Ethological explanations of aggression Flashcards

1
Q

How is aggression adaptive

A

Beneficial to survival as defeated animal has to find other territory
=species have to spread out/find resources in new place
= - competition pressure/possibility of starvation

-Also to establish dominance hierarchies (e.g male chimpanzees)

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2
Q

Study of humans establishing dominance

A

Pettit et al (1988) Studied young children and observed how aggression made dominance hierarchies

=Adaptive as dominance brings benefits e.g access to resources

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3
Q

Lorenz theory of ritualistic aggression

A

Intra-species fights ended in little damage
-Aggression was prolonged ritualistic signalling (e.g flashing teeth)
-Ended in ritual appeasement displays

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4
Q

What are ritual appeasement displays

A

Submission- indicate acceptance of defeat/prevent further aggressive behaviour

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5
Q

Example of ritual appeasement displays

A

Wolf exposes its neck to victor

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6
Q

Why does intra-species aggression result in little damage

A

If every aggressive encounter ended with death it could threaten the existence of the species

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7
Q

What is an innate releasing mechanism (IRM)

A

Inbuilt physiological process or structure

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8
Q

What is an Fixed action pattern (FAP)

A

Specific sequence of behaviour released when IRM triggered by environmental stimulus

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9
Q

What are the six main features of FAPS according to Stephen Lea

A

Stereotyped
Universal
Unaffected fed by learning
Ballistic
Single-purpose
Response

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10
Q

What does FAPS being ballistic mean

A

One behaviour triggered it follows inevitable course and can’t alter

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11
Q

What does FAPS being stereotyped mean

A

Relatively unchanging

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12
Q

What does FAPS being single purpose mean

A

Only occurs in a specific situation

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13
Q

Tinbergen’s research into FAPS procedure

A

Presented sticklebacks with a series of wooden models of different shapes

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14
Q

What is the sign stimulus for male sticklebacks in mating season

A

Red spot on underbelly= aggressive FAP

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15
Q

Findings of Tinbergen’s research

A

-Regardless of shape males would attack model with red dot

-No red dot= no attack

-FAP always ran it’s course without further stimulus

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16
Q

Who researched FAPS in male sticklebacks

A

Niko Tinbergen (1951)

17
Q

Weakness of ethological explanation

A

Same species aggression not always ritualistic
-e.g Goodall 4 year war= male chimps killed each other even when appeasement signals

This challenges the ethological view that same-species aggression has evolved into self-limiting/harmless ritual

18
Q

Weakness 2

A

Lorenz’s original View of FAPS outdated
-e.g said innate/unchanging but Morton Hunt found influenced environment/experience so more like “model behaviour pattern”

=FAPS much more flexible than Lorenz thought