Aggression: Evolutionary Explanation

Question 1

Give a key assumption of the evolutionary explanation of aggression

Answer 1

people are aggressive because aggression is innate and was adaptive for our ancestors

Question 2

Aggressive behaviour is useful for…

(give 4 points)

Answer 2

-acquiring/defending resources to ensure survival
-to increase status/dominance
-ensures access to mates for reproductive success
-ensures survival of genes that can be passed on to future generations

Question 3

Referring to aggression in relationships , what is aggression aimed at ?

Define infidelity

Answer 3

deterring a partner from being unfaithful

infidelity-being unfaithful to your partner

Question 4

Define jealousy

What kind of emotional response is jealousy , what does it do and what can this lead to?

Answer 4

an emotion experienced when a relationship is threatened by a real or imagined rival

jealousy is an adaptive response that decreases the likelihood of a partner committing infidelity

this may lead to aggression against a partner

Question 5

What did Buss 1992 find?

make 3 points

Answer 5

that men fear sexual infidelity more than emotional infidelity due to a risk of paternal uncertainty

-this could lead to cuckolding which means investing parental effort/resources into another mans offspring so they have to ensure their partner is faithful

this may lead to aggression

Question 6

How does physical aggression prevent a mate from being unfaithful?

Name the strategies used to prevent other males gaining access to a female
Give 2 examples of these strategies

Answer 6

because it induces fear

aggressive mate retention strategies
-direct guarding(checking behaviour)
-negative inducements(threats)

Question 7

What kind of infidelity to women fear more?

make 2 points explaining this

Do women always use physical aggression ?

Answer 7

emotional infidelity

because this means the man may not be so committed to them
in our evolutionary past women needed a man to help them raise their child

no

Question 8

Give 2 strengths of the evolutionary explanation for aggression

Answer 8

+supporting evidence from Sadalla et al 1987
women were shown films of 2 males interacting , they were more sexually attracted to male showing dominant/aggressive behaviour which shows aggression can increase chances of reproductive success

+practical applications
Clares Law has been introduced which is intended to provide info that could protect someone from being a victim of attack
this shows that the explanation of aggression in relationships can be applied to real life scenarios

Question 9

Give 2 weaknesses of the evolutionary explanation for aggression

Answer 9

-cultural differences in violence by men against their partners
the Yanomamo tribe in South America show high levels of aggression but Aka tribe in Africa show low levels
-if aggression gained an evolutionary advantage like the explanation suggests then the rates would be globally consistent , this suggests the explanation may be invalid

-doesn’t consider other explanations such as the SLT that suggests an environmental cause rather than an evolutionary one
this suggests the evolutionary explanation may be incomplete

Question 10

Give a final weakness of the evolutionary explanation for aggression

Answer 10

-its speculative , as ideas can’t be scientifically tested and relies on observation of modern behaviour , this suggests the explanation may be correct but there is a lack of empirical evidence to support the explanation

Question 11

Discuss one issue and debate regarding the evolutionary explanation of aggression

Answer 11

its deterministic as it suggests aggression in partnerships is beyond a persons control which has consequences for the legal system and society , this also makes research into the area socially sensitive