The ethological explanation for aggression

Study of animal behaviour. Can help us understand human aggression in 3 ways:
 - helps define aggression + looks at how it occurs w/ other behaviours eg reproduction + threat.
 - means wer can understand the way it's helped the evolutionary process - more difficult w/ humans in modern-day habitat.
 - when animal behaviour studies in lab setting, conditions highly controlled - not possible to same extent w/ humans

Key ethological theorist on aggresion - Lorenz, published On Aggresion (1963)

L suggested animals had innane mechanism for aggresion + aggressive behaviour acted as release. Drive then built until next aggressive act performed - expended again.

L argued aggression similar to food, drink + sleep - a drive that needed to be satisfied. Physiological deficit would build up + need to be satisfied. 

Innate releasing mechanism - specific neural circuits hardwired into brain - moniter drive, eg aggression

Term used to describe sequence of behaviours that occurs throughout species. Universal (but species-species) behaviour. Argued to be innate.

Eg, aggression in male stickleback fish. FAP starts w/ nesting behaviour in spring. Establishing territory important so any other male sticklebacks that encroach territory met w/ aggressive attacks. Females encouraged to stay so they can lay eggs in pre-prepared nests.

Behaviour investigated by Tinbergen (1952) - used models crafted to resemble male sticklebacks (red bellies) + females (swollen bellies). All males attacked model w/ red belly. Shows behaviour is invariant.

Argued these FAPs are adaptive b/c they increase evolutionary fitness. Means w/ regard to aggression in humans, must increase fitness if it's to be regarded as FAP. Proven to be one of isues in applying theory to human aggression.

Cooper (2003) found that old world vipers and new world vipers used chemical signals to help them locate their prey after they had bitten them, which provides food and aids survival.

Benefits of ritualised aggression: Chagnon (1992) describes how among the Yanomamo people of S.America, chest pounding and club fighting contests can settle a conflict short of more extreme violence.

Sackett (1966) reared monkeys in isolation + provideed them w/ pictures of monkeys playing, exploring + in threatening poses. As matured, displayed reactions to pictures od baby monkeys + threatening stimuli. Suggests innane mechanism to detect threat. Could lead to aggressive behaviour.

Role of nurture/ cultural differences: Nisbet (1993) found that there was a north/ south divide in the US for homicide rates. Killings are much more common against white males in the south states than the north states.

Evidence against ritualised aggression: Goodall (2010) found that male chimps in Tanzania from one community set about systematically killing all members of another group, despite victims offering signals of appeasement and defencelessness.