The evolutionary explination for human aggression Flashcards
What problems could aggression be adaptive for solving
Gaining resources, eliminating male rivals for femals and deffering mates from sexual infidelity
What does the evolutionary model rely on
That the brain comprises of a number of adaptions to cope with the various challenges of group living
How does sexual competition influence aggression
Ancestral males seeking a mate would have had to compete with other men, and one way of eliminating the competition was through aggression, possibly in physical competition. Those successful would breed and pass down aggression to their offspring.
What evidence is there that sexual competition took place
Puts argues that various traits imply competition, for example men have 75% more muscle mass than women, are more aggressive than women and are far more likely to die violently. Puts believes men have thicker jawbones as they hit each other and those with the thickest jawbones survive
Who thought that men have thincker jawbones because they hit each other
Puts
How might sexual jealousy relate to aggression
Male aggression can arise out of sexual jealousy, a result of paternal uncertainty. Men are terrified of cuckoldry, and so the adaptive function of sexual jealousy would have been to defer a mate from sexual infidelity. Buss suggests men have a number of strategies to achieve this, including use of threats or violence towards partner or love rival. As evidence of the violence caused by sexual jealousy, Dell concluded that 17% of murder cases in the uk are caused by sexual jealousy
Who suggested men evolved violence to keep women
Buss
Who said that 17% of all murder cases in the UK were caused by sexual jealousy
Dell
How might warfare create aggression
Smith claimed that warfare was not only to obtain resources but also to attract mates and forge intergroup bonds. Bravery and aggressiveness is attractive to females, and the absence of such displays is unattractive, so men go and fight. Chagnon found that male warriors in traditional societies have more sexual partners and more kids. It also strengthens the bond between men, raising an individuals status
Who claimed that war helped men get some pussy
Smith
Who found male warrors got more pussy
Chagnon
How might gender differences be better explained by socialisation (eval)
Smetana found that parents are more likely to physically punish boys for poor conduct, while when girls misbehave they explain why their actions were wrong. This could increase male violence. As women are less physically powerful than boys, they may instead adopt more social forms of aggression.
Who found that parents are more likely to beat boys
Smetana
Why is it an issue that aggressive behaviour may not always be adaptive (eval)
One issue with aggression being a good way to adapt to social living is that aggressive behaviour can often result in social ostracism, injury or even death. Violent males may be rejected as mates and warriors die in battle, which makes aggression seem a bit maldaptive. However Duntley and Buss point out that the benefits only have to outweigh the costs on average relative to other strategies in the evolutionary past
Who pointed out that aggressive behaviours only have to be slightly better than alternatives
Duntley and Buss
Who found that tribes love murderers
Daly and Wilson
Who claimed that women are not fighters in many societies
Adams
