Ethological

    Subdecks (1)

    Cards (16)

    • Ethology - the study of animal behaviour in natural settings
    • Ethologists study aggression in animals and link it to humans, eg. evolution theory, and assumes aggression is instinctually occurring in all species and is genetically determined
    • Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRM) - a built in physiological process or structure triggered by an environmental stimulus which 'releases' a fixed action pattern
    • Fixed Action Patterns (FAP) - innate behaviours that are unlearned and automatic responses to IRMs
    • Ritualistic Aggression - Animals may perform ritualistic displays to show submission or resolve conflict, reducing the risk of harm and increasing chances of survival.
    • Hydraulic Pump model:
      • Each FAP has a reservoir of energy - hydraulic fluid
      • as it builds, it places pressure on the piston alongside external factors(IRM)
      • FAP is triggered once pressure is large enough, however can be spontaneous with enough pressure
    • Cuckoldry - a sexual act where a female in a pair bond mates with another male
    • Direct Guarding - a partner's behaviour of being overly vigilant over their other partner's actions eg. checking phone
    • Negative inducements - letting their partner know the potential consequences for leaving the relationship
    • Male retention strategies to try and prevent cuckoldry:
      • Negative inducement
      • Direct guarding
    • evolutionary theory states that males compete for females:
      • mate retention strategies
      • Women seek traits that indicate resources, protection and long term support for offspring
      • Men seek traits that indicate fertility, youth, maximising their chance of passing on genes