Evolutionary Explanations of Aggression
Evolutionary theory suggests that humans have evolved to be aggressive over many
generations of evolution. Humans are genetically predisposed to be aggressive as
aggression would have been an adaptive behaviour for our distant ancestors in the EEA
(Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation). In the search for scarce resources, those
individuals who were aggressive would have outcompeted those who were not.
Therefore, those individuals who were aggressive would be more likely to survive and
reproduce. This is the process of natural selection/survival of the fittest.
- Aggression as hereditary
- Aggression as adaptive
- Natural selection – survival of the fittest
- EEA – Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation
- Survive and reproduce – outcompete rivals
- Competition for scarce resources
- Genetic predisposition
^ cover these briefly in the intro/if at all. You need to focus on the specific example of domestic
violence/intimate partner violence, specifically with a male perpetrator and a female victim
A01 specific example:
The example of aggression we will cover from an evolutionary viewpoint is domestic
violence/intimate partner violence, specifically with a male perpetrator and a female
victim.
The evolutionary approach argues that we are driven to survive and reproduce – to pass
on our genes to the next generation.
Men want to avoid a situation in which they put their resources (time, effort and money)
into a child that isn’t theirs.
Evolutionary theorists argue that men experience paternal uncertainty – they can’t be
sure that the child their partner is carrying is theirs. They believe that men fear infidelity by
their partner.
The fear of cuckoldry – that their partner will cheat on them and get pregnant with another
man’s child – is linked to male sexual jealousy. This leads men to develop mate
retention strategies – ways of keeping their partner faithful to them such as vigilance,
direct guarding and emotional manipulation.
, Both positive and negative inducements are used to prevent infidelity/cuckoldry, with
negative inducements including the threat or actual use of domestic/intimate partner
violence.
Therefore, from an evolutionary viewpoint the threat of or actual use of aggression by
males against their partners is adaptive/positive. Its use helps men to deal with paternal
uncertainty/male sexual jealousy and gives men greater confidence that the child their
partner is carrying is theirs and that his genes will be passed on.
- Infidelity/adultery
- Male sexual jealousy
- Paternal uncertainty
- Cuckoldry
- Positive and negative inducements
- Mate retention strategies – vigilance and violence
Mate Buss suggests that males have a number of strategies that have
retention evolved specifically for the purpose of keeping a mate. These include
strategies direct guarding and negative inducements.
Cuckoldry The reproductive cost inflicted on a man as a result of his partner’s
infidelity. The consequence of this is that the man might unwittingly
invest his resources in offspring that are not his own.
Paternal Not knowing whether the child being raised is actually the biological
uncertainty offspring of the male doing the raising.
Direct Restricting their partner’s autonomy including snooping around
guarding through a partner’s personal belongings, insisting that a partner does
not go out without oneself, and monopolizing a partner’s time to keep
him or her from interacting with potential affair partners.
Negative This focuses on the manipulation of one’s partner. This can happen in
inducements the form of violence or threats of violence to prevent her from straying.
Adaptive A behaviour, such as aggression, which is beneficial to the individual in
their environment. This maximises chances of reproduction and
passing on of their genes.
Domestic Violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving
violence the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
-> mention these in A01
In a 16 maker, you need to cover the general assumptions of the approach and then the specific
concepts from the example – domestic violence/intimate partner violence. It’s very easy to write
too much A01 – you only need ¾ of a page.
A03
Point Evidence Conclusion
Evolutionary theory suggests that humans have evolved to be aggressive over many
generations of evolution. Humans are genetically predisposed to be aggressive as
aggression would have been an adaptive behaviour for our distant ancestors in the EEA
(Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation). In the search for scarce resources, those
individuals who were aggressive would have outcompeted those who were not.
Therefore, those individuals who were aggressive would be more likely to survive and
reproduce. This is the process of natural selection/survival of the fittest.
- Aggression as hereditary
- Aggression as adaptive
- Natural selection – survival of the fittest
- EEA – Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation
- Survive and reproduce – outcompete rivals
- Competition for scarce resources
- Genetic predisposition
^ cover these briefly in the intro/if at all. You need to focus on the specific example of domestic
violence/intimate partner violence, specifically with a male perpetrator and a female victim
A01 specific example:
The example of aggression we will cover from an evolutionary viewpoint is domestic
violence/intimate partner violence, specifically with a male perpetrator and a female
victim.
The evolutionary approach argues that we are driven to survive and reproduce – to pass
on our genes to the next generation.
Men want to avoid a situation in which they put their resources (time, effort and money)
into a child that isn’t theirs.
Evolutionary theorists argue that men experience paternal uncertainty – they can’t be
sure that the child their partner is carrying is theirs. They believe that men fear infidelity by
their partner.
The fear of cuckoldry – that their partner will cheat on them and get pregnant with another
man’s child – is linked to male sexual jealousy. This leads men to develop mate
retention strategies – ways of keeping their partner faithful to them such as vigilance,
direct guarding and emotional manipulation.
, Both positive and negative inducements are used to prevent infidelity/cuckoldry, with
negative inducements including the threat or actual use of domestic/intimate partner
violence.
Therefore, from an evolutionary viewpoint the threat of or actual use of aggression by
males against their partners is adaptive/positive. Its use helps men to deal with paternal
uncertainty/male sexual jealousy and gives men greater confidence that the child their
partner is carrying is theirs and that his genes will be passed on.
- Infidelity/adultery
- Male sexual jealousy
- Paternal uncertainty
- Cuckoldry
- Positive and negative inducements
- Mate retention strategies – vigilance and violence
Mate Buss suggests that males have a number of strategies that have
retention evolved specifically for the purpose of keeping a mate. These include
strategies direct guarding and negative inducements.
Cuckoldry The reproductive cost inflicted on a man as a result of his partner’s
infidelity. The consequence of this is that the man might unwittingly
invest his resources in offspring that are not his own.
Paternal Not knowing whether the child being raised is actually the biological
uncertainty offspring of the male doing the raising.
Direct Restricting their partner’s autonomy including snooping around
guarding through a partner’s personal belongings, insisting that a partner does
not go out without oneself, and monopolizing a partner’s time to keep
him or her from interacting with potential affair partners.
Negative This focuses on the manipulation of one’s partner. This can happen in
inducements the form of violence or threats of violence to prevent her from straying.
Adaptive A behaviour, such as aggression, which is beneficial to the individual in
their environment. This maximises chances of reproduction and
passing on of their genes.
Domestic Violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving
violence the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
-> mention these in A01
In a 16 maker, you need to cover the general assumptions of the approach and then the specific
concepts from the example – domestic violence/intimate partner violence. It’s very easy to write
too much A01 – you only need ¾ of a page.
A03
Point Evidence Conclusion
