Evolutionary Explanations Of Aggression Flashcards
What does the evolutionary theory state a humans aim is?
A humans aims is to survive long enough to pass on genes to offspring
Evolutionary theory suggests males are aggressive to…
- compete with other males for reproductive success
- protect females and offspring
- protect / acquire resources
Stages of reproductive success
1) High status makes monopolise females
2) low status males at risk of not producing offspring
3) low status indulge in high risk strategies to compete for status
4) success enhances reproductive success
Daly and Wilson (1985)
- looked at murders in Detroit in 1972
- motive behind most murders was status
- all victims and offenders were unemployed, unmarried young men (low status without male)
What is the primary motivator of aggression in males?
Acquisition of status
What is the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiom (EEA)
Competition as resources are limited and animals must compete in order to survive and reproduce
- good hunters who acquired resources and skilled fighters who ward off rivals are attractive to females
Young (1978) - sexual jealousy
- asked students to imagine and describe their likely reactions to a scenario where their partner would cheat on them
- men responded angrily, became drunk and threatened their rival (EEA =male does not want to care for a child that is not his own)
- women responded crying, pretending not to care and trying to increase their own attractiveness to regain male attention (EEA = not aggressive as they may lose baby)
Griskevicus (2009) - sexual jealousy
- gave students a scenario of the same sex spilling a drink on then at a party and not apologising
- men responded with direct aggression
- 3/4 of women would walk away but 1/4 would use direct aggression ( EEA= women use direct aggression when competing for resources that will aid/protect their child)
Why does male on male aggression arise?
- confidence in paternity and warning to potential rival
- Daly and Wilson (1985) = sexual jealousy
Why does male on female aggression arise?
- to determine the female from indulging in behaviour not in the males interest
- miller (1980)= 55% of battered wives citied jealousy out of fear or suspicion as the reason for their husbands abuse
Why does male on child aggression arise?
- link to parental investment
- males reluctant to expand energy and resources in raising offspring of another male (stepfathers)
Why does aggression in females arise?
- Buss and Duntley (2006) = adaptive and functional benefits of aggressive behaviour msg outweigh the possible costs
- indirect aggression like gossiping, spreading rumours and ostracising people from the group reduces risk of physical harm
- Campbell (2002) = mothers presence is more critical to offspring’s survival than the fathers
- high status, dominant, aggressive females are not preferred as mates
Explanations of aggression in war in humans
- Pinker (1997) = in WW2, Germans would rape women in concentration camps to assert dominance
- Chagnon (1968) = frequent fighting between villages over the abduction of women in the Amazon Forest was due to success in battle is greater than high status as successful warrior had more children and wound men who had not killed were rarely married
- Wrangham (1999) = military incompetence is a result of adaptive self deception as positive illusions about winning will lead to inaccurate assessment of own and opponents ability
Explanations of aggression in sports in humans
- ritualised form of aggression so success is available with reduced risk of physical harm
- wining team will hold high status and team members seen as desirable mates
- Maxwell and Viscek (2009) = questioned 144 rugby players about aggression and those in high professionalism are more likely to use unsanctioned aggression
- Marsh (1978) = football hooliganism is the human equivalent of “ceremonial conflict” in animals
What do some feminists say about the EEA?
- isn’t scientific
- functions as a way of justifying violence against women by saying this behaviour is determinist and therefore inevitable
- EEA is a reductionist view
