Evolutionary and ethological explanations for aggression Flashcards
1
Q
What is ethology?
A
- scientific study of animal behaviour
- studying why animals display aggression could help explain why humans are aggressive
2
Q
how does animal aggression have evolutionary advantages?
A
- keep the animal on top of the social hierarchy
- protect from threats
- attract mates
3
Q
What does it mean when animal behaviours are highly ritualistic?
A
- animals of the same species will respond to threats with the same set of behaviours
- growling
- showing teeth
- submission
- puffing up to look bigger
4
Q
What is an innate releasing mechanism (IRM)?
A
- Lorenz aggressive energy builds up within an animal
- BUT set of inherited neural circuits stop the aggression being expressed
5
Q
How can innate releasing mechanisms (IRM) be triggered?
A
- triggered by stimulus in the environment
- the animal then performs fixed action patterns
6
Q
what are fixed action patterns?
A
- predictable aggressive behaviours
- innate
- all members of the same species will show the same set of behaviours
- without learning from other members of the species
7
Q
Ethology research evaluations: Tinbergen, male sticklebacks
A
- male sticklebacks, show highly ritualised attack patterns to males of the same species
- shown realistic sticklebacks w/ no red bellies= no IRM
- shown unrealistic sticklebacks w/ red bellies= IRM
- males have IRM for aggression triggered by other male sticklebacks red bellies= fixed action pattern of aggressive behaviour
8
Q
Ethology research evaluations: Slackett isolated infant monkeys
A
- isolated infant monkeys to avoid learning behaviours from their mothers
- showed threatening and non threatening poses
- monkeys displayed defensive poses to threatening photos
- monkeys are born with fixed action patterns
- these are triggered when shown aggression
9
Q
what is the evolutionary theory?
A
- if genes give survival advantage
- more likely to reproduce
- passing genes on to the next generation
9
Q
Ethology research evaluations: able to separate biological and socio cultural processes
A
- animal studies can separate biological and socio cultural processes= insight into biological origins of aggression
- BUT cant generalise findings to humans
- human aggression isnt instinctual and is highly premeditated and organised
- e.g. war
10
Q
how was aggression beneficial to our ancestors?
A
- help their reproductive success
- help survive predators
- compete for resources and mates
- aggressive mate= protect them and offspring
11
Q
How do genes affect aggression?
A
- genes mutate
- some mutations would increase aggressive behaviour
- better reproduction= mutated genes that promote aggression being selected for
- aggressive genes= more babies to pass on selected genes
- ’ survival of the fittest’
12
Q
what is male sexual jealousy?
A
- males cant be sure of paternity
- mothers can be sure of maternity
- high violence against partners= ensure faithfulness and certainty theyre investing resources into their own children
13
Q
Evolution research evaluations: Daly and Wilson murder rates in families for blood/ non- blood
A
- compared murder rates in families for blood/ non- blood relatives
- in cultures more likely to murder family members you arent genetically related to
- infants in US 100x more likely to be killed when living with 1+ step parent
- step parents resistant to investing resources on a child that isnt theirs
14
Q
what are mate retention strategies?
A
- psychologically aggressive because of male sexual jealousy
- Mate guarding: limiting partners movements
- threats= warning against infidelity
