Aggression: Ethological explanations

Question 1

Ethology

Answer 1

the study of animal behaviour
aims to study adaptive (survival) value of certain actions
Theories can be used to explain human behaviours

Question 2

FAP

Answer 2

Fixed action pattern

Question 3

Fixed action pattern

Answer 3

An innate response to a specific stimulus
Similar to a reflex, but more complicated
Occur in same way every time (stereotyped)

Question 4

Tinbergen (1951)

Answer 4

suggested animals have FAP’s
Male sticklebacks
Have red underbelly - acts as sign stimulus
When another male enters territory, produced fixed series of aggressive actions bc of sight of red underbelly on rival

Question 5

Stickleback’s red underbelly is a….

Answer 5

sign stimulus

Question 6

Sign stimulus

Answer 6

the specific thing that sparks off the FAP

Question 7

IRM

Answer 7

Innate releasing mechanisms

Question 8

Innate releasing mechanisms

Answer 8

neural network that, when stimulated by presence of sign stimulus, activates FAP associated with that sign stimulus,

Question 9

Hydraulic model

Answer 9

certain amount of ‘action specific energy’ which allows you to carry out FAP
Repeating action too much = become tired, FAP stops occurring

Question 10

What happens if action is over-repeated?

Answer 10

Become tired and FAP stops occurring

Question 11

Characteristics of FAP’s

Answer 11

Stereotyped
universal
independent of individual experience
Ballistic
Specific triggers

Question 12

Stereotyped

Answer 12

behaviour always happens in the same way

Question 13

Universal

Answer 13

behaviour same for all members of same species

Question 14

Independent of individual experience

Answer 14

no learning involved, behaviour always same

Question 15

Ballistic

Answer 15

Once FAP starts, FPA cant be stopped

Question 16

Specific triggers

Answer 16

each FAP has a specific sign stimulus trigger

Question 17

Research into FAP’s

Answer 17

Tinbergen (1951)

Question 18

order which leads to a FAP

Answer 18

Sign stimulus - IRM - FAP

Question 19

A03: Ritualistic aggression has benefits

Answer 19

aggression that follows certain patterns in the form of threat displays

aggressors try to scare component

an adaptive advantage, prevents conflicts from escalating to potential dangerous physical aggression

Question 20

Threat display example

Answer 20

Silverback gorillas use threat displays such as hooting and chest pounding to intimidate opponents in an attempt to make them back down

Question 21

Chagnon et al

Answer 21

studied Yanomamo people of South America who used chest pounding and club fighting as substitutes for more extreme violence

Question 22

Threat displays

Answer 22

intended to make an opponent back down.
how strong they are in comparison to competition.
last step before engaging in physical fighting or submits and leaves.

Question 23

Wolves and doves

Answer 23

general term for diff types of animals

Lorenz

Question 24

Wolves

Answer 24

natural weapons e..g claws, talons

Question 25

Doves

Answer 25

no natural weapons e.g. doves, frogs, humans

Question 26

conspecifics

Answer 26

all members of the same species

Question 27

Difference between wolves and doves

Answer 27

Wolves: programmed to not kill each other during a fight
If conspecifics fight each other, they will kill each other.

Doves: don’t have risk of killing each other

Question 28

Wolves must therefore have

Answer 28

adapted by being programmed to not kill each other during a fight.
wolf exposes neck to opponent to surrender
Instinctive inhibition prevents dominant animal form continuing the fight

Question 29

Doves therefore

Answer 29

have no powerful natural weapons

no need to develop instinctive inhibitions about killing other people

Question 30

Dovers - humans

Answer 30

science and technology taken over ethology
natural weapons turned into literal weapons
more destructive weapons and nothing instinctive to say don’t use them against conspecifics