The Role Of Evolution And Natural Selection To Explain Aggression Flashcards
What does evolutionary explanations of aggression suggest about its purpose?
Aggression serves an important function in terms of both individual survival as well as reproductive potential
When does competition arise?
When resources are limited and animals must compete in order to survive and reproduce.
Why does aggression have an adaptive purpose?
Aggression meant our ancestors were more likely to survive and pass on their genes, so it facilitates survival and adaptation to the environment
What does aggression as an innate response suggest?
Humans are aggressive because of natural selection- those who were more aggressive survived and guaranteed reproductive success as they eliminate male competition, and then passed on their aggressive traits through their genes
Why is aggression considered an important survival trait?
Aggression was used by our ancestors to defend themselves and their children from predators, and was used to catch food
Why do humans have such large brains compared to other primates?
- Our brain evolved in response to our complex social organisation
- this is because individuals who were better at manipulating others to meet their own needs were more likely to survive
- therefore the bigger the brain, the better-equipped you are to cope with the social situations involved in survival.
In terms of brain structure development, what is the most important survival trait which has evolved in humans, and what is this controlled by?
The ability to switch aggression on and off. This is what the limbic system controls
Why is control over our emotional responses such as aggression so important to humans survival?
This ability is what enables humans to live together in complex groupings
How has the prefrontal cortex evolved over time to meet the demands of a changing society?
It has gotten bigger= enables humans to make the decisions on how to respond in social situations
Explain the reasons that males are likely to show aggressive behaviour.
- STATUS: Males are motivated to acquire status since high status males have access to mates and resources for survival. High status males are more likely to be selected by females since they will be better able to guarantee the survival of her offspring. Low status males have to engage in high risk strategies to enhance their chances of reproduction
- SEXUAL JEALOUSY: aggression has become an adaptive process for males as it prevents the female from leaving
Why are females generally viewed as less aggressive then males?
The costs of aggressive behaviour in females outweigh the benefits, therefore it has no purpose.
Why is it not sensible for a mother of a baby to show aggressive behaviour compared to the father of the baby?
The mothers survival is far more important because her presence is critical to the survival of the offspring, the fathers is not necessarily.
What is a females aim in regards to having reproductive success in comparison to a males aim? How does this difference explain the difference in the way the two genders behave?
- female just wants to secure a valuable male, whereas males want to gain a high status.
- females have evolved low risk and indirect strategies in disputes and conflicts instead of showing physical aggression. They are more likely to gossip, with the aim of reducing the attractiveness of competing females.
