Evolutionary Explanations For Asgression Flashcards
What does the evolutsrioanry explanation focus on
Focuses on the changes in species over millions of years based on the idea of natural selection - whereby any behaviour that aids survival and reproductive success is perpetuated. It therefore makes sense that aggression is evolutionary as it aids survival
How does sexual jealousy explain aggression
It is a major motivation factor that explains aggression in males fro an evolutionary point of view. Jealousy occurs in men due to the fact that they can never be sure if they are the father of their child. This paternity uncertainty is a result of cuckoldry. Consequently any investment in offspring who do not share the males genes is a waste of recourses. In fact it contributes to the survival of males rival genes and leaves ‘father’ with fewer resources to invest in his own future offspring
In the past is it those who avoid cuckoldry we’re more reproductively successful. Psychological mechanisms have evolved to increase anti cuckoldry behaviour. This leads to aggression to prevent their partners from straying.
What are the mate retention strategies identified by Wilson and Daly?
1) direct guarding - involves the male being violent over their partners behaviour: i.e. seeing where they have been and who they have been seeing or installing trackers on their phones.
2) negative inducements - such as issuing threats or dire consequences for infidelity
3) physical violence - Wilson asked females to report male retention strategies and were asked to rated statements like ‘he insists on knowing your whereabouts’. Women who agreed with these statements were more likely to experience physical aggression. 73% of these women often needed medical attention
Why does bullying occur
Because of power imbalance - a more powerful individual will use aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker individual. Researchers have traditionally viewed it as maladaptive behaviour, however evolutionary ancestors would’ve had to use bullying as a; adaptive strategy to increase the chances of their survival.
Bulllyin in men
Volke et al argue that the characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females - dominance acquisition of resources, and strength. Bullying also has the potential to ward off potential rivals. Therefore such bullying behaviour would be naturally selected because these males would have higher reproductive success. Bullying May even be beneficial for the Bully’s health as it was found that teenage boys who gain a reputation for being tough are less likely to have people acting aggressive towards them. Therefore they don’t experince the stres of bullying.
Female bullying
In females, bullying often takes place within a relationship and is a method to use to control their partner and prevent infidelity which means that they continue to provide resources for their future offspring. Again such behaviour would be naturally selected due to reproductive success.
Aggression in warfare
War is costly as it usually leads to death so why go war? From an evolutionary perspective, smith claims that human warfare originated not only to obtain valuable recourses but also to attract mates and allies. I.e. in the past male warriors tended to have more sexual partners and more children suggesting a direct reproductive benefit +
St4nghts
One strength of evolutionary explanations of aggression is that it explains the gender differences in the use of aggression. For example, Campbell (1999) argues that it is not adaptive for a female with children to be physically aggressive as she could put her own life at risk as well as her offspring’s. So a more adaptive strategy would be to use verbal instead of physical aggression whereas a man would probably use more physical aggression as this would be more adaptive.
Another strength is that this explanation has real life application as it can be used to reduce bullying. This strategy is based on the idea that bullying is adaptive (bullies stand to gain advantages for themselves). This idea can then lead to anti-bullying strategies such as showing the bully the increased costs of bullying and the increased benefits of not bullying and being prosocial. For example, in a school setting, giving the school bully roles and responsibilities which would command respect from the other students but not from fear but admiration. Thus, bullying is an adaptive behaviour which can lead to more effective anti-bullying interventions.
Weakness
A weakness of evolutionary explanations of human aggression is that it does not explain cultural differences in human aggression. For example, in some cultures aggression is almost non-existent. For example, Thomas (1958) studied the Kung San people of Western Botswana in Africa and called them ‘Harmless people’ as they had very negative attitudes towards aggression and infact children from a young age were discouraged to display any aggression. Also, those individuals who did show aggression lost their status and respect within the community. This study shows that cultural and social norms are more powerful in shaping aggression or non aggression rather than evolutionary reasons.
Another weakness of evolutionary explanations of human aggression is that it is biologically determinist suggesting that we are aggressive due to our ancestors and its increased survival value and therefore this is beyond our control which then implies that aggression is inevitable and not our fault - it even implies that it is acceptable for a male partner to use physical violence against their female partner as a way to retain them - after all the male has no choice or free will over this aggression as it is due to his biology. This argument will not sit well in a court of law where the law states that we are legally responsible for all our actions and thus cannot be physically violent against our partner. Thus this approach ignores the role of free will and may not be relevant in the real world.
