Evolutionary explanations

Question 1

What are evolutionary explanations :

Answer 1

An account of the changes in species over millions of years based on the idea of natural selection.

Question 2

What is sexual jealousy ?

Answer 2

A major motivator of aggressive behaviour in males which can be given an evolutionary explanation.

Question 3

What is paternity uncertainty ?

Answer 3

Jealousy occurs because men, unlike women can never totally be sure whether or not they are their childs parent.

Question 4

What is paternity uncertainty a result of ?

Answer 4

A real threat for the male of cuckoldry

Question 5

What is Cuckoldry ?

Answer 5

Having to raise offspring that is not his own

Question 6

What do men see as a waste ?

Answer 6

Any investment in offspring who do not share the male’s genes is a waste if his resources.

Question 7

Why do men see offspring that are not of their own as a waste ?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Men in the evolutionary past :

Answer 8

Those who avoided cuckoldry were more reproductively successful.

Question 9

Psychological mechanisms that have evolved to increase anti - cuckoldry behaviour in men :

Answer 9

-Sexual jealousy is strongly experienced in males than females.
-This drives aggressive strategies men employ to prevent their partner from ‘straying’

Question 10

How were aggressive strategies helpful ?

Answer 10

They were adaptive in our evolutionary history.

Question 11

Researchers of mate retention strategies :

Answer 11

Margo Wilson and Martin Daly (1996)

Question 12

Types of mate retention strategies :

Answer 12

Direct guarding
Negative inducements

Question 13

What is direct guarding ?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

What is negative inducements ?

Answer 14

Issuing threats of dire consequences
eg.if you leave me i’ll kill myself

Question 15

Research on physical violence against partner :

Answer 15

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.
-

Question 17

Results of research :

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What does the research support ?

Answer 18

This supports the views that mate retention strategies are linked to physical violence.

Question 19

What is the evolutionary explanation for bullying?

Answer 19

Bullying occurs because of a power imbalance - a more powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person.

Question 20

How is bullying viewed ?

Answer 20

Tradionally bullying was viewed as maladaptive behaviour.
eg.Result of poor social skills

Question 21

What did evolutionary ancestors use as bullying for ?

Answer 21

Used as an adaptive strategy to increase their chances of survival by promoting their own health and creating opportunities for reproduction.

Question 22

Research on Male Bullying :

Answer 22

Tony Volk et al. argue that the characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females.

Question 23

Characteristics of male bullying behaviour that is attractive to females :

Answer 23

Dominance , acquisition of resources and strength.

Question 24

Male Bullying behaviour ;

Answer 24

Bullying behaviour would be naturally selected