Ethological Explanation of Aggression

Question 1

what is meant by ethology

Answer 1

ethology is the study of animal behaviour patterns in natural settings

ethnologists such as Konrad Lorenz recognised that, while the potential for aggression may be innate, actual aggressive behaviour is elicited by specific stimuli in the environment

Question 2

outline the ethological explanation of aggression
- introduction

Answer 2

the ethological explanation suggests that the main function of aggression is adaptive (good for survival).

this is because it allows individuals to become dominant over others, giving them access to resources (such as mates and territory)

Question 3

outline the ethological explanation of aggression
- Lorenz

Answer 3

lorenz argued that fights between animals of the same species rarely result in physical damage and that most aggressive encounters consist of ritual signals and signs (eg displaying teeth/chest pounding).

this allows individuals to access their relative strength without the need for excessive harm being caused which would be damaging for the species as a whole.

ethologists such as lorenz argue that all members of the same species have a repertoire of stereotyped behaviours which occur in response to specific triggers which don’t require learning.

Question 4

outline the ethological explanation of aggression
- process

Answer 4

Niki Tinbergen called these innate behaviours ‘fixed action patterns’

FAPs are produces by an innate releasing mechanism - a built in physiological process linked to a network of neurons in the brain.

IRMs are triggered by a very specific stimulus known as a sign stimulus- an environmental factor such as a facial expression, which may be seen as a threat.

when stimulated by the presence of a sign stimulus, the IRM communicates with motor control circuits to ‘release’ the FAP associated with that stimulus.

this is a specific sequence of behaviours.

eg: male stickleback fish during the mating season develop a red spot on their underbelly. if another male enters their territory, seeing their red spot (SS) causes their IRM to initiate a sequence of highly stereotypes aggressive behaviours (FAP) to reduce the chance of eggs laid in nesting territory being fertilised by another male.

Question 5

outline the ethological explanation of aggression
- features of FAP

Answer 5

Lea (1984)

stereotyped (always occur in the same way)

universal (found in every member of a species)

unaffected by learning (innate and the same for every individual regardless of experience)

ballistic (only occur in a specific situation and not in any other)

specific triggers (each FAP has a specific trigger/SS)

Question 6

evaluate the ethological explanation of aggression
- STRENGTHS

Answer 6

P) support from Tinbergen (1951)
E) male sticklebacks presented with a series of models, would attack in the same way regardless of shape if they had a red spot, even if realistic
E) supports that members of the same species to have an IRM that is triggered by a SS
L) supports Leas 6 features of FAP eg unchanging and and always ran course to completion

Question 7

evaluate the ethological explanation of aggression
- LIMITATIONS

Answer 7

P) not generalisable to humans
E) Lorenz and Tinbergen tried to generalise FAPs observed in non-human animals to humans; fails to acknowledge the flexibility of modern human behaviour
E) our ever changing environment has meant that the ability to adapt our behaviour has proved more effective than the production of stereotypical “fixed” patterns of behaviour
L) EE may be limited to certain species and may not explain the more complex and less predictable ways humans show aggression

P) ignore the role of culture in human aggression
E) Nisbett (1993) found north-south divide in USA for homicide rates: more common in white males un south (particularly for reactive aggression triggered by arguments)
E) difference caused by culture of honour as a learned social norm
L) against the view that aggression is universal in humans and unaffected by learning as it appears culture can override innate influences

P) criticism that behaviour patterns of a species are “fixed”
E) Hunt (1973): lorenz underestimated role of environment in developing behaviour patterns and that learning/experience interacts with innate factors to produce subtle variations in behaviour
E) members in same species differ un duration of each behaviour, and even un same animal from one encounter to another
L) change FAP to behaviour patterns: can be modified by experience

P) criticism that members of the same species use FAPs to avoid causing unnecessary physical harm
E) male lions kill off cubs of other males
E) male chimpanzees routinely kill members if another group
L) question how much animal aggression is ritualistic rather than real