Evolution and Aggression

Question 1

Genes

Answer 1

• A set of instructions that determine what the organism is like, its appearance, how it survives and how it behaves in its environment
• Made up of a substance called deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA and they give instructions for a living beings to make molecules called proteins and these changes in genes lead to evolution

Question 2

Mutation

Answer 2

• When genes are copied, by chance mistakes occurs and these changes in the genes are known as mutation

Question 3

Natural selection

Answer 3

• Some mutation are better suited for the environment the living thing is in
• Those with these useful mutations survive better in that environment as such they are more likely to be able to pass on their genes, the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring
• The best fit creatures survive and reproduce passing on their genes
• These changes occur over many generation when eventually leads to traits and behaviours being adapted and changes in species over time

Question 4

Strength of Evolution as an explanation for aggression

Answer 4

• Can explain why males are more aggressive than females
• Females who are cooperative are likely to be naturally selected as cooperation helps them protect themselves and their offspring as a group, reduced aggression is selected in females
• Males who are aggressive are likely to be naturally selected because they are better hunters
• This is a strength because it explains gender differences in aggression and increases validity of the theory

Question 5

Weakness of Evolution as an explanation for aggression

Answer 5

• There is individual differences between cultures in aggressive behaviour
• Kang San people are discouraged to be aggressive from childhood, therefore aggressive behaviours are rare, however the Yanomami people of Brazil are described as ‘fierce people’, as aggression appears to be an accepted behaviour to gain status in their structured society
• These differences in aggression are not universal and suggests that behaviour can be outweighed by cultural norms