Evolutionary Explanations of Human Aggression: Bullying

Question 1

why does bullying occur?

Answer 1

a power imbalance
- a more powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against a weaker person

Question 2

how have researchers traditionally viewed bullying?

Answer 2

• maladaptive behaviour
• e.g. result of poor social skills or childhood abuse

Question 3

how did our evolutionary ancestors use bullying?

Answer 3

they used bullying as an adaptive strategy to increase their chances of survival by promoting their own health and creating opportunities for reproduction

Question 4

who are the researchers involved in male bullying?

Answer 4

Volk et al

Question 5

what did Volk et al do?

Answer 5

• Volk et al argued that characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females, e.g. dominance, acquisition of resources and strength

Question 6

what benefit does bullying have according to Volk et al?

Answer 6

• warding off potential rivals
• such bullying behaviour would be naturally selected as males would have a greater reproductive success
• bullying can also affect the bully’s heatlh

Question 7

what did Sapolsky say about bullying and health?

Answer 7

• adolescent boys who gain a reputation for being tough are less likely to experience aggression themselves as other boys avoid contact with them
• this benefits their health as those at the top of dominance hierarchy experience less stress

Question 8

what is the evolutionary explanation of female bullying?

Answer 8

• in females bullying more often takes place within a relationship and is a method of controlling a partner

Question 9

why do women bully?

Answer 9

to secure their partner’s fidelity which means that they continue to provide resources for future offspring
- any such behaviour would be naturally selected because of enhanced reproductive success

Question 10

who was the researcher involved in the research of female bullying?

Answer 10

Campbell