Evolutionary explanations Flashcards
1
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Sexual jealousy
A
- Jealousy occurs in men because they can never be fully sure that they are their child’s parent.
- This paternity uncertainty is a result of the threat of cuckoldry.
- Any investment into offspring that does not share his genes is a waste of his resources.
- It contributes to the survival of a rival’s genes and leaves the ‘father’ with fewer resources to invest in his own future children.
- Men who avoided cuckoldry in the past were mmore reproductively successful, so psychological mechanisms have evolve to increase anti-cuckoldry behaviours in males.
- Sexual jealousy is more strongly felt in makes and females and drives the aggressive strategies men emply to retain their partners.
2
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Mate retention strategies
A
- Daly (1996) identified several mate retention strategies which involve aggression.
- Direct guarding - male vigilance over a partner’s behaviour (e.g. tracking).
- Negative inducements - issuing threats of dire consequences for infidelity (e.g. suicide).
3
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Physical violence against partner
A
- Wilson (1995) asked women to report mate retention strategies in their partners.
- Women who agreed more with statements were twice as likely to ahve experienced physical violence from their partners.
- 73% of these women required medical attention and 53% said they feared for their lives.
- This supports the view that mate retention strategies are linked to physical violence.
4
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Bullying
A
- Bullying occurs from a power imbalance.
- Researchers have viewed bullying as a maladaptive behaviour as a result of poor social skills or childhood abuse.
- However, evolutionary ancestors have used bullying as an adaptive strategu to increase chance of survival by promoting their own health and creating opportunities for reproduction.
5
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Male bullying
A
- Volk (2012) argue the characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females.
- It also has the benefit of warding off potential rivals.
- This means bullying behaviour is naturally selected because these males go on to have greater reproductive success.
- Adolescent boys who gain a reputation for being tough are less likely to experience aggression themselves and so experience less stress.
6
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Female bullying
A
- Females bullying takes place within a relationship and is a method of controlling a partner.
- Women use bullying behaviour to secure their partner’s fidelity, allowing them to continue to provide resources for future offspring.
- Naturally selected because of enhanced reproductive success.
7
Q
Evolutionary Explanations
Gender differences
Strength
A
- Evolutionary theory explains why males and females differ in their uses of aggression.
- Research shows there are gender differences in aggression.
- Campbell (1999) argues that it is not adaptive for females to be phsyically aggressive if they have offspring.
- It is more adaptive for them to use verbal aggression to retain a partner who provides resources.
- This would explain why women mroe often use verbal rather than physical aggression
Therefore such arguments can provide support for the evolutionary approach to explaining aggression.
8
Q
Evolutionary Explanations: Evaluation
Cultural differences
Limitation
A
- There are substantial cultural differences.
- There are cultures where aggression seems to be non-existent.
- !Kung san people were referred to as “harmless people” and found they have very negative attitudes to aggression.
