The ethological and evolutionary explanation of aggression Flashcards
Ethological Explanation of Aggression
This explanation suggests that aggression is an innate behavior with an adaptive survival function, observed across species. It proposes that aggression helps animals secure resources, defend territories, and protect offspring.
Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRMs)
These are biological structures or processes in the nervous system that are activated by specific stimuli, triggering a fixed action pattern (FAP).
Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)
These are pre-programmed, instinctive behavioral sequences that are uniform across members of a species and are triggered by IRMs. Once started, they run to completion without requiring further input.
Key Features of FAPs
- Stereotyped and predictable.
- Universal within the species.
- Triggered by a specific stimulus (sign stimulus).
- Independent of learning.
- Ballistic (once initiated, runs to completion).
Example of FAP in Animals
A male stickleback fish shows aggression when seeing a red belly during the mating season, regardless of whether the red belly belongs to another fish or an inanimate object.
Evolutionary Explanations of Human Aggression
This approach argues that human aggression has evolved because it provided adaptive advantages in ancestral environments. Examples include defending against threats, maintaining status, and securing resources.
Sexual Competition (Evolutionary Explanation)
Aggression may have evolved as a strategy for males to compete for access to females, ensuring reproductive success.
Parental Investment and Aggression
Evolutionary explanations suggest that males may use aggression to ensure paternity certainty and protect offspring, while females may display lower physical aggression due to higher parental investment.
Buss et al. (1992) Study
Buss et al. conducted a cross-cultural study to examine patterns of aggression in mate retention. They found that men are more likely to use direct guarding and negative inducements (threats) to deter partners from infidelity, supporting evolutionary explanations of aggression.
Evaluation: Strength of Ethological Explanation
The ethological explanation is supported by empirical research showing the universality of certain aggressive behaviors in animals and humans, suggesting an innate biological basis.
Evaluation: Limitation of Ethological Explanation
Aggression in humans is more complex than in animals and is influenced by social and environmental factors, which this explanation overlooks.
Evaluation: Strength of Evolutionary Explanation
It provides a plausible account for gender differences in aggression, supported by research evidence such as Buss et al.’s findings.
Evaluation: Limitation of Evolutionary Explanation
It is difficult to test evolutionary hypotheses scientifically and may rely on post hoc reasoning. Furthermore, it doesn’t account for cultural variations in aggressive behavior.
