evolutionary explanations of aggression Flashcards
(12 cards)
what are evolutionary explanations of aggression based on
- idea that aggression is innate and can be traced back to our ancestral past
- proposed that aggression is an adaptive trait which has promoted survival in the past becuase it helped solve problems
- males who were aggressive were more likley to ensure their genetic material was passed to future generations
- aggression therefore enhances reproductive success
what two circumstancesis aggression adaptive in
- sexual jelousy
- warfare
what is sexual jealousy
- an emotional state experienced by males when they suspect infidelity
- due to paternal uncertainty: males can neber be 100% certain that they have fathered a child (unlike women)
what do men fear
sexual jealousy
- cuckholdry
- this is raising offspring which is not biologically theirs
- investment in offspring which do no share the males genes is a waste of his reasources and contributes to survival of a rivals genes instead
what have males developed and why
sexual jealousy
- mate retention tactics
- aggressive stategies desinged to deter their partner from infidelity and therefore reduce paternal uncertainty
- these stategies enchance reproductive success
two examples of mate retention tactics
(Buss)
- direct guarding - males becomes increasingly vigilant of female mate in an attempt to restrict her freedom and prevent another male “gaining access”
- negative inducements - male using aggressive threats to warm the female against female infidelity
Eg: critising partners appearence/weight/dress
demonstraighting anger at a partner for socialising without them
phsyically harming
what happens if mate retention tactics fail
- males are likely to esculate to physical violence
- womens who are victims of domestic abuse often cite their partners jealousy as the cause if his aggression
- if someone is killed by their partner, said to be unintentional and a maladaptive consequence of sexual jealousy
explain warefare
- although it poses extreme risks for humans it has adaptive benefits:
1. male warriors in traditional societies are likely to have increased social status, achieving respect from peers within the group, so strengthening the bond between them and other males in the group
2. displays of aggression in warefare indicatebravery which can be percieved as an attractive qualit from a female mate. Eg: male warriors in traditional societies tend to have more sexual partners and more offspring, suggesting a direct reproducing benefit
Strength: supporting jealousy
I: supporting research for evolutionary explanations of aggression linked to sexual jealousy
E: shackleford et al - research into intimate partner violence used self report techniques to investigate the use of MRT’s in 107 married couples
results showed a postive correlation between reports of mate retention tactics and physical violence
women also stated that males who had used emotional manipulation against them (threatening suicide if she left) were more likely to have used physical aggression against them
C: adds validity to the evolutionary explanation, by showing a link between sexual jealousy and aggressive behaviour
Strength: supporting warfare
I: supporting research for evolutionary explanations of aggression in warare
E: chagon - observations of the Yanamamo tribe showed that there was constant fighting between branches of the Yanamamo for accessto female mates and to improve status of one tribe over another
succesful warriors had more wives and children than those less successful. found those killed in battles tended to be married
C: increasing the validity of the evolutionary explanation, by showing rhat aggression in warefare increasesthe social status of males to improve their reproductive success
strength: gender
I: evolutionary explanations can account for gender differences in aggression
E: very few warrior female societies as females have conciderably less to gain by being aggressive
females are more at risk from near-death situations, risking reproductive damge and loss of offspring
female aggression is a maladaptive trait and is therefore not practiced. An adaptive statergy for females could include engaging in verbal aggression as a way of resolving disputes, which often happens
C: evolutionary explanations of aggression are valid in explaining why females are less aggressive than males
weakness: adaptive
I: aggression may not always be adaptive
E: violent aggressive behaviour in males is not always an adaptive trait and can be regared as maladaptive in some circumstances
for example, aggressive males could be rejected socially and not appear to be attractive to a female matw, seeing as though they may have an increased risk of injury or death
C: reduces the validity of the evolutionary explanation of aggression becuase it implies that aggression is not always linked to surival in acessing mates
