Evolution theory of aggression

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  • Created by: 11pyoung
  • Created on: 17-04-17 11:50
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  • Evolution theory of aggression
    • What is evolution?
      • The gradual development of different kinds of organisms from earlier forms
      • Occurs through natural selection
        • The process in which organisms adapt to their environments in order to be healthier, live longer and reproduce more frequently
          • Genetic mutations cause variations in the population
            • The better population live and reproduce, passing on their alleles
              • Mutated gene is inherited into offspring
                • Children are more likely to survive
            • Mutated gene is inherited into offspring
              • Children are more likely to survive
      • Happens over millions of years
    • How does this explain behaviour?
      • The brain is an organ of behaviour
        • The structure and function of our brains have evolved to serve an adaptive function in the environment of evolutionary adaptation (EEA)
          • Evolutionary psychologists look at fossil records to understand the EEA and speculate about the type of behaviour that would be adaptive
      • Examples of behaviour that can be explained within an evolutionary perspective include parental investment, mate choice and understanding emotions
    • How does this explain aggression?
      • In evolutionary terms, success is measured by the production of offspring that survive to reproductive maturity
      • Psychologically, males who are naturally more aggressive when their resources are threatened, or when hunting, would have an adaptational advantage
        • Gives an advantage in picking a mate
        • Competition between males has driven male aggression
      • Females are less physically aggressive as they have to be pregnant and breastfeed and so they are more verbally aggressive
        • Nurturing genes have been slected to make females caring and compassionate
      • Men and women compete for partners
        • Sexual selection
        • Interspecific competition
          • Female only
            • Choosing different males
              • Choose a more aggressive male
          • Choosing different males
            • Choose a more aggressive male
        • Intraspecific competition
          • Male only
          • Compete/fight for a partner
            • Most aggressive will win
      • Problem with competition
        • Infidelity
          • Partner is not faithful
            • Female will be unfaithful
              • Male fear
                • Males fight to have a harem of females in order to have a high likelihood of passing on their genes to their offspring
                • Cuckoldry
                  • Raising another's child
                    • Male aggression reduces chance of infidelity form female
                      • Reduces chance of cuckoldry
              • Cuckoldry
                • Raising another's child
                  • Male aggression reduces chance of infidelity form female
                    • Reduces chance of cuckoldry
          • Female will be unfaithful
            • Male fear
              • Males fight to have a harem of females in order to have a high likelihood of passing on their genes to their offspring
        • Females are less physically aggressive as they have to be pregnant and breastfeed and so they are more verbally aggressive
          • Nurturing genes have been slected to make females caring and compassionate
    • Evaluation
      • Male brains have minor structural differences to female brains, partially due to a much higher exposure to testosterone
        • There's a lot of experimental evidence suggesting testosterone is related to aggression
      • There's a lot of experimental evidence suggesting testosterone is related to aggression
      • It is difficult to prove this as it can't be scientifically tested
      • Unable to explain gay couples
      • Unable to explain why people adopt other people's children
      • Buss and Shackleton
        • Found men who feel threatened in a relationship give in to female demands as well as being threatening to other males interested in the female partner
          • Both show evolutionary advantage and show aggression as selected by natural selection as an adaptive advantage to survival
      • Evidence that aggression leads to survival
        • Protecting an infant and mother form a predator/harm
      • In the EEA successful males were usually bigger and stronger and would be able to provide food an protection to their mates
      • Aggressive behaviour is thought to be controlled by genes
        • Therefore, it is seen as adaptive
      • Aggression against someone trying to split up a male-female pairing makes evolutionary sense
        • Aggression in this situation is adaptive as the defence of their female would mean that the female selected by the male for the best match of genes in their offspring would stay and so their genes would continue to be inherited through natural selection
      • Women also show evolutionary traits in relationships
        • Women threaten to leave the man if he is unfaithful and to use verbal threats
        • Women know their baby is carrying their genes whereas men need to know that the offspring is theirs
    • Why is a large aggressive male likely to be chosen by a female?
      • More aggressive males offer better protection for female and best potential genes for offspring
      • Aggressive genes make offspring have a higher chance of survival as they can protect themselves
      • Genes code for a larger/more active Amygdala, a more active Hypothalamus or a smaller Pre-frontal Cortex

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