Evolution Flashcards
Evolution
impact of how inherited characteristics change throughout generations
natural selection
suited to their environment will survive in order to reproduce like genotype n environment
fighting
assert dominance - evolved strategy
protect
evolved solution to problems so individuals aggressively protect themselves
status
aggression evolved to increase status against competing males and male aggressor more attractive to females
aggression
useful to deter partners from infidelity
Strength D+W
58 / 214 cases of murder motivated by sexual jealousy and confidence in paternity - evolution and inheritance of agg promoting genes = credible explanation
Strength M
males show increase in fighting around puberty due to increase focus on attracting mates - evident that Evolution and inheritance of agg promoting genes = credible explanation
Strength D+D
DV on women came about due to jealousy (aggressive trait can lead to gene survival) - evidence evolution and inheritance of agg promoting genes = credible explanation
Weakness E
not empirical and post hoc (looking backward on behaviour and might see patterns which aren’t true) - might not be credible explanation of agg as cant directly test behaviours of ancestors
Weakness Ignores
evolutionary perspective fails to explain why some cultures such as the Yanomamo of South America require violent behaviour to achieve social status while other such as the Kung San of Kalahari see aggression as being unforgivable - The evolutionary theory can’t explain these differences well as all humans have evolved from shared ancestors therefore it cannot account for cultural differences
Weakness D
deterministic as suggests people have little free-will and choice in own behaviour
if it is all due to inherited genes - reduces credibility of theory because it doesn’t account for full range of human behaviour like choice in deciding how to behave.
