Aggression - Ethological explanations

Question 1

What are 5 points to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Explain aggression Is adaptive to reduce competition

to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 2

reduce competition as defeated animal is rarely killed but instead forced into territory elsewhere,reducing competition pressure

Question 3

Explain aggression Is adaptive to establish dominance

to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 3

such as a male chimpanzees dominance gives him special status , including mating rights over females

Question 4

Who looked at aggression Is adaptive to establish dominance

to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 4

Pettit et al (1988)

Question 5

What did Pettit et al (1988) do and find

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Explain much aggression is ritualistic

to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Explain IRM is triggered by an environmental stimulus

to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What does IRM stand for

Answer 8

innate releasing mechanism

Question 9

Who looked at much aggression is ritualistic to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 9

Lorenz (1966)

Question 10

What did Lorenz (1966) do and find

Answer 10

observed most intra-species aggression mainly ritualistic signalling e.g. displaying teeth and early became physical

Question 11

explain using a study how FAP is ritualistic, universal and ballistic to describe the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

What is FAP

Answer 12

a fixed action pattern which is a pattern of behaviours triggered by IRM

Question 13

What is the key study in the ethological explanation of aggression

Answer 13

Tinbergen (1951)

Question 14

What was Tinbergen (1951) study on

Answer 14

Male stickleback and aggression

Question 15

What was Tinbergen (1951) procedure

Answer 15

Presented male sticklebacks with with a series of wooden models of different shapes

Question 16

What did Tinbergen (1951) find

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Explain why in Tinbergen (1951) study they attacked red blocks

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Give a strength of the ethological explanation

Answer 18

There is some supporting research evidence by Brunner et al (1993) and evidence for IRMs

Question 19

Why does Brunner support the ethological explanation

Answer 19

he showed the MAOA-L variant is closely associated with aggressive behaviour in humans suggesting an innate biological basis

Question 20

What is the evidence which supports IRMs in aggression as a strength of the ethological explanation

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What are three limitations of the ethological explanation

Answer 21

evidence against ritualistic aggression

cultural differences in aggressive behaviour

evidence that FAPs are not that fixed

Question 22

explain the evidence against ritualistic aggression as a limitations of the ethological explanation

Answer 22

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

Question 23

explain the cultural differences in aggressive behaviour as a limitation of the ethological explanation

Answer 23

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

Question 24

explain evidence that FAPs are not that fixed as a limitation of the ethological explanation

Answer 24

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