Lesson 5- evolutionary explanations of aggression

Question 1

evolutionary explanations of aggression

Answer 1

-focus on 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 perpetuated
-makes sense that aggression is a behaviour which aids survival and therefore passed through generations

Question 2

sexual jealousy

Answer 2

-major motivation factor that explains aggression in males from an evolutionary perspective
-occurs in men due to fact man can never be sure about whether they are the father of the child, paternity uncertainty is a result of cuckoldry
-any investment in offspring who dont share males genes is a waste of his resources, contributes to survival male rivals genes and leaves father with fewer resources to invest in his own future offspring
-men in evolutionary past who could avoid cuckoldry were more reproductively successful, psychological mechanisms have evolved to increase anti-cuckoldry behaviour in males, experienced more strongly in males than females
-leads to aggressive strategies that men employ to keep their partners and prevent them from straying, adaptive in evolutionary past

Question 3

mate retention strategies

Answer 3

-Wilson and Daly 1996
Direct guarding- male being vigilant over partners behaviour
Negative inducements- issuing threats of dire consequence for infedility
Physical violence against partner- Wilson et al 1995 asked women to report mate retention strategies, measured in terms of the extent to which they agreed with statements eg he insists on knowing who you are with and where you are at all times, women who did agree with this were twice more likely to have experienced physical violence from partners, 73% required medical attention 53% had feared for their lives

Question 4

bullying

Answer 4

-occurs because of power imbalance, most powerful individual uses aggression deliberately and repeatedly against the weaker person, researchers viewed bullying as maladaptive behaviour
-however evolutionary ancestors may have used bullying as an adaptive strategy to increase chances of survival by promoting their own health and creating opportunities for reproduction

Question 5

male and female bullying

Answer 5

male bullying- Volk et al 2012 argues characteristics associated with bullying behaviour are attractive to females- dominance, acquisition of resources and strength, also has benefit of warding off potential rivals, naturally selected due to reproductive success
-bullying may be beneficial for health, Sapolsky 2004 found teenage boys who gain a reputation for being tough are less likely to experience someone being aggressive towards them, benefits their health as they do not experience stress of bullying
-Campbell 1999, in females bullying often takes place within a relationship, method is used to control the partner and prevent infidelity, means they continue to provide resources for future offspring, such behaviour naturally selected due to enhanced reproductive success

Question 6

aggression in warfare

Answer 6

-Smith 2007 claims human warfare orginiated to obtain valuable resources and to attract mates and forge intragroup bonds
-displays of aggressiveness and bravery are attractive to females, shown in the past where male warriors in traditional societies tended to have more sexual partners and children suggesting direct reproductive benefit, aggression in combat can also increase status for warriors which would lead peers to respect them more and increase intragroup bonds

Question 7

evolutionary evaluation

Answer 7

-explains gender differences in aggression, Campbell 1999 argues it is not adaptive for a female with children to be physically aggressive as she could put her own life at risk as well as her offsprings, more adaptive strategy would be to use verbal aggression whereas a man would probably use more physical aggression
-real life application, can be used to reduce bullying, address and question why a bully needs to do so and what they feel they are lacking in- may not always works, also the idea that bullying is adaptive, can lead to anti-bullying strategies, such as showing bully increased costs of bullying and increased benefits of not bullying and being prosocial eg giving roles which would command respect from others but from admiration not fear
-does not explain cultural differences, Thomas 1958 studied Kung San people in Western Botswana, Africa, called them ‘harmless people’ as they had very negative attitudes towards aggression, children discouraged to display any aggression from young age, individuals who showed aggression lost their status and respect within community, shows power of social and cultural norms in shaping aggression rather than evolutionary reasons
-biologically determinist, suggests we are aggressive due to ancestors and its increased survival value, therefore beyond our control implying it is inevitable/not our fault, even implies acceptable for male to use violence against partner as a way to retain them as male has no free will over aggression due to biology, will not sit well in court of law which states we are legally responsible for all actions and cannot be physically violent, ignores the role of free will and may not be relevant in the real world