“Outline and evaluate evolutionary explanations of
human aggression”
A01 –
According to evolutionary explanations, human aggression is based on
jealousy and infidelity.
JEALOUSY
Daly and Wilson – claim men have evolved several strategies to deter
their female partners from committing adultery, including vigilance and
violence.
All the strategies are fuelled by male sexual jealousy, an adaption that
evolved specifically to deal with the threat of paternal uncertainty.
Cuckoldry and sexual jealousy
Men can never be certain the child is theirs, so are at risk from cuckoldry.
As a result the man may invest his resources in a child that is not his.
The adaptive functions of sexual jealousy are to deter the female mate
from sexual infidelity, so reducing risk of cuckoldry.
Mate retention and violence
Buss – males have strategies that have evolved specifically for the
purpose of keeping a mate.
They include: restricting partners autonomy (‘direct guarding’) and
‘negative inducements’ (violence/ threat of violence to prevent her from
straying).
Women who are perceived by their partner to be threatening infidelity are
more at risk of violence.
INFIDELITY
Daly et al – suggests the detection of suspicion of infidelity is a key
predictor of partner violence.
Violence towards pregnant partners
A woman’s sexual infidelity can result in pregnancy.
The male partner would be subjected to cuckoldry which would lower his
own reproductive success.
In such cases the function of the violence towards her may be to terminate
the pregnancy – this would eliminate the potential offspring of a rival and
leave her free to bear his offspring.
human aggression”
A01 –
According to evolutionary explanations, human aggression is based on
jealousy and infidelity.
JEALOUSY
Daly and Wilson – claim men have evolved several strategies to deter
their female partners from committing adultery, including vigilance and
violence.
All the strategies are fuelled by male sexual jealousy, an adaption that
evolved specifically to deal with the threat of paternal uncertainty.
Cuckoldry and sexual jealousy
Men can never be certain the child is theirs, so are at risk from cuckoldry.
As a result the man may invest his resources in a child that is not his.
The adaptive functions of sexual jealousy are to deter the female mate
from sexual infidelity, so reducing risk of cuckoldry.
Mate retention and violence
Buss – males have strategies that have evolved specifically for the
purpose of keeping a mate.
They include: restricting partners autonomy (‘direct guarding’) and
‘negative inducements’ (violence/ threat of violence to prevent her from
straying).
Women who are perceived by their partner to be threatening infidelity are
more at risk of violence.
INFIDELITY
Daly et al – suggests the detection of suspicion of infidelity is a key
predictor of partner violence.
Violence towards pregnant partners
A woman’s sexual infidelity can result in pregnancy.
The male partner would be subjected to cuckoldry which would lower his
own reproductive success.
In such cases the function of the violence towards her may be to terminate
the pregnancy – this would eliminate the potential offspring of a rival and
leave her free to bear his offspring.
