Evolutionary Explanations for Human Aggression Flashcards
What is the achieved according to the evolutionary theory of aggression? And what normally happens?
- that genes are mutated and often prevent reproduction
- however some can help improve survival and reproduction
- get more resources = more chance of partner
What is attractive about aggression to females and in humans?
- aggression/dominance is attractive to women because it looks like they can protect the offspring and provide good amounts of resources.
Why does aggression help males?
- allows them to attract many women and produce a lot of offspring to spread their genes.
What do women also consider and need when choosing a mate?
- need to be sensitive aswell as aggressive as too much aggression could cause a threat to the offspring.
- male must been able to nurture the offspring as well as protect.
What does jealousy do to create aggression?
- the fear of losing a partner creates aggression in the relationship and is displayed in behaviour.
What significance does infidelity have in aggression?
- creates a threat to the relationship through the chance of offspring being born by a different male.
- other male may resent the offspring and become aggressive.
Name a piece of research into the evolutionary theory?
Sadella
- found women were attracted to dominant men, supporting more reproduction.
- also found even it was increased attractiveness they didn’t mind about being happy as long as they survived.
Name two pieces of evaluation for evolutionary theory of aggression?
❌ too simplistic - cultural differences in the number of husbands killing their wives.
- if it was for evolutionary advantage then rates of the murder would be Similar globally. Suggesting aggression has other causes.
❌ deterministic - suggests we have no control over the aggression from genes and mutations.
= problem from legal systems trying to blame someone for crime.
