ethological explanations of aggression

Question 1

ethological explanation

Answer 1

• all individuals of same species , have set of instinctive behaviours, that are consistent and universal with that species

Question 2

ritualistic aggression

Answer 2

• series of behaviour, carried out in set order
• e.g threat displays

Question 3

ao1 - innate releasing mechanisms

Answer 3

• Lorenz = said animals have innate mech for aggression, and aggressive behaviour = release

irm = built in system, triggers behaviours e.g aggression, its a built in physiological structure/ process in bod

• when certain stim ( sign stim) is detected, irm is activated

-irm = communicates with brain and bod, realising sequence of automatic behaviours

Question 4

ao1- fixed acton patterns - faps

Answer 4

• psychological behaviours trigged by irms - found by lea 1984
• stereotyped - behaviour always occurs in the same way
• universal -same for all of the members in the species
• unaffected by learning- behaviour happens automatically, even if animal hasn’t been taught it
• ballistic - once triggered , can’t be changed/stopped
• single purpose- behavouir only occurs in specific situation , not in any other
• specific trigger- behaviour always triggered by particular stim e.g red spot

Question 5

ao3 - critiscm

Answer 5

p- aggression more common in some cultures than others

e - nisbett 19993, found north- south divide in us for homocide rates, more killings in south states \

e- nisbett said this was bc of a culture of honour in south , where response to social aggression was a learned social norm

l- hard for ethological theory , which views aggression as instinctive , to explain how culture can override innate influences like this

Question 6

ao3 - strength

Answer 6

p- supported by evidence, shows that aggression = innate basis

e- Brunner et al 1993 , found maoa gene = linked to aggression, supporting genetic basis

e - further supported, irm in the brain, e.g limbic system ,also trigger aggression

l- supports ethological claim that aggression = genetically and biologically determined

Question 7

ao3 - neg

Answer 7

p- shouldn’t be generalised to humans

e- higher mammals e.g primates, not studied,