Aggression- evolutionary explanations of

Question 1

what is believed from an evolutionary perspective

Answer 1

Humans are more likely to survive if they have access to resources, defend them, gain a mate and protect family
aggressive behaviour has evolved to support these goals

Question 2

list the 3 functions of aggression

Answer 2

1. Fittest and strongest are ensure to be selected
2. ensure the survival of young offspring
3. help distribute genes evenly across a population so a species is balanced out

Question 3

what is the main belief of evolutionary explanations

Answer 3

main belief is that aggression in humans is because of sexual competition

Question 4

name the research who found what males and females prefer in a mate

Answer 4

Buss (1989)- studied 39 cultures
found that
women- look for qualities of ‘resource potential’
men- look for fecundity (ability to produce lots of offspring)

Question 5

Explain what men need to adapt and do to succeed in their genes being passed on
what is a way of beating competition

Answer 5

men need to be assertive and aggressive, to protect territory and productive hunting

the ability to eliminate competition successfully is through aggression, as this showed to be successful in order to secure a mate and transmit their genes to offspring

Question 6

in what year did Buss suggest that not all aggression in humans involves males
what does this tell us about the development of aggression in females

Answer 6

women exhibit verbal aggression, to reduce the attraction of their female competitors, which evolved into an advantage for females who name-called

Question 7

name the 2 things that fuels aggression in humans, which affects survival

Answer 7

1. Infidelity (being unfaithful to spouse)
2. jealousy

Question 8

how can males use infidelity as an advantage

Answer 8

advantage of infidelity is an increased success in reproduction

Question 9

how can females use infidelity an an advantage

Answer 9

advantage of infidelity is access to resources, protection and genetic diversification

Question 10

but what are the threats that males anf females risk from happening if they commit infidelity

Answer 10

male run the risk of being with an unfaithful mate, and resourcing for offspring which arent their’s
female- run the risk of being with an unfaithful mate which diverts their resources from your offspring

Question 11

list the 3 jealousy strategies to prevent infidelity

Answer 11

1. Mate guarding
   2.Male vigilance over a mates behaviour
2. punishment and threats

Question 12

Name the researchers who found
‘direct guarding’ and ‘negative inducements’

Answer 12

Wilson and Daly (1996)
Direct guarding is physically restraining freedom
negative inducement is letting them know the potential consequences if they leave

Question 13

what are the two types of infidelity

Answer 13

sexual and emotional

Question 14

what did Brunt et al suggest was different in male and females development of aggression

Answer 14

Brunt et al suggested that:
males- anger and aggression is based on suspicion of their wife’s sexual infidelity
females- aggression stems from a lack of emotional support

Question 15

strength for evolutionary explanations

Answer 15

P- research support
E- eg. Buss et al
m and w look for diff qualities in a potential mate
E- implys males need to be more aggressive and assertive to keep away rivals, to know their genes will be passed on
L- this means that the different qualities will shape each behaviour

Question 16

2nd eval of evolutionary explanations

Answer 16

P- However, this theory accounts for all gender differences in aggression levels
E- eg. Semtana 1989- found parents punish boys physically and then explain to a females why their actions were wrong
E- Suggesting that a product of diff socialisation experiences shapes aggressive behaviours differently in m and f
L- But this casts doubt on that aggression is evolved suggesting that it is due to the environment

Question 17

strength for evolutionary explanations

Answer 17

P- another strength is that is has real life application, with research support
E- eg. Miller 1980 found that domestic violence occurred to 44 battered wives, and the reasoning was due to 55% of the males citied jealousy which caused the aggression
E- suggesting that rivals trigger aggressive behaviour
L- therefore, suggesting that aggression was evolved in order for their genes to be passed on

Question 18

4th eval para for evolutionary explanations

Answer 18

P- In addition, aggressive behaviour may be always be adaptive as suggested in this evolutionary explanations
E- eg. violent males may be rejected as mates and warriors may die in battles
E- Providing a disadvantage to aggression as they may not be able to pass on their genes
L- This implys that evolutionary explanations are reductionist as it doesn’t address this issue.