Ethological explanations of aggression

Ethology is the study of animal behaviour in natural settings.

Lorenz - Aggression is innate tendancy that's triggered by environmental stimuli. 

Aggression is an adaptive response. More likely to pass on genes if can gain upper hand in comp for food, mates and territory.

Another adaptive function is to establish dominance hierarchies - special status. 

Aggression is ritualised. A behaviour won't be passed on in the genes if it gets an animal killed before it produces offspring. So ritualised behaviours in place to stop confrontation being fatal.

Innate releasing mechanism (IRM)

• In-built physiological process or structure, eg. neurons in the brain. An environmental stimulus, eg. facial expression, triggers the IRM which then releases a specific sequence of behaviours.
• Aggression is similar to food, drink and sleep. It is a drive that needs satisfying.

Fixed action pattern (FAP)

• Behavioural sequence that occurs throughout…