evolutionary explanation

Question 1

evolutionary explanation of sexual jealousy

Answer 1

sexual jealousy = major motivator of aggressive behaviour in males

evolutionary explanation
= paternity uncertainty due to threat of cuckoldry

• investing in offspring that do not share male’s genes = waste of resources

Question 2

what is cuckoldry

Answer 2

= male having to raise offspring that is not his own

Question 3

why do males see cuckoldry as a waste of resources

Answer 3

= contribute to survival of rival’s genes/leaves male with fewer resources to invest in own future offspring

Question 4

why are aggressive strategies seen as adaptive in evolutionary history

Answer 4

men in evolutionary past able to avoid cuckoldry = more reproductively successful

sexual jealousy more strongly experienced in males = drive often aggressive strategies employed to retain partners/prevent from ‘straying’

Question 5

what male retention strategies did wilson and daly (1996) identify

Answer 5

1. direct guarding = male vigilance over partner’s behaviour
2. negative inducements = issuing threats of dire consequences

Question 6

why does bullying occur according to evolutionary explanation

Answer 6

due to power imbalance = more powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against weaker person

• evolutionary ancestors may have used bullying an adaptive strategy = increase survival chances by promoting own health/creating reproductive opportunites

Question 7

male bullying

Answer 7

volk et al (2012) = characteristics associated with bullying behaviour (e.g., dominance, acquisition of resources, strength)
= attractive to females + wards off potential rivals

• = natural selection of bullying behaviour due to males having reproductive success

Question 8

female bullying

Answer 8

often take place within relationship = method of controlling partner
= used to secure partner’s fidelioty

= natural selection of such behaviour due to aiding reproductive success

Question 9

strength of evolutionary explanation

Answer 9

explain why male/female use of aggression differs
= via adaptive strategies

campbell = not adaptive for female with offspring to be physically aggressive = can endanger survival of her and offspring

= more adaptive strategy is using verbal aggression to retain partner

= such arguments can provide support for evolutionary approach to explaining aggression

Question 10

limitation of evolutionary explanation

Answer 10

substantial cultural differences in aggressive behaviour

• some cultures = aggression appears non-existent
• thomas = studied !kung san people of western botswana, called them the ‘harmless people’
  = had very negative attitudes towards aggression use, discouraging it from childhood

= cultural/social norms powerfully constrain aggressive behaviour

= since some cultures don’t show aggressiveness, such behaviour may not be necessarily be adaptive

Question 11

further strength of evolutionary explanation

Answer 11

irl app.
= use to reduce bullying

• anti-bullying interventions = increase costs of bullying/rewards of prosocial alternatives
  e.g., give bullies roles/responsibilities in school = provide alt. source of status

= based on assumption that bullying is adaptive (bullies stand to gain advantages for themselves by doing it)

= viewing bullying as adaptive behaviour = lead to more effective anti-bullying interventions