Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

What does the evolutionary explanation theorise?

Answer 1

• the human brain is a product of natural selection
• behaviours that enhance survival and reproduction will be passed onto the next generation

Question 2

What 2 adaptive functions of aggression did Buss and Duntley (2006) identify?

Answer 2

• sexual jealousy
• bullying

Question 3

What is sexual jealousy?

Answer 3

• men can never be 100% certain of their paternity and so are at risk of cuckoldry (investing their resources into raising another man’s child)
  -The theory proposes that any investment in another man’s genes is a wasted time as it contribute to the survival of another man’s DNA and the use of the father with fewer resources to invest in their own future offspring

Question 4

How can cuckoldry be prevented?

Answer 4

• via male retention strategies
  direct guarding: involves male vigilance over a partners behaviour
  negative inducements: refers to issuing of threats if the partner was to be unfaithful

Question 5

What research evidence has been found surrounding intimate partner violence?

Answer 5

• Wilson et al (1995) found that women who reported male retention strategies in their partners were twice as likely to report their partner had also been physically violent with them, with 73% needing medical attention and 53% saying they feared for their lives
• Shackleford et al (2005) studied 107 heterosexual couples who have been married for less than one year a strong positive correlation was found between the men’s reports of male retention and women’s reports of partner violence

Question 6

What is bullying?

Answer 6

• bullying occurs because of power imbalance: a more powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person
• ancestral males would have had to compete with other males for access to females and to maintain status within the group
• Bullying may have been used as an adaptive strategy to increase chances of survival through creating opportunities for reproduction

Question 7

What did Vok et al (2012) conclude about bullying as an adaptive behaviour?

Answer 7

• For males it suggest dominance acquisition of resources and strength bullying also has the benefit of warding of potential rivals who might seek to take food or access for females
  -for females bullying within a relationship is method of controlling a partner they use bullying behaviour to reduce the likelihood of their partner leaving meaning they will continue to provide resources for any offspring

Question 8

AO3: established differences between men and women ✅

Answer 8

P: evolutionary explanations are able to explain differences in the type of aggression displayed by men and women, as men have been observed to be more likely to engage in physical aggression than women
E: Campbell (1999) argues that a female with offspring is motivated to be less aggressive because physical altercations would risk, both her, and her child’s survival when fearing her mates infidelity, she may turn to verbal aggression as a safer option
E: this form of aggression avoids females becoming involved in life threatening situations involving physical aggression, which could explain why women tend to use non-physical methods to resolved disputes
L: the ability to explain gender differences is a strength of the evolutionary explanation. However, differences in the type of aggression displayed could also be explained via other factors, such as cultural expectations

Question 9

AO3: cultural differences ❌

Answer 9

P: reported cultural differences in levels of aggressive behaviours casts doubt on evolutionary explanations of aggression as an inherited adaptive mechanism to retain a mate
E: the kung san people of the kalahari tribe discourage aggressive behaviour from childhood and therefore, it’s rarely used by adults. Those who do resort to aggressive behaviours find their status and reputation diminished
E: in contrast, the yanomamo of venuzuela accept aggression and even required it as a useful tool to maintain status in their society
L: these differences in aggression in terms of gaining and losing status suggests that aggression is not solely influenced on evolutionary pressures and may have a cultural basis

Question 10

AO3: real life interventions ✅

Answer 10

P: viewing bullying behaviour through an evolutionary lens may help devise more effective anti bullying programs
E: Rigby (2010) reviewed several established interventions based on the assumption that bullying is a maladaptive behaviour that can be eradicated by addressing the bully’s perceived defences. However, despite the availability of programs, bullying is still common
E: the theory recognises that bullying is adaptive for the perpetrator so it would make no sense for them to voluntarily give up their power. Volk et al (2012) argued that anti bullying programs need to increase costs of bullying and rewards of prosocial responding
L: this would enable the individual to display desirable qualities such as strength in a way that doesn’t harm others