evolution and aggression Flashcards
what is evolution?
- how inherited characteristics change from generation to generation through natural selection.
- if an organism doesn’t reproduce that is the end of their genes
what does aggression lead to?
- aggression leads to survival
- for example, aggressive displays of behaviour to protect a mate or offspring
- aggressive behaviours that help with survival cause an organism to be able to reproduce and pass on their genes, so are selected for
parental certainty
- a woman knows that a child is biologically hers, but a man does not have parental certainty
- so parenthood has to be taken on by trust
- pregnancy, childbirth and childcare require physical resources, time and energy and having a man to provide food, shelter and protection
being sexually unfaithful
- if a man is sexually unfaithful the woman and child’s survival is at risk
- this causes jealousy which causes aggression to deter off the other woman
male jealousy
- male jealously and aggression comes from a man not wanting to spend him time and energy on another mans child
- men would be jealous if they suspected their female partner was being sexually unfaithful as she may get pregnant
- this could lead to aggression against the other man
men in evolutionary terms
- in evolutionary terms, men who were physically stronger and bigger would be most capable of providing food and shelter
- men who were more aggressive when hunting or when there resources were threatened had an adaptive advantage
- females were more likely to choose men with these genes
essay plan
para 1-
ao1: evolution, female agg
ao3 + mason and wrangman
ao3 - animal research
para 2-
male aggression
+ buss and shakleton
- reductionist, alt theory is slt
application- deterministic
strengths
supporting evidence from mason and wrangman who found that there were gender differences in aggression in chimpanzees. They found that females were more cooperative and males were more aggressive. Therefore, showing that reduced aggression is more likely to be selected for in females as they only have to be aggressive to deter off another female but males are selected for aggression as it makes them better hunters and protectors.
Supporting evidence from Buss & Shackleton, who studied what men would do in response to feeling threatened in a relationship. They found that men tended to give the female everything she wanted and threatened other males around. Women tend to threaten to leave the man if he is unfaithful and use verbal threats such as ‘he’s taken’. This explains current inherited behaviour of aggression in humans that can be explained using the theory of natural selection as males will begin to become better providers and females will try to deter the other woman so her survival is not threatened.
weaknesses
animal research, lowering the generalisability of the study. They used chimpanzees in the experiment who have less complex brain structures. Humans have higher order thinking and a more developed PFC. Therefore the findings of how evolution and natural selection cause aggression to be more selected for in males do not represent humans.
Learning theories, better explanation . bio theory alone in reductionist explanation. SLT, bandura, kids replicating role model hit bobo doll, caused increased agg. Therefore, agg is not just innate inherited behaviour, it is also due to learning through observation + imitation. role of evolution is narrow + simplistic explanation of human behaviour. Evolutionary theory on its own is incomplete explanation of agg.
application
The evolutionary theory is deterministic as an innate response. It suggests that the role of free will does not exist and assumes human aggression is innate, meaning we have no choice in how we behave. Therefore, showing that the evolutionary theory is unlikely to be true as a sole cause of the cause of aggression in humans. It may be seen as a scapegoat for the behaviour and an excuse for toxic masculinity.
