Evolution - Explanation Of Aggression

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

Orderly development, or more specifically, the process by which plant & animal forms developed by descent, with modification, from earlier existing forms.
This means that all species share some genes with each other because they all have common ancestors.

Question 2

How does evolution occur?

Answer 2

Natural selection

Question 3

What is natural selection?

Answer 3

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment are heathier, live longer & reproduce more frequently, consequently passing on more of their particular genes - heritable traits become more or less common as a result.

Question 4

How was evolution or natural selection discovered?

Answer 4

Charles Darwin noticed that the shape & size of giant tortoises on different islands of the Galapagos Shell varied between populations. On islands with humid highlands, the tortoises are larger, with domed shells and short necks; on islands with dry lowlands, the tortoises are smaller, with “saddleback” shells and long necks.

Question 5

How does natural selection begin?

Answer 5

Variation in a species
These variations are caused by random mutations, a change in the genetic structure of an animal or plant that makes it different from others of the same kind.
Some of these mutations confer a survival/adaptive advantage, such as having the right size neck & shell for the environment inhabited. Those tortoises with the most well-adapted or suited necks & shells for their environment are more likely to live until breeding age & reproduce.

Question 6

What is sexual selection?

Answer 6

A form of natural selection where individuals that are successful in attracting a mate out-produce others in the population.

Question 7

What is Environment Of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA)

Answer 7

The conditions that prevailed in the environment at the time when the species was adapting in response to that particular environment.

Question 8

How does evolution relate to male aggression?

Answer 8

Evolutionary psychologists would argue that being aggressive offers survival and reproductive value

Being physically bigger & stronger makes you more likely to be successful hunters and resource gatherers providing better food, protection for mates and offspring

Males who are aggressive might be less likely to be threatened by others therefore attracting more of the ‘best’ females

(More aggressive males had a survival advantage)

Question 9

How does evolution relate to female aggression?

Answer 9

Conversely, according to evolutionary psychology, women will be less physically aggressive than males as it would be disadvantageous for them to be so.

Women would spend much of their time pregnant, breastfeeding & looking after young, vulnerable children, therefore, engaging in conflict & hunting would not be conducive to survival or the mother or the children.

Women are less physically violent but more verbally & emotionally aggressive, this manifests itself in competition for mates, where women denigrate other females to secure a good, potential mate (Buss, 1999).
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