ethology and evolution

Question 1

what is ethology?

Answer 1

• is the scientific study of animal behaviours
  studying the reasons animals display aggression could be used to understand aspects of human behaviour

Question 2

info on ethology

Answer 2

animal behaviour is thought to provide evolutionary advantages , animal aggression can keep them on top of social hierarchy and protect them from threats and attract mates (more likely to pass on their genes)

Question 3

what is meant by the term ‘ritualistic’ in terms of anima aggression

Answer 3

meaning members of the same species will respond with the same set of behaviours to stimuli eg showing teeth

Question 4

lorenz(the goat)

Answer 4

he argues that aggressive energy builds up within animals but a set of inherited neural circuits called an innate releasing mechanism stops aggression being expressed

Question 5

what is meant by ‘innate releasing mechanism’

Answer 5

aggressive energy builds up within animals but a set of inherited neural circuits stops aggression being expressed

Question 6

how are innate releasing mechanisms triggered and what happens

Answer 6

triggered by a stimulus in the environment
the animal then performs predictable aggressive behaviours called fixed action patterns

Question 7

what are fixed action patterns

Answer 7

predictive aggressive behaviours which are thought to be innate across all members of the same species , members of the same species will perorm the same set of behaviour wtihout learning from other members of the specieis

Question 8

ethology research evalations

Answer 8

– Tinbergen (1947) male sticle baks how highly ritualised attack patterns to males of the same specieis . Male stickle backs were presented with realistic models of male sticklebacks but missing ther distinct red bellies and presented with unrealistic wooden models with a red underside . It was found that males only attacked the wooden models with red underr sides , this suggests that male sticklebacks do have an innate releasing mechanism for aggression triggered by the red bellies of other male stickle backs resulting in a fixed action pattern of aggressive behaviour

• slackett (1966) isolated infant monkeys from their mothers to avoid learnt behaviours , he showed the isolated monkeys photographs of monkeys displaying threatening or non threatening poses. It was found that the monkeys displayed defensive poses only to the threatening photohgraphs, this suggests monkeys are born with an innate st of behaviours (FAP) that is triggered when shown aggression

Question 9

ao3 evaluation for animal studies good n bad

Answer 9

• animal studies are able to separate biological and socio-cultural processes wen studying aggressive behaviour , this can give an insight on the biological origin of aggression however there are a number of limitations when generalising animal studies findings to humans one being much of human aggression is not instinctual but premeditated and can highly organised for example welfare

Question 10

what is the evolutionary theory

Answer 10

it suggests that if genes give a survival advantage then the individual is more likely to reproduce, passing on these genes to the next generation

Question 11

evolution background

Answer 11

human aggressive behaviour would have been beneficial the reproductive success of ancestors , aggression can help survive predators, compete for resources and therefore may be seen as more favourable mates as they are able to protect the female and her offspring

Question 12

genes can..

Answer 12

mutate and some mutations would increase these aggressive behaviours. Increased reproductive success would lead to mutated genes that promote aggression being selected for and become more common in the gene pool - survival of the fittest

Question 13

male sexual jealously

Answer 13

• human aggressive behaviours such as male sexual jealously can be explained by using the eovlutionary theory, males cannot be sure of paternity nut mothers can be sure of maternity. High levels of male violence against partners could be an attempt to ensure faithfulness and certainty that they are investing resources into their own children
  males may also use psychologically aggressive mate retention stratergies such as mate guarding (limit partner movememnt) and threats warning agaisnt infedelity

Question 14

evolution research evaluations :0 :))

Answer 14

• Daly and Wilson (1990) ocmpared a range of murder rates in family for blood/non related blood relatives . It was found across a wide range of cultures that family members are more likely to kill familt members who they are not genetically related too (step children eg) One data set showed that infants in the US are 100 times more likely to be killed if living with one or more step parent. Evolutionary theory suggests that this is because step parents are resistant to spending limited resources on children that are nit their own

Question 15

evolution disadvantages studies

Answer 15

• Sadalla (1987) female pps rated descriptions of high vs low dominant aggressive or domineering man . They rated the highly dominant man as more sexually attractive. High aggressive and domineering men were not rated as more attractive and were rated as less likeable , stable and promiscuous. This suggests aggression in men doesn’t improve reproductive success but a related behvaiour characteristic - dominance. Dominance acheieved without the use of aggression results in the highest level of attraction

This theory has ethical implications as it suggests that male aggression is innate it could provide a justification to male abusers of women. These men may claim that they are unable to control their aggressive impulses.