Evolutionary Explanations Of Aggression

Question 1

What does the evolutionary theory state a humans aim is?

Answer 1

A humans aims is to survive long enough to pass on genes to offspring

Question 2

Evolutionary theory suggests males are aggressive to…

Answer 2

• compete with other males for reproductive success
• protect females and offspring
• protect / acquire resources

Question 3

Stages of reproductive success

Answer 3

1) High status makes monopolise females
2) low status males at risk of not producing offspring
3) low status indulge in high risk strategies to compete for status
4) success enhances reproductive success

Question 4

Daly and Wilson (1985)

Answer 4

• looked at murders in Detroit in 1972
• motive behind most murders was status
• all victims and offenders were unemployed, unmarried young men (low status without male)

Question 5

What is the primary motivator of aggression in males?

Answer 5

Acquisition of status

Question 6

What is the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiom (EEA)

Answer 6

Competition as resources are limited and animals must compete in order to survive and reproduce
- good hunters who acquired resources and skilled fighters who ward off rivals are attractive to females

Question 7

Young (1978) - sexual jealousy

Answer 7

• asked students to imagine and describe their likely reactions to a scenario where their partner would cheat on them
• men responded angrily, became drunk and threatened their rival (EEA =male does not want to care for a child that is not his own)
• women responded crying, pretending not to care and trying to increase their own attractiveness to regain male attention (EEA = not aggressive as they may lose baby)

Question 8

Griskevicus (2009) - sexual jealousy

Answer 8

• gave students a scenario of the same sex spilling a drink on then at a party and not apologising
• men responded with direct aggression
• 3/4 of women would walk away but 1/4 would use direct aggression ( EEA= women use direct aggression when competing for resources that will aid/protect their child)

Question 9

Why does male on male aggression arise?

Answer 9

• confidence in paternity and warning to potential rival
• Daly and Wilson (1985) = sexual jealousy

Question 10

Why does male on female aggression arise?

Answer 10

• to determine the female from indulging in behaviour not in the males interest
• miller (1980)= 55% of battered wives citied jealousy out of fear or suspicion as the reason for their husbands abuse

Question 11

Why does male on child aggression arise?

Answer 11

• link to parental investment
• males reluctant to expand energy and resources in raising offspring of another male (stepfathers)

Question 12

Why does aggression in females arise?

Answer 12

• Buss and Duntley (2006) = adaptive and functional benefits of aggressive behaviour msg outweigh the possible costs
• indirect aggression like gossiping, spreading rumours and ostracising people from the group reduces risk of physical harm
• Campbell (2002) = mothers presence is more critical to offspring’s survival than the fathers
• high status, dominant, aggressive females are not preferred as mates

Question 13

Explanations of aggression in war in humans

Answer 13

• Pinker (1997) = in WW2, Germans would rape women in concentration camps to assert dominance
• Chagnon (1968) = frequent fighting between villages over the abduction of women in the Amazon Forest was due to success in battle is greater than high status as successful warrior had more children and wound men who had not killed were rarely married
• Wrangham (1999) = military incompetence is a result of adaptive self deception as positive illusions about winning will lead to inaccurate assessment of own and opponents ability

Question 14

Explanations of aggression in sports in humans

Answer 14

• ritualised form of aggression so success is available with reduced risk of physical harm
• wining team will hold high status and team members seen as desirable mates
• Maxwell and Viscek (2009) = questioned 144 rugby players about aggression and those in high professionalism are more likely to use unsanctioned aggression
• Marsh (1978) = football hooliganism is the human equivalent of “ceremonial conflict” in animals

Question 15

What do some feminists say about the EEA?

Answer 15

• isn’t scientific
• functions as a way of justifying violence against women by saying this behaviour is determinist and therefore inevitable
• EEA is a reductionist view

Question 16

What did Charles Darwin propose?

Answer 16

The survival of the fittest
- some animals have better suited survival traits to survive than others which can be passed onto offspring
- an animal which doesn’t secure a mate will lead to their traits not being carried onto the next generation