Evolution, Natural selection and aggression
Evolution by natural selection: Sexual selection:
Individuals who cannot survive or fail to Explains why some characteristics that
reproduce are not represented in future might appear disadvantageous actually
generations. confer a survival advantage because the
Reproduction is key - if an individual characteristics are attractive to potential
doesn’t reproduce successfully, the mates.
characteristics are not passed on. Other characteristics are adaptive because
Natural selection - the ‘choosing’ done by they provide an advantage over
the environment, of individuals who can competitors for reproductive rights.
survive and reproduce successfully. The aggressive characteristics that allow
Survival of the fittest - Charles Darwin. the animal to reproduce is passed on to
The genes which are most useful are the offspring if they are genetically
retained in the population and over time determined.
become more frequent.
The outcome of selection is adaptation - Evolution and aggression:
the survivors are better suited to the life Guarding your partner - mate retention
in the current environment than the strategies are often aggressive behaviours
predecessors. men use to retain their partners and
prevent them from ‘straying’.
evaluation Guarding your offspring - parents will
direct aggressive acts towards anything
Gender differences: that threatens their children. This
Females who are more cooperative are aggression is adaptive because each child
likely to be naturally selected because is a valuable genetic commodity.
cooperation helps them protect
themselves and their offspring. Cultural differences:
Males who are more aggressive are more A weakness as it doesn’t explain the
likely to be naturally selected because differences between culture and
they make better hunters. aggressive behaviour.
Mason and Wrangham 1991 - studies on For example the people of Brazil have
chimpanzees. been described as ‘the fierce people’ -
aggression appears to be an accepted
Application - reproduction: behaviour to gain status in their
David Buss 1989 found that across 33 structural society.
countries, males preferred younger, more Differences in aggression are not
attractive and chaste women because of universal and suggest that behaviour can
their reproductive success. be out weighted by cultural norms.
Females preferred older, wealthier men to
ensure theur children well supported.
Evolution by natural selection: Sexual selection:
Individuals who cannot survive or fail to Explains why some characteristics that
reproduce are not represented in future might appear disadvantageous actually
generations. confer a survival advantage because the
Reproduction is key - if an individual characteristics are attractive to potential
doesn’t reproduce successfully, the mates.
characteristics are not passed on. Other characteristics are adaptive because
Natural selection - the ‘choosing’ done by they provide an advantage over
the environment, of individuals who can competitors for reproductive rights.
survive and reproduce successfully. The aggressive characteristics that allow
Survival of the fittest - Charles Darwin. the animal to reproduce is passed on to
The genes which are most useful are the offspring if they are genetically
retained in the population and over time determined.
become more frequent.
The outcome of selection is adaptation - Evolution and aggression:
the survivors are better suited to the life Guarding your partner - mate retention
in the current environment than the strategies are often aggressive behaviours
predecessors. men use to retain their partners and
prevent them from ‘straying’.
evaluation Guarding your offspring - parents will
direct aggressive acts towards anything
Gender differences: that threatens their children. This
Females who are more cooperative are aggression is adaptive because each child
likely to be naturally selected because is a valuable genetic commodity.
cooperation helps them protect
themselves and their offspring. Cultural differences:
Males who are more aggressive are more A weakness as it doesn’t explain the
likely to be naturally selected because differences between culture and
they make better hunters. aggressive behaviour.
Mason and Wrangham 1991 - studies on For example the people of Brazil have
chimpanzees. been described as ‘the fierce people’ -
aggression appears to be an accepted
Application - reproduction: behaviour to gain status in their
David Buss 1989 found that across 33 structural society.
countries, males preferred younger, more Differences in aggression are not
attractive and chaste women because of universal and suggest that behaviour can
their reproductive success. be out weighted by cultural norms.
Females preferred older, wealthier men to
ensure theur children well supported.
