Ethology/Evolution Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is Ethology?
Ethologists suggest that the main function of aggression is that it is adaptive.
Focus on animal studies that can explain human aggressive behaviour.
What is aggression needed for ?
Survival
Keeping territory
Food
Social hierarchies within same species
protect from threats
mating rights
Why is aggression important for Male Chimpanzees?
Is allows them to keep on top of the dominance hierarchy.
This dominance means they will be allowed mating rights.
So their genes are passed on.
How can this theory apply to humans?
Pettit et al
Did a study on young children and observed how aggression played a role in development of dominance hierarchies.
Adaptive so naturally selected.
Dominance over others allow for access to resources and survival and mating rights.
Good evaluation of adaptive functions
Research support
Research supports a genetic basis.
MAOA-L gene is linked to aggressive behaviour in humans.
Aggression is adaptive so is genetically based.
Therefore the ethological approach is correct in saying aggression is genetically determined and adaptive.
What is the counterpoint to this?
Cultures - Nisbett
What do these findings suggest ?
Aggressive behaviour can differ in cultures.
Nisbett found that homicide from reactive aggression is more common in white males in south USA than North USA.
South USA has a culture of honour which can explain the higher homicide rates from reactive aggression.
Suggesting - Aggression is more closely linked to learnt social norms instead of innate instinct.
What is reactive aggression
Response to threat from someone else.
What is ritualistic aggression?
A ritual is a series of behaviours carried out in a set order.
Animals likely to show the same behaviours in a set order every time.
What did Lorenz find in relation to ritualistic aggression?
Fights between the same species led to low physical damage.
Instead they would show displays of aggression like threats. Facial expression/showing teeth/growling.
What are appeasement displays?
Accepting defeat.
This inhibits more aggressive behaviour from the winner meaning the loser is more likely to survive.
How do Wolves use appeasement displays?
Expose their necks making themselves vulnerable showing they are backing down.
Submissive appeasement display.
Why is ritualistic aggression adaptive?
If every aggressive encounter ended in a death the existence of a species could be at threat.
Appeasement displays example of this.
(Wolves/Cats)
Evaluation of Ritualistic aggression
Limitation - Goodall - Aggression is not ritualistic
Observed male chimps
Found that the male chimps from one community killed all members of another.
Killed them in a systematic way
Even when appeasement display shown still attacked. (Did not inhibit behaviours).
Some held victim down while others attacked.
Research support - FAPS
Research into fixed action patterns suggests ritualistic aggression.
And Innate releasing mechanisms
Stickleback fish
What are Innate releasing mechanisms ?
An inbuilt physciological process/structure (similar to network of neurons in the brain).
There will be an environmental stimulus that will trigger the IRM which will release a specific sequence of behaviours.
What are fixed action patterns ?
(FAPS)
The release of behaviours
There are 6 main features.
What are the 6 features of FAPs
- Unchanging sequence of behaviours
2.Universal - occurs to all members of that species.
- Not affected by learning - same for all not matter personal experience.
4.Ballistic - Once triggered follows its course and cannot be altered before it is completed.
- single purpose behaviour only occurs in certain situations.
- A response to an identifiable sign/stimulus.
Research support for FAPs
Tinbergen’s - Stickleback fish
Male stickleback fish are very territorial during mating season.
They will develop a red underbelly when another male enters their territory.
This is their unchanging aggressive behaviour and only happens in certain situations.
The stimulus is the red spot and they will respond to it.
Explain Timbergen’s stickleback fish procedure and the findings.
Presented fish with wooden models of all different shapes.
No matter the shape if it had the red spot the fish attacked it.
If there was no spot no aggression was shown even if the model looked similar to a real one.
The fish had unchanging FAP’s once triggered it always ran its course.
Evaluation of FAPs - Problem for Ethology using animal studies also
Lorenz’s view is outdated - he argued FAP’s are unchanging and innate.
Hunt found that they can be influenced by environment and learning in humans.
Duration can vary by individual/encounters and behaviours may vary by situation.
FAP’S may be more flexible in humans and so research support is invalid and cannot be generalised to humans.
What is the evolutionary explanation of human aggression?
Sexual jealousy
Is a major motivator in aggressive behaviour for males.
Explain Paternity uncertainty
Males cannot be 100% sure if the child is theirs.
Threat of Cuckoldry meaning they are raising a child that is not theirs.
Wasting their resources.
Aggression is evolutionary because males are evolved to stop partner from leaving/cheating.
What are male retention strategies?
Wilson/Daly
Direct guarding - Involves checking partners behaviour like knowing where they are or who they are talking to.
Negative inducements - Giving their partner threats or consequences if they leave.
What does Wilson say about physical violence against partners.
Asked females ppts to report male retention strategies in their partners.
It was measured by seeing if they agreed with certain statements. (Does he insist on knowing where you are)?
