Evolution Flashcards
Evolution as a theory of agression
Aggressive behaviour has both reproductive and survival benefits and has genetically evolved over centuries
aggression in hunter gather times will have helped survival in males: protecting resources, competing with rivals, improving status in the group, finding food (natural selection). It will also have helped them mate. Providing for them, protecting them and fending of rivals. (sexual selection). Aggression was less important for females who instead needed to care for young and not put themselves at risk through fighting. Today, men are more aggressive than women and a lot of the motivation to be aggressive are similar to hunter gatherers (see supporting research for examples
Natural Selection
gradual process by which heritable traits become more common in the environment if they are of benefit to survival
Sexual selection
a form of natural selection as characteristics which benefit attracting a mate become more common.
Environment of Evolutionary adaption
conditions that prevailed to a certain environment or time. We are interested in “hunter-gather” environment and how these behaviours are now hardwired in the brain.
+Supported by: Daly & Wilson (1985)
murders in Detroit in 1972 The motive behind most of the conflicts was status. Victims and offenders were unemployed and unmarried young men. This supports the idea that our motivation for aggressive behaviour may be hard wired through natural selection.
+Supported by: Young (1978)
Asked students to describe their likely reactions to a jealousy inducing scenario. Men – respond angrily, become drunk, threaten their rival. Women – cry, pretend not to care, try to increase own attractiveness to regain male attention. This supports the idea that men and women have evolved to be aggressive differently.
+Other theories:
Supported by the brain structure and testosterone theories as evolution could be a reason why we find these physical mechanisms for aggression.
-Reductionist
This theory reduces complex behaviour with many influences to one simple cause. This theory would be better considered alongside environmental and learning factors.
-Deterministic
This theory fails to take into account the free will and choice of a person. For example there are rising levels of women becoming more violent and not all males are aggressive.
-Falsifiability
cannot be tested to scientifically prove a cause and effect relationship. The theory is designed to fit the behaviour. Fossil records don’t show us how hunter gatherers behaved in terms of aggression.
