Biologicalš§ ā¢ Evolutionary Theory + Studies Flashcards
What is the main issue with the reliability of the evolutionary theory of aggression?
When something is reliable, it usually includes scientific credability/ evidence. The main issue with the entire theory is that we cannot test variation/ evolution as we can hormones as it happened thousands of years ago and is pretty much irrevocable
Why is the theory so difficult to directly prove?
Because we cannot isolate evolution and test it empirically
What does empiricale mean?
To be able to measure/ see something
Why does aggression still exist in modern day humans/ animals?
Because those who would have been more aggressive would have won more fights and had more children, consequently passing on their genes to the next generation, leaving all predecesors of that species to have the inherent aggressive traits, therefore all humans are still aggressive today as its an evolutionary adaptation that helped us to survive in primative ages
Because our body and brains are the same as they were 4000 years ago
How is natural selection a part of the theory?
Natural selection is the process through which the behavioural traits of aggression would have been favoured by the environment and become permanent fixtures of the human species/ a staple characteristic through adaptation/ evolution
Organisms that are best ____________ to their ____________ are ________ likely to survive and pass on their ____________
Organisms that are best adapted to their surroundings are more likely to survive and pass on their genes
What are the 4 main reasons males would have been more aggresive in primal ages?
- to compete with other males to increase social status and ensure reproductive success
- to protect females, reproduce with as many as possible to make sure most likely chances of offspring surviving and continuing genes
- to ensure parental surety, therefore a reason is sexual jealousy
- to protect offspring and aquire resources (food/territory)
What is sexual jealousy? (+ 3 main behaviours of it)
When males are more protective and watchfull of their mates to ensure that they are the only one mating with that female
Main behaviours include:
* hyper-vigilance
* prevention of fratenizing
* verbally deterring interaction with others/ verbal insults/abuse
What is parental surety/ unsurety?
A male being sure/ usnsure that a child is of his production and therefore containing his genes for passing on to the next generation
Why is being percevied as powerful & high status is an advantage?
- Because it deters attacks therefore increased chance of surivival
- Increases sexual reproduction options (to pass on genes)
Why are high status males aggressive?
To keep their status/ control and keep their females/ mates
What does being a high status male mean for mating?
High status males that have survived fights/ display aggression would be more appealing to a female, hence they would want to mate with him - high status males monopolise females
What is the risk involved with being a low status male?
Their is the risk of not producing any offspring as all females would be taken by higher status males/ they wouldnt want to mate with him
What do low status males do in an attempt to increase status and therefore attraction towards mates?
They indulge in high risk stratagies to compete for increased status (stratagies include being much more aggressive/ reckless to attract female attention to show strength/ dominance) - high risk = high reward
What is a study to support aggression in males being due to desire for an increased social status?
Daly & Wilson (1985)
Explain Daly & Wilsonās (1985) study
- Gathered information on all murders in Detroit in the year 1972 NOT THE SAME AS YEAR STUDY WAS CONDUCTED
- 58/214 cases were motivated by sexual jealousy
- They found that both victims and offenders of murders were unemployed and unmarried young men
- In other words: they found that both victims and offenders of murders were ālow statusā and āwithout a mateā
- They concluded that the motive behind most of the conflicts was status - that the young, low status males without a mate were performing high risk actions (murder) to attempt to enhance social status, therefore, being more aggressive to do so
What is a study to support aggression in males being due to sexual jealousy/ gender differences in aggression?
Young (1978)
Explain Youngās (1978) study
- He asked students to describe their likely reactions to a jealousy-inducing scenario (ālikley indicates hypothetical aspect of study)
- Males: exclaimed that they would respond angrily and threaten their rival
- Females: exclaimed that they would most likely cry, pretend not to care and try to increase attractiveness to regain male attention (glowup)
What is the main fault with Youngās (1978) study?
As the students were told of the true nature of the experiment and the answers were completly theoretical from students, the study is therefore open to demand characteristics from the students (they could have attuned their responses to better fit how they feel stereotypicallly they should respond), ultimately leaving the study with low validity
What is parental investment?
The time, energy, and resources that parents provide to their offspring
Why may some males not want to āparentally investā?
Because they do not want to waste their time/ resouce/ energy on raising another males genes
What is a study to support aggression in males being due to sexual jealousy?
Miller (1980)
Explain Millerās (1980) study
- Study conducted on the percentage of deomestic abuse victims that felt that their abuse was on accords of their male partner being jealous
- 55% of domesitc abuse victims cited jealousy as the reason for their husbands behaviour
- Males theorized to have been aggressive on accords of sexual jealousy (seeing their partner fratenizing with other males), reassurement of paternal nature of children (parental surety),
What is the main flaw with Millerās (1980) study?
Again, the results/ statements from the victims/ women were hypothetical, based only on suspicion and fear (therefore decreasing validity of results)
