Evolution/ Natural Selection

Question 1

Outline 6 points about evolution as an explanation for aggression

Answer 1

• Evolution is the change of a species overtime due to inherited characteristics being passed on from each generation
• Natural selection is the process in which organisms better adapted to their environment due to genes are able to survive and pass their genes to offspring and those who do not have genes that aid survival in the environment die
• An aggressive gene may be passed onto its offspring as it aids survival by allowing the species to fight for a mate and resources
• Aggression may arise in males if he suspects the woman is unfaithful as he can’t be certain that a child is biologically his
• Aggression in females may arise when she sees her man with another female and fears his resources are too focused on the other woman and her offspring
• Human reproductive behaviour refers to the different behaviours that humans exhibit in order to increase their reproductive success

Question 2

Supporting research for evolutionary theory?

Answer 2

P- Buss (1989)
E- Conducted a cross-cultural study to show that men and women in different cultures follow patterns of behaviour predicted by evolutionary theory
E- Females valued good financial prospects in a mate more than males. In 36/37 cultures, males valued physical attractiveness more

Question 3

Strength for evolutionary theory?

Answer 3

P - High inter-rater reliability
E - Darwin took careful observations of behaviour which was confirmed by other researchers
E - Therefore Darwin’s findings are objective and scientific

Question 4

2x weaknesses of evolutionary theory?

Answer 4

P - Cannot account for all relationships
E - Suggests aggression comes as a result of protecting offspring and ensuring genes are passed on
E - Therefore can’t account for same sex relationships

P - Deterministic
E - Fails to consider the role of free will by assuming that behaviours are innate
E - This is unlikely as humans have choices over our behaviours