pathological explanation of aggression

Question 1

What is the pathological explanation of aggression?

Answer 1

It suggests aggression is innate, adaptive, and evolved to improve survival. It spreads out species (reducing competition) and establishes dominance hierarchies for access to resources and mates.

Question 2

What is ritualistic aggression, and how does it benefit survival?

Answer 2

Aggression in animals often involves rituals like threat displays rather than real violence. Lorenz found such behaviour avoids injury and allows losers to submit, preventing species extinction through unnecessary deaths.

Question 3

What are innate releasing mechanisms (IRMs) and fixed action patterns (FAPs)?

Answer 3

An IRM is a built-in biological process triggered by a specific sign stimulus. It activates a FAP—a predictable, automatic behavior sequence with six features:

Stereotyped

Universal

Not learned

Ballistic

Single-purpose

Triggered by a specific stimulus

Question 4

What did Tinbergen’s study on sticklebacks show?

Answer 4

Male sticklebacks attacked any model with a red spot, regardless of shape—showing that aggression was triggered by a sign stimulus, not learning. Once started, the FAP ran its full course.

Question 5

What supports the pathological explanation of aggression?

Answer 5

Genetic studies show aggression is heritable. Twin and adoption studies link genes to aggression, supporting the idea that it’s innate and evolutionarily adaptive.

Question 6

What are the key criticisms of the ethological explanation?

Answer 6

Same-species aggression isn’t always ritualistic: Goodall’s chimp study showed prolonged, violent attacks, ignoring appeasement signals.

FAPs are more flexible than Lorenz claimed: Psychologist Morton Hunt argued they vary with experience and context—suggesting learning also plays a role, especially in humans.