The Ethological Explanation Of Aggression

Question 1

Definition of ethological explanation

Answer 1

An explanation that seeks to understand the innate behaviour of animals (and humans) by studying them in their natural environment.

Question 2

Adaptive function

Answer 2

Suggests that agression is adapted as it it beneficial to survival. Also to establish dominance hierarchys. Forces animals in a species into different territories reducing pressure on resources.

Question 3

Ritualistic aggression

Answer 3

A ritual is a series of characteristics carried out in a set order. Lorenz saw that fights between animals caused little damage as it usually only consists of showing claws and teeth as a ‘ritual’.
Also fights between two wolves shows the losers by him showing the neck suggesting that he had lost and could be killed. They don’t kill because it threatens the species.

Question 4

Outline- innate releasing mechanisms (IRM) and fixed action patterns (FAP)

Answer 4

IRM- a built in psychological process. When an environmental stimulus occurs it triggers the IRM which then releases a specific set of behaviours.
FAP- is the set of behaviours displayed.
Features of FAPs include:
-stereotyped and unchanged
-universal as it’s the same in all species
-unaffected by learning
-ballistic, won’t stop till its completed
-single-purpose

Question 5

Outline- key research into IRMs and FAPs

Answer 5

Male stickleback’s show their responses as a result of seeing a red under belly on something.
Found- anything regardless of shape will be attacked in the FAPs of the stickleback if it had a red under belly.

Question 6

Evaluation- two limitations

Answer 6

There are animals who kill eachother, including humans deliberately
So- this argues against Ritualistic aggression.

Also FAPs aren’t that fixed: hunt (1973)
- found FAPs are more flexible than the model implies