Evolutionary explanations Flashcards
What are evolutionary explanations :
An account of the changes in species over millions of years based on the idea of natural selection.
What is sexual jealousy ?
A major motivator of aggressive behaviour in males which can be given an evolutionary explanation.
What is paternity uncertainty ?
Jealousy occurs because men, unlike women can never totally be sure whether or not they are their childs parent.
What is paternity uncertainty a result of ?
A real threat for the male of cuckoldry
What is Cuckoldry ?
Having to raise offspring that is not his own
What do men see as a waste ?
Any investment in offspring who do not share the male’s genes is a waste if his resources.
Why do men see offspring that are not of their own as a waste ?
Because it contributes to the survival of a rival’s genes and leaves the ‘father’ with fewer resources to invest in his own future offspring.
Men in the evolutionary past :
Those who avoided cuckoldry were more reproductively successful.
Psychological mechanisms that have evolved to increase anti - cuckoldry behaviour in men :
-Sexual jealousy is strongly experienced in males than females.
-This drives aggressive strategies men employ to prevent their partner from ‘straying’
How were aggressive strategies helpful ?
They were adaptive in our evolutionary history.
Researchers of mate retention strategies :
Margo Wilson and Martin Daly (1996)
Types of mate retention strategies :
Direct guarding
Negative inducements
What is direct guarding ?
It involves male vigilance over a partner’s behaviour
eg.checking to see who they’ve been with, coming home early, tracking apps on mobile.
What is negative inducements ?
Issuing threats of dire consequences
eg.if you leave me i’ll kill myself
Research on physical violence against partner :
Wilson asked women to report mate retention strategies in their partners.
- It was measured in terms of the extent to which they agreed with statements link ; He insists on knowing who you are with at all times.
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Results of research :
Women who agreed with such statements were x2 likely to have experienced physical violence at the hands of their partners.
-73% required medical attention
53% said they feared their lived
What does the research support ?
This supports the views that mate retention strategies are linked to physical violence.
What is the evolutionary explanation for bullying?
Bullying occurs because of a power imbalance - a more powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person.
How is bullying viewed ?
Tradionally bullying was viewed as maladaptive behaviour.
eg.Result of poor social skills
What did evolutionary ancestors use as bullying for ?
Used as an adaptive strategy to increase their chances of survival by promoting their own health and creating opportunities for reproduction.
Research on Male Bullying :
Tony Volk et al. argue that the characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females.
Characteristics of male bullying behaviour that is attractive to females :
Dominance , acquisition of resources and strength.
Male Bullying behaviour ;
Bullying behaviour would be naturally selected
