Evolutionary Explanations - Infidelity And Jealousy Flashcards
What is the main principle of infidelity and jealousy?
Parental certainty and parental investment
What is parental certainty?
When you know for certain the child is biologically yours
Who has parental certainty?
Mothers
What is parental investment?
When a parent puts a lot of resources into the child e.g physical resources, caring
Who has high parental investment?
The mother as she puts time into the pregnancy and find the child resources but particularly the father
How does aggression link to a mothers high parental investment?
They have found a mate who can provide the required resources, if they believe their mate has been spending resources or time with another female they may become jealous. This jealousy may be expressed as anger to drive away the other women
Explain the chain of a woman’s high parental investment….
Wants resources for child
Finds mate
Suspects mate of spending resources/time with another woman
Female becomes jealous
Jealous is displayed as anger to drive off other woman and get resources
How does a woman’s jealousy enhance her survival?
They ensure they keep the resources for them to survive as they get rid of the competition
How is a mans low parental certainty linked to aggression?
Because a man has low parental certainty they will not invest resources into another mans child. If they suspect their mate of having sex with another man they can become aggressive leading to behaviour ranging from mate guarding to physical violence against the woman or other man
Explain the chain of a mans low parental certainty…
Man has low parental certainty
He suspects child is not his/mate is having sex with someone else
Male becomes aggressive towards woman/other man
Behaviour ranges from mate guarding to physical violence
What has this theory been used as an explanation for?
Cases where a man harms his current partners child from a previous relationship
What is the general principle of evolutionary explanations of aggression?
Evolutionary explanations suggest that present day human behaviours came about because they were some way adaptive for our human ancestors and gave them the best chance of surviving and reproducing
