L2 - The Evolutionary Perspective

Question 1

Who is considered the father of criminology, and what were the two tenets of his theory?

Answer 1

Lombroso:

• the basis of all crimes originates in the brain
• criminals are an evolutionary throwback to more primitive species

Criminals have atavistic stigmata

Question 2

What are atavistic stigmata?

Answer 2

Physical characteristics of more primitive stages of human evolution, such as large jaws or a sloping forehead

Question 3

What was the main argument which brought Lombroso’s theory into disrepute?

Answer 3

Crime is a social construction - defined by laws, which change across time and contexts (e.g. homosexuality & prostitution)

Therefore, how can there be a genetic/biological contribution to something that is a social construction?

Question 4

What’s the idea of the selfish gene?

Answer 4

It is a gene which has one’s own survivalAnti-sociality and violence are strategies to pass on one’s genes to the next generation, it is a successful cheating strategy.

Question 5

Describe the relationship between the resources that a man has and his appeal to the opposite sex/potential partners.

Answer 5

The more resources, the better the ability to attract young, fertile children. Females are looking for men that can protect and raise their children, increasing the chance of passing their own genes to the next generation?

Question 6

According to the evolutionary perspective, why does aggression occur?

Answer 6

Aggression is used to ‘grab’ resources - dominance, status, territory, women, competitors.

e.g. bar fight, playground, prison etc

Question 7

What is the definition of fitness, according to the idea of the selfish gene?

Answer 7

An organism’s ability to pass on its genetic material

Question 8

What are the two ways that males can maximise genetic fitness, and which is easier for men to adopt?

Answer 8

1. Put all your eggs in one basket, and invest time, effort, and resources in just a few offspring
2. Put an egg in every basket, and invest little or no parental effort or resources.

–> this second, cheating, strategy is easier and less demanding for men to adopt.

Question 9

The ‘ultimate cheater’ lives a nomadic lifestyle. What does this entail?

Answer 9

A nomad wanders around constantly:

• fidgety; never stays in the same place for too long
• use and abuse resources, relationships and people
• fails to follow any life plan
• sensation-seeking
• impulsive

Question 10

What is the gold standard to assess psychopathy?

Answer 10

PCLR - psychology checklist revised

Question 11

Ultimate cheaters tend to be…what?

Answer 11

Psychopaths

Question 12

Why are psychopaths ultimate cheaters?

Answer 12

It seems to work - subgroup of people who do not want to contribute equally to society like the rest of their community. Want maximum benefit from minimal effort. As they still exist, the strategy must work.

Question 13

When ultimate cheaters are interviewed, do they see a problem with their strategies?

Answer 13

No, not at all. They would tend to make a point similar to: ‘in life, there are givers and there are takers, and I am happy to be the taker.’

Question 14

Manipulation, fearlessness and fighting traits are most suited to an environment with which characteristics?

Answer 14

Rich ecological niche
Competitive social climate
Low parental investment
High fertility

Question 15

Reciprocal altruism, careful mate selection, and good parenting are traits which are suited most to which characteristics?

Answer 15

Harsh ecological niche
Co-operative social climate
High parental investment
Low fertility

Question 16

Which sex is more violent?

Answer 16

males are more violent than females, e.g. commit more same-sex homicides, more likely to be a murderer than a female, etc

Question 17

What did Hyde (1986) find about the effect sizes for differences between sexes in the forms of aggression typically used?

Answer 17

Aggressive fantasies - .84
Physical aggression - .60
Imitative aggression - .49
Willingness to shock others - .39

Question 18

What did Archer (2004) find about sex differences and different forms of aggression?

Answer 18

Peak between 20 and 30 years old for aggression. Sex differences in physical aggression - more common in males. Consistent across cultures. Higher indirect aggression in females - limited to later childhood and adolescence.

• Greatest difference is in terms of physical aggression. When you look at verbal and relational aggression, the sex differences wain.

Females will use verbal and relational aggression to get rid of competitors (gossiping etc)

Question 19

How will females typically use aggression and why?

Answer 19

Females will use verbal and relational aggression to get rid of competitors (gossiping etc)

Question 20

According to the evolutionary perspective, why are men more likely to be the victims of homicide than females?

Answer 20

Because male aggression is more likely to result from a competition for a long term female partner

Question 21

What is the reason for male violence within the home?

Answer 21

To dominate, deter and control potential cheating by the partner - wants to avoid investing energy, resources and time etc into offspring that do not carry their genes.

Question 22

According to Richard Trombley (?), which period of life is our most aggressive?

Answer 22

When we are 2 years old.

Question 23

Why aren’t social explanations of sex differences in aggression valid?

Answer 23

Because the differences between the sexes are stable throughout childhood.

If social explanations were valid, we should see changes in the sex differences, e.g. girls’ attempt to establish more dominance when they are physically ahead of boys at their earlier onset of puberty

Question 24

Why might violence increase during the teenage years?

Answer 24

Tied to sexual selection and competition. Individuals become sexually active, go out more, look for mates and resources.

Question 25

Why are males more aggressive than females? What is the evidence supporting this explanation?

Answer 25

Females are focused on their fertility, and raising of offspring - therefore, avoid dangerous situations that result in physical harm.

• women consistently rate the dangerousness of aggressive and provocative encounters higher than men
• more fearful in situations and contexts that can lead to bodily harm
• more likely to develop phobias of animals, medical and dental procedures
• more concerned about their health, rate it as more important, and go to the doctors more.

Question 26

You are 100 times more likely to be killed on which day?

Answer 26

The day you are born

Question 27

When is infanticide most likely to occur?

Answer 27

Within the first year of life

Question 28

What is the inverse relationship found with regards to infanticide?

Answer 28

Inverse relationship between the degree of genetic relatedness and the likelihood of infanticide

• the greater the genetic similarity between parent and child, the lower the chances of the child being a victim of infanticide.

Question 29

How might the evolutionary perspective explain the greater rate of violence within the home between spouses?

Answer 29

Spouses are the least/not genetically related out of anyone in the home - selfish gene at play - if there is no risk of killing off their own gene pool, they are more likely to be willing to kill.

Question 30

What percentage of babies killed in England have step-parent murderers?

Answer 30

53%

Question 31

According to the evolutionary perspective, why are there higher rates of infanticide by the step parents?

Answer 31

It doesn’t make sense for the parents to invest resources and time into offspring that they do not share any genetic material with.

Question 32

Why would a biological parent kill their baby, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Answer 32

Requires a high level of investment and commitment to raise a child. Change of decision to raise, etc.
Quick implementation of a cheating strategy; decision to move on to another egg/basket.

Perhaps the child has a deformity/developmental disorder, etc.

Question 33

What are some of the environmental contributions to infanticide by the biological parent?

Answer 33

• congenital abnormality or chronic illness
• investments focused on the older child if resources are scarce
• if the other parent leaves, the burden might be too high

Question 34

What is rape, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Answer 34

The ultimate cheating strategy:

its quick
no emotional or financial investment required
possibility that the mother will look after the child, and high chance of successful pregnancy (success rates are 8% with rape vs 3% for consensual couples)

Question 35

Why might there be a higher pregnancy success rate when a women is raped, compared to consensual sex?

Answer 35

rapists are more likely to target young, fertile women

They target women based on their waist : hip ratio, which is supposedly reflective of fertility

Question 36

What are the individual difference reasons for why a male might rape?

Answer 36

If the male:

• has low SES
• is an early school leaver
• unstable/unskilled job history

Question 37

What would the evolutionary perspective theorise about the likelihood of murder of a rape victim?

Answer 37

Men would rarely kill the women they rape, as the whole idea is to increase the likelihood of passing their genes onto the next generation.

Question 38

What is the prevalence of marital rape?

Answer 38

Thought to occur in between 10-26% of married women

Question 39

In what percentage of cases is sexual jealousy the cause of marital rape, for each sex?

Answer 39

27% for men

7% for women