Aggression L5 Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

What do Evolutionary Explanations focus on and how is this linked to Aggression?

Answer 1

• Focuses on the change in species over time based on natural selection where the behaviours that enhance survival and increase successful reproduction are passed on to generations
• Aggression is seen as a behaviour that aids survival and reproduction and therefore has been passed on through generations

Question 2

What is Sexual Jealousy as an explanation for Aggression?

Answer 2

• Explains aggression in males through an evolutionary perspective, men can never be sure about whether they are the father of their child
• This paternity uncertainty is a result of the fear of cuckoldry, raising another mans child, any investment in a offspring who does not have the males genes is seen as a waste of time
• Men in the past who avoid cuckoldry were more reproductively successful, therefore aggressive strategies have developed to keep their partners from straying, adapted in our evolutionary past

Question 3

What are the retention strategies used by males?

Answer 3

• Direct Guarding, male being vigilant over their partners behaviour, for example, checking where they have been and who they were with
• Negative Inducements, issuing threats for infidelity
• Physical Violence, using this as a means to keep their partner under control and not straying from them

Question 4

What are Evolutionary Explanations of Bullying?

Answer 4

• Occurs due to a power imbalance where a person uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person
• Evolutionary ancestors used bullying to increase their chance of survival by promoting their own health and increasing reproduction

Question 5

Male Bullying?

Answer 5

• Characteristics associated with bullying are attractive to females, dominance, acquisition of resources and strength
• Also fight off potential rivals, allowing them greater reproductive success
• Bullies are also seen as ‘tough’ and no one challenges them, making them have a higher survivability

Question 6

Female Bullying?

Answer 6

• Occurs within a relationship, prevents the partner from infidelity and means they continue to provide resources for future offspring
• This behaviour is naturally selected as it provides reproductive success

Question 7

What is Aggression in Warfare as an Evolutionary Explanation for Aggression?

Answer 7

• Evolutionary perspective states that human warfare originated for valuable resources but also to attract mates and forge intragroup bonds
• Displays of aggressiveness and bravery were seen as attractive to females, successful male warriors often had lots of sexual partners and more children
• This shows how Aggression in warfare not only increase survivability but also the reproductive success of individuals

Question 8

What are Strengths of Evolutionary Explanations for Human Aggression? (2)

Answer 8

• Explains Gender Differences
• Has real life application

Question 9

Explains Gender Differences (+)

Answer 9

• Can be argued Evolutionary Explanations explain gender differences through the idea of adaptive strategies
• It is not adaptive for a female for example to be physically aggressive as it puts her and her child at risk, being maladaptive to reproductive success
• Therefore it is more adaptive for the female to be verbally aggressive and for a male to be physically aggressive

Question 10

Has real life application (+)

Answer 10

• One strategy used is to question why a bully do what they do and what they feel they are lacking in, bullies also tend to think it is adaptive as it gives them more benefit than cost
• This leads to better anti-bullying strategies, e.g showing them that not bullying is more adaptive, and being prosocial is better
• They could also receive more roles in school to command respect from other students but not from fear, battling the idea that bullying is adaptive

Question 11

What are Weaknesses of Evolutionary Explanations for Human Aggression? (2)

Answer 11

• Does not explain cultural differences
• Biological Determinism

Question 12

Does not explain cultural differences (-)

Answer 12

• The Kung San people of Western Botswana in Africa were deemed ‘harmless people’ as they look down on aggression
• They had a negative attitude to aggression and anyone who showed aggression lost respect in the community, showing how cultural and social norms are more powerful in shaping aggression rather than evolution

Question 13

Biological Determinism (-)

Answer 13

• Assumes that aggression is inevitable and not our fault
• It implies that due to our ancestors using it and it being passed on male violence towards women is allowed and not a result of their own free will because it is in their biology
• This would not hold up in the court of law, we are legally responsible for all our actions