Aggression- evolutionary explanation

Question 1

Why did evolutionary psychologists believe that aggression was an important trait?

Answer 1

It made it more likely for them to survive and reproduce.

Question 2

Why did evolutionary psychologists believe that aggression was an important trait to attract females?

Answer 2

They see it as a positive trait for survival.
(sexual selection)

Question 3

What are the natural selection explanations for aggression?

Answer 3

Humans fight over resources, so can gain more if more aggressive.
Males are physically stronger than women so can again gain more if aggressive.

Question 4

What did Campbell (1993) find for the natural selection explanation for aggression?

Answer 4

Violent gang members are given more respect than non-violent gang members. Not only that, but it gives them access to female members of the gang.

Question 5

What did Buss (2005) find for the natural selection explanation for aggression?

Answer 5

When a male has lost social status due to another man, they are more likely to be aggressive.

Question 6

Who showed that men are more aggressive than females?

Answer 6

Buss (2005)

Question 7

What did Buss (2005) show about how males are physically stronger than females?

Answer 7

Males have a thicker jaw bone and more robust skulls, so easier to survive attacks from other males.

Question 8

Why may aggressive also be used in relation to cuckoldry?

Answer 8

It may to useful to prevent sexual infidelity (cheating)

Question 9

What is cuckoldry?

Answer 9

Meaning raising another man’s child and believing that it’s your own. This is because a male couldn’t be 100% sure that a baby is there’s.

Question 10

Why do males display aggression as a way of preventing aggression?

Answer 10

They are more likely to become jealous.

Question 11

What is the term for when females typically chose males who are more aggressive because they are more likely to defend them in later stages of pregnancy?

Answer 11

Sexual selection

Question 12

What is sexual selection?

Answer 12

When a female chooses a male who is more aggressive because then they’ll be more likely to defend them when in later stages of pregnancy.

Question 13

What is a problem with the sexual selection explanation and evolutionary explanations in general?

Answer 13

Gender bias

Question 14

How is gender bias represented as a weakness for the evolutionary explanation?

Answer 14

Only really focuses on men so presents it as a natural and therefore acceptable behaviour.

Question 15

What do the !Kung San Tribe provide as a limitation for aggression?

Answer 15

They show no aggression.
Therefore suggests that it cannot account for all aggression because when a behaviour is adaptive it’s expected to be shown in all members.

Question 16

What does the social learning theory also suggest about the !Kung San Tribe?

Answer 16

Be removing aggressive role models aggression is reduced but sometimes still occurs. Suggests that there’s also a biological aspect.

Question 17

What do the !Kung San Tribe represent as a result of their no aggression?

Answer 17

There are cultural differences as to when aggression occurs.