Evolution - Evaluations Flashcards
What did Shackleford et al. (2005) study, and what did they find regarding mate retention behaviours and aggression?
Shackleford et al. studied 107 married couples, assessing mate retention behaviours through a questionnaire. They found a significant correlation between male retention strategies and male-directed violence, supporting the evolutionary idea that aggression deters females from infidelity.
What are the limitations of Shackleford’s research, particularly in terms of causation and the nature vs. nurture debate?
Shackleford’s research is correlational, making it unclear if aggression resulted from mate retention strategies. The study doesn’t confirm if these strategies are innate or learned, as cultural factors and social learning may influence aggressive behaviours. Additionally, self-report measures and social desirability biases pose validity challenges.
What practical applications are suggested by Dobash & Dobash’s (2000) case studies on violent abuse in relationships, and how do mate retention strategies play a role?
Dobash & Dobash’s case studies of abused women highlighted men’s possessiveness and jealousy as main sources of conflict. Understanding male mate retention strategies can inform interventions to prevent future violence, emphasizing the importance of relationship counselling.
What criticism does the evolutionary explanation face regarding being ‘post hoc,’ and why is this significant for its scientific validity?
Evolutionary explanations, accused of being ‘post hoc,’ offer explanations thousands of years after the behaviour’s supposed adaptation. The lack of direct observational evidence makes it non-falsifiable, hindering its scientific validity by not subjecting it to the process of falsification.
Why is the lack of directly observable evidence a challenge for the evolutionary explanation, and how does it relate to the falsifiability of the theory?
The absence of directly observable evidence in human evolution, spanning over 10,000 years, poses challenges. The evolutionary explanation, focused on adaptive behaviors, becomes non-falsifiable as it cannot be subjected to empirical testing or disproven, limiting its status as a scientific theory.
