Ethological explanation of Aggression Flashcards
What does the ethological approach suggest?
Proposes that aggression is instinctive in all species and is adaptive.
What is another adaptive function of aggression?
Establish dominance hierarchies, giving access to territory and other resources.
What did Lorenz argue?
Principles of aggression were the same in humans and animals.
Define ritualistic aggression.
A series of behaviours displayed with aggressive intentions. They take the form of threat displays and appeasement gestures.
What is an Innate Releasing Mechanism?
An IRM is a built in psychological process or structure in the brain that looks out for threats. It monitors drives, such as aggression.
What are Fixed action patters?
A fixed sequence of behaviours triggered by the innate releasing mechanism.
The FAP varies from species to species.
Outline the 5 fixed action patterns.
-Stereotyped= each member of the species will show the same FAP.
-Universal= each member of the species will show a FAP.
-Independent of individual experience= It doesn’t change with experience (innate).
-Ballistic= Cannot be changed.
-Specific triggers= There will be a specific trigger/threat gesture for every FAP.
Outline Tinbergen’s Study.
-Studied stickleback fish.
-Males were aggressive to anything with the colour red on it. Regardless of whether the shape resembled a fish or not.
-Fish would even try to attack the stimuli that weren’t in the tank.
-If red was removed, the fish would continue to attack, supporting the Ballistic FAP.
Give a strength of ethological explanations.
+Supporting evidence from Brunner et al for aggression being genetic - supports that aggression is adaptive in survival of the fittest.
Give limitations of ethological explanations.
-There are cultural differences in aggressive behaviour.
If something is innate it should be shown in all humans universally, this explanation is not comprehensive.
-Many of the research is conducted on animals.
Just because an animal will do something doesn’t mean a human will, humans are more complex. Therefore the findings can’t be generalised to humans.
