evolutionary explanations of human aggression

Question 1

what is the evolutionary explanation?

Answer 1

an account of the changes in species over millions of years based on the idea of natural selection- any behaviour that enhances survival and ultimately successful reproduction is achieved

Question 2

where does sexual jealousy come from? what is it called?

Answer 2

the fact that males can never be totally sure about whether or not they are the child’s parent
•paternity uncertainty

Question 3

what is it called when men have to raise offspring that is not their own?

Answer 3

cuckoldry

Question 4

who identified mate retention strategies?

Answer 4

Wilson and Daly

Question 5

what are the two mate retention strategies?

Answer 5

•direct guarding
•negative inducements

Question 6

what does direct guarding involve?

Answer 6

•male vigilance over a partners behaviour, for example checking who they’ve been seeing, coming home early, keeping tabs on their whereabouts

Question 7

what are negative inducements?

Answer 7

such issuing threats of dire consequences for infidelity (‘i’ll kill myself if you leave me’)

Question 8

what are mate retention strategies linked with?

Answer 8

physical violence against their partner

Question 9

what does the evolutionary explanation of bullying outline?

Answer 9

our ancestors may have used bullying as an adaptive strategy to increase their chances of survival by promoting their own health and opportunities for reproduction

Question 10

who investigated male bullying?

Answer 10

volk

Question 11

what did volk argue about male bullying?

Answer 11

•he argues that the characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females- dominance, acquisition of resources and strength
•it also has the benefit of warding off potential rivals
•those top of the dominance hierarchy stress less

Question 12

what was argued about female bullying?

Answer 12

•in females, bullying more often takes place within a relationship and is a method of controlling a partner
•women use bullying behaviour to secure their partner is loyal, which means they continue to provide resources for future offspring
•such behaviour would be naturally selected

Question 13

evaluation points:

Answer 13

+gender differences
+real world application
-cultural differences
-determinism vs free will

Question 14

strength: gender differences

Answer 14

•can explain why males and females differ in their uses of aggression
•campbell argues that it is not adaptive for a female with offspring to be physically aggressive because such behaviour would put her own and her child’s survival at risk
•a more adaptive strategy is for females to use verbal aggression
•such arguments can provide support for the evolutionary approach to explaining aggression

Question 15

strength: real-world application

Answer 15

•evolutionary explanations can be used to reduce bullying
•Ellis suggests that bullying is adaptive (bullies stand to gain advantages for themselves) and anti bullying intervention aims to reward prosocial alternatives
•therefore viewing bullying as an adaptive behaviour may lead to more effective anti-bullying interventions

Question 16

limitation: cultural differences

Answer 16

•substantial cultural differences in aggressive behaviour
•psychologists studied people in botswana who appeared to show very little aggressive behaviour and that it had very negative attitudes towards it
•cultural and social norms powerfully constrain aggressive behaviour in this society
•therefore since some cultures do not show aggressiveness, such behaviour may not necessarily be adaptive

Question 17

limitation: determinist vs free will

Answer 17

•the evolutionary argument is biologically deterministic and suggests we have no free will over our aggressive behaviour