The Evolutionary Explanation

Question 1

What is the evolutionary explanation for aggression?

Answer 1

The belief that aggression has evolved because it solved challenges faced by our distant ancestors and so because more widespread in the gene pool, through the process of natural selection

Question 1

What is cuckoldry?

Answer 1

The fear in men that they may be raising another mans offspring and so investing resources in offspring that are not their own genetic make-up and wasting them

Question 2

What is sexual jealousy?

Answer 2

An adaptation evolved in males to deal with paternal uncertainty

Question 3

What are mate retention strategies? (example)

Answer 3

Violent strategies driven by sexual jealousy which aim to prevent the female from mating with other males. E.G direct-guarding and negative inducements

Question 4

What is direct-guarding? (example)

Answer 4

Restricting the females freedom to prevent males from gaining access. E.G checking who they have been seeing, installing tracking apps

Question 5

What are negative inducements? (example)

Answer 5

Issuing aggressive threats regarding potential infidelity. E.G “I will kill myself if you leave me”

Question 6

What is the evolutionary explanation for bullying?

Answer 6

-Male bullying is adaptive because it signals desirable characteristics for females like dominance and so increases chances of sexual reproduction
-Female bullying is adaptive as they use bullying behaviour to secure partners fidelity so they will continue to prove resources for future offspring–> enhanced reproductive success

Question 7

What study is evidence for the link between mate retention strategies and aggression?

Answer 7

Shackleford et al. (2005)- revealed a link between mate retention strategies and physical violence in relationships. He investigated intermit partner violence (IPV) in 107 heterosexual married couples. Males were given a questionnaire about their mate retention strategies and the women about the extent of their partners violence. he found a positive correlation between men’s reports of their mate retention and women reports of their partners physical violence. Suggesting the adaptive mate retention strategies developed in males through evolution can lead to more aggression.

Question 8

What are the 3 strengths of the evolutionary explanation of aggression?

Answer 8

Can explain gender differences- it is most commonly observed that males are more aggressive than females, particularly physically and the evolutionary theory can explain these distinct gender disparities. Cmbell (1999) found that a female with offspring is motivated to be less aggressive because such behaviour would put her and her Childs survival at risk. therefore they use verbal aggression as a means of retaining a partner and to avoid becoming involved in life-threatening situations involving physical aggression.
Counter- Prinz (2012) suggests differences in aggression in between genders area. product of different socialisation experiences. It has been found that the parents are more likely to physically punish boys for bad conduct. whereas when girls misbehave parents explain to them why their actions were wrong. This increases physical violence in boys.

Real-life applications- Mate retention tactics may be early indicators of potential violence against a partner and so can let friends and family of potential future violence in relationships. this can allow them to prevent this by going to relationship. counselling before the situation escalates to physical violence.

Research support- Shackleford et al. (2005) revealed the link between mate retention strategies and physical violence in heterosexual relationships. the findings highlighted strong positive correlation between mens reports of their mate retention behaviours and women’s reports of their partners physical violence.
Counter- lacks internal validity as the method used to collect their data on male and female retention strategies was based on a survey (self report method) prone to social desirability.

Question 9

What is the limitation of the evolutionary explanation of aggression?

Answer 9

Aggressive behaviour may not always be adaptive- violent or aggressive behaviour can result in social ostracism, injury or even death in extreme cases. Violent males might be rejected as mates and warriors might die in battle, therefore aggression might be considered a more maladaptive than adaptive in som cases.
Counter- Duntley and Buss (2004) suggests the benefits of aggression must only have outweighed the costs on average, relative to other strategies in the evolutionary past