Evolution Explanation Of Aggression Flashcards
What is evolution?
The gradual change of species over time.
What is natural selection?
Individuals with the most suitable characteristics for the environment will survive and reproduce.
What is sexual selection?
Traits which have been passed on as they are attractive to a mate but not about survival
What did Buss and Shakelfords(1997) theory state?
Aggression can be an evolutionary adaptive strategy to help with resources defence and securing mates
What are the 6 causes of aggression being passed on? And examples of all?
-gaining territory and resources- money and warfare
-defending against attack- protecting partner and child
-inflicting cost in same sex rivals-men fighting over women
-negotiating status and power hierarchies-to gain status so men are more attractive to women as a mate
-deterring rivals from future aggression-maintaining aggressive reputation
-deterring mates from infidelity- domestic abuse
How does Daly and Wilson(1985) finding 58 cases of murder are due to sexual jealousy as a warning to potential rivals support the theory?
Shows inflicting cost on same sex rivals as they are completing over a person/mate.
How does Miller(1980) finding 55% of battered wives cited jealousy as a reason for husbands behaviour support the theory?
Shows deterring mates from infidelity as the men want to pass of their genes to an offspring.
How does cultural differences (needing or not needing aggressive behaviour to claim social status) conflict the theory?
Shows that the evolutionary theory is not universal and therefore cannot be applied to all cultures aggression.
Why is brain structure a better explanation of aggression?
Bain scabs are empirical so can be directly measured unlike evolution.
Why is the homecoming explanation of aggression better?
Is empirical as can be measured by a blood test so more objective and scientific.
Why is the theory useful?
-can explain motivation for aggression so applicable to modern behaviour (warfare)
Why is the theory not useful?
Step-fathers still care for children that are not biologically theirs as their genes are not passed on so less applicable to real life.
How so the theory deterministic and how does it link to domestic abuse?
-is already decided by biology so have no control.
-which excuses domestic abuse and takes blame away
Why is the theory not testable?
-difficult to test (post-hoc/after the fact) so not directly testable.
-so cannot find evidence so therefore less empirical as the past has already happened.
-less creditable
