanation of aggression
Lea (1984) argues FAP is relatively unchanging behavioural sequence (ritualistic) fund in every individual of a species ( universal) and follows an inevitable course which cannot be alters before it is complete (ballistic)
What is FAP
a fixed action pattern which is a pattern of behaviours triggered by IRM
What is the key study in the ethological explanation of aggression
Tinbergen (1951)
What was Tinbergen (1951) study on
Male stickleback and aggression
What was Tinbergen (1951) procedure
Presented male sticklebacks with with a series of wooden models of different shapes
What did Tinbergen (1951) find
if the model had a red underside the stickleback would aggressively display and attack it but if not they didn’t
Also the aggressive FAP did not chance from one encounter to another so once triggered it always ran its course to completion without any further stimulus
Explain why in Tinbergen (1951) study they attacked red blocks
another male entering a sticklebacks territory in the mating season initiates a sequence of aggressive behaviours (FAP) - red on the competing males underbelly is the stimulus that triggers the IRM that in tern leads to the aggressive FAP
Give a strength of the ethological explanation
There is some supporting research evidence by Brunner et al (1993) and evidence for IRMs
Why does Brunner support the ethological explanation
he showed the MAOA-L variant is closely associated with aggressive behaviour in humans suggesting an innate biological basis
What is the evidence which supports IRMs in aggression as a strength of the ethological explanation
there is evidence for IRMs for aggression in the brain as activity in the limbic system especially the amygdala triggers aggressive behaviour in humans and other animals
What are three limitations of the ethological explanation
evidence against ritualistic aggression
cultural differences in aggressive behaviour
evidence that FAPs are not that fixed
explain the evidence against ritualistic aggression as a limitations of the ethological explanation
Goodall (2010) observes male chimps from 1 community kill members of another group in a coordinated and premeditated fashion this happened despite the victims offering signals of appeasement and defencelessness which did not inhibit the aggression of the attacking chimps like the explanation said it would so it challenge the explanation that aggression has evolved into a self-limiting and relatively physically harmless ritual
explain the cultural differences in aggressive behaviour as a limitation of the ethological explanation
Nisbett et al (1996) found when southern US white males were insulted in a research situation more likely than northerners to become aggressive.
only true for reactive influences tiggered by arguments so he concluded the difference was cause by culture of honour - impulsive aggression was learned as a social norm in the south however as the ethological explanation says aggression is innate it is hard for it to explain how culture can override innate influences
explain evidence that FAPs are not that fixed as a limitation of the ethological explanation
Hunt 1973 points out that sequences that appear to be fixed and unchanging are greatly influenced by environmental factors and learning experiences. This means FAPs are more flexible than implied by the term fixed. Suggesting aggressive behaviours are affected by environmental influences challenging the validity of the ethological explanation
