“Outline and evaluate evolutionary explanations of
group display in humans”
A01 –
The term ‘group display’ refers to the collective behaviours of groups.
Examples of group display in humans can be seen in sports and warfare.
SPORTS
Xenophobia
It appears natural selection ha favoured the genes that caused human beings to
be altruistic (selfless) towards members of their own group but intolerant towards
outsiders.
This would have enabled our ancestors to avoid attack, and so leave behind more
offspring.
Territoriality
Threat displays act as a protective response to an invasion of territory.
Aggressive displays would have been adaptive for our distant ancestors because
they allowed groups to defend valuable resources associated with their territory.
WARFARE
Evolutionary explanation leads us to expect that any behaviour associated with
warfare would have evolved because of the adaptive benefit for the individual and
their offspring.
Benefits of aggressive displays
Sexual selection – men are more likely to survive warfare so there are fewer
females to breed with. So men must compete with each other for mates, with
those who do well in battle being ‘rewarded’ with access to female mates.
Displays of aggression and bravery are attractive to females.
Costly displays signal commitment
Signals of commitment – Irons (2004) claims the cost of permanent displays of
aggression, such as scars and mutilation, means that they serve as honest signals
of commitment to the group. By engaging such displays, individuals demonstrate
their commitment and loyalty to the group and so can benefit from the profits of
warfare against another group.
group display in humans”
A01 –
The term ‘group display’ refers to the collective behaviours of groups.
Examples of group display in humans can be seen in sports and warfare.
SPORTS
Xenophobia
It appears natural selection ha favoured the genes that caused human beings to
be altruistic (selfless) towards members of their own group but intolerant towards
outsiders.
This would have enabled our ancestors to avoid attack, and so leave behind more
offspring.
Territoriality
Threat displays act as a protective response to an invasion of territory.
Aggressive displays would have been adaptive for our distant ancestors because
they allowed groups to defend valuable resources associated with their territory.
WARFARE
Evolutionary explanation leads us to expect that any behaviour associated with
warfare would have evolved because of the adaptive benefit for the individual and
their offspring.
Benefits of aggressive displays
Sexual selection – men are more likely to survive warfare so there are fewer
females to breed with. So men must compete with each other for mates, with
those who do well in battle being ‘rewarded’ with access to female mates.
Displays of aggression and bravery are attractive to females.
Costly displays signal commitment
Signals of commitment – Irons (2004) claims the cost of permanent displays of
aggression, such as scars and mutilation, means that they serve as honest signals
of commitment to the group. By engaging such displays, individuals demonstrate
their commitment and loyalty to the group and so can benefit from the profits of
warfare against another group.
