aggression: evolution Flashcards
define evolution
the change of a species overtime due to inherited characteristics being passed on from generation to generation due to their advantage of aiding survival in a particular environment.
define natural selection
- organisms better adapted to their environment due to genes that aid their survival survive to a reproductive age
- they pass on these genes to their offspring through survival of the fittest
- those who do not have that gene that aids survival in the environment will die
why would aggressve genes be more likely to be passed on to its offspring?
it aids survival by allowing the species to fight for a mate and resources
what are humans competing for and what can this lead to?
- competing for a mate
- can lead to jealousy
what can a woman be certain of that a man cant
that the child is biologically hers
what is the cause of a womans jealousy
- sees mate with another woman
- she will fear that his resources are focused on the other woman and her offspring
- puts her survival and her offsprings survival at risk
where does male jealousy come from
a man not wanting to devote time and resources to another mans child
what makes a male aggressive
if he suspects that a woman is unfaithful
summarise how a males aggression is an evoltionary trait
- Males who used aggression would have been successful in securing and retaining mates
- as they could fight any rivals and prevent their mates from sexual infidelity
- consequently more likely to pass on their genes
why is limited resources a cause for aggression?
fighting over resources such as food, those who successfully defend would survive and live longer to a reproductive age, aggressive gene is passed on to offspring
why is being seen as stronger a cause for aggression
- aggression=being seen as stronger
- more likely to survive as would not be attacked due to their position
- allows them to survive and reproduce these behaviours
- supporting evidendce PEE
L
a strength of this explanation is the supporting evidence from Lorenz (1963), whose research found that many species mark off their territory more when food supplies are reduced. this supports the idea of aggression as an innate response to protect offspring ensuring survival.
criticism of research
- low generalisability
- used animals in research
- humans more complex and so more factors play into aggression
weakness of theory
- deterministic
- fails to consider the role of free will by assuming that all behaviours are innate
- this is unlikely as humans have choices over our behaviours
supporting evidence for evolution and reproduction (PEECA)
a strength of this theory is research from buss 1989, who conducted a cross cultural study to show that men and women in many cultures follow the pattern of behaviour predicted by evolution. buss found that in 36/37 cultures, males valued phsyical attractiveness as most important, whereas females valued good financial prospects more. in all cultures, females preferred older males, whereas males preferred younger females. this supports the theory that a female will compete for a male to ensure the survival of her offspring by favouring those with enough resources to ensure her survival is not at risk. however, the theory lacks credibility as buss found significant cultural differences on some measures- as sex differences in mate preference varied between western and non-western cultures, and so the theory has significant limitations as it largely discounts cultural differences, making it reductionist.
