Social Conflict and Resolution Flashcards
Aggression
hostile or violent behavior towards others
territorial aggression
behaviors to exclude others from a physical behavior
Sexual aggression
displays of behavior animals exhibit to obtain and retain mates
Parental/protective Aggression
keep offspring safe from perceived harm
Predatory aggression
display of behavior with intent of consuming another animal
Anti-predatory aggression
displays of behavior to prevent being attacked or eaten
Possessive aggression
behavior keeping others away from item/object
social aggression
display hostility towards others in their group
Limbic System
Aggression is activity in this system
Emotion system in brain
Unconscious responses in system
Actual emotion/feeling is interpretation of that
Made up of hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus
Hypothalamus
responsible for homeostasis
Hippocampus
learning and memory
Thalamus
stores all sensory systems, all pass through this before going to other areas of brain
Amygdala
- emotional center in limbic system
Describe what happened in an experiment on monkeys when the amygdala was removed
no longer express fear of danger
(snake in this case)
Name factors that contribute to aggression
- sereotonin
- vasopressin
- oxytocin
- thyroid hormone
- progesterone
- luteinizing hormone
- other hormones (androgens, estrogens)
Serotonin contribution to aggression
Associated with aggression, since it dampens affects of aggression
Vasopression contribution to aggression
increases effects
Oxytocin contribution to aggression
- increases effects
Thyroid hormone contribution to aggression
Increases affect
(Thyroxine T4 and Tri-iodothrymine T3)
Luteinizing hormone contribution to aggression
Comes from anterior pituitary
Direct affect on aggression by producing testosterone (so causes increase)
Name experiences that contribute to aggression
- reproductive cycle, pain, prior learning
Reproductive cycle’s contribution to aggression
Induced ovulators: aggressive mating behaviors to ovulate; necessary for ovulation
Examples: rabbits, llamas, alpacas, ferrets, cats
Name an example of prior learning and its contribution to aggression
isolated mouse beat up when place with another
learns and will defend better in following similar events
Name two types of dominance
simple and linear
Simple dominance
one alpha animal, all others in population are subordinates (in social group)
Linear dominance
common in primates, multiple dominant beings
most dominant alpha, subdominant, and subordinates
lower group will receive aggression (alpha aggressive towards subdominant, subdominant aggressive towards subordinates)
How are dominant hierarchies established/defined?
Aggressive encounters: animals fight out to determine who is most dominant; since energy costly, can include strength tests instead of out right fighting first
Association: relationship with most dominant animal impacted, can have increased or lost dominance when confronting other groups with hierarchies
Birthright: animal born to dominant mother will be placed in hierarchy right under her
Name the pros of dominance behaviors
More control of resources (territory, mates, food, habitat)
Protection for offspring(not challenged as often)
Better choice of mates
Increased survivability
Name the cons of dominance behaviors
Less choice of mates/ no mating at all in non-dominant animals
Energetically costly (on guard always, always challenged)
Long term exposure releases lots of cortisol (from stress); causes sickness and weakness
How can an animal improve dominance status?
form alliances: individuals taking on more dominant animals, or join forces to overtake dominant animal
Wait it out: higher ranking animals will eventually die, can then take over place
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