Ethological and evolutionary explanations

• What do ethological explanations suggest about the main function of aggression?

  The main function of aggression is adaptive.
• How does aggression benefit survival according to ethological explanations?

  Aggression helps establish dominance hierarchies and provides access to resources.
• What is ritualistic aggression and its purpose?

  • Used to assert power and maintain status
  • Causes relatively little harm to members of the same species
  • Example: A wolf exposes its neck to the victor in a confrontation
• Who proposed that social animals inflict relatively little harm on their own species due to ritualized aggression?

  Lorenz proposed this idea.
• What triggers aggression according to the concept of innate releasing mechanisms and fixed action patterns?

  Aggression is triggered by environmental stimuli.
• What is a fixed action pattern (FAP)?

  A FAP is an instinctive behavior that is universal and unaffected by learning.
• What is the nature of a fixed action pattern in terms of its execution?

  A fixed action pattern is ballistic.
• What was the key study conducted by Tinbergen in 1951 about aggression?

  • Procedure: Presented sticklebacks with wooden models of different shapes
  • Results: Sticklebacks aggressively attacked models with a red spot
  • Conclusion: Supports the idea that aggression is instinctive and triggered by specific stimuli
• What did Tinbergen's study conclude about aggression in sticklebacks?

  It supports the suggestion that aggression is instinctive and set off by a specific trigger.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Tinbergen's study on aggression?

  Strengths:

  • High internal validity due to control over variables
  • Low demand characteristics

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low ecological validity as it is not in a real-life scenario
• What is one adaptive function of aggression?

  Gain status/dominance in a group
• What is another adaptive function of aggression?

  Gain resources from others
• Why might aggression be used in defense?

  To prevent losing resources
• How does aggression relate to infidelity?

  It can be used to defer infidelity
• What is one source of aggression in evolutionary past?

  Male sexual jealousy
• What triggers male sexual jealousy?

  Suspected sexual infidelity of females
• What is the purpose of jealousy in evolutionary terms?

  To reduce/eliminate the threat of cuckoldry
• What are mate retention strategies according to Wilson & Daly?

  • Direct guarding (e.g., checking on partners)
  • Negative inducements (e.g., threats)
• Who conducted a key study in 2005 related to sexual infidelity?

  Shackleford et al
• What type of study was conducted in the key research?

  Cross-cultural questionnaire study
• What hypothetical scenario was used in the key study?

  Obsessed with someone else
• What emotional aspects were assessed in the key study?

  Emotional attachment and passionate intimacy
• How many men reported sexual infidelity as most upsetting?

  Six men
• How many women reported sexual infidelity as most upsetting?

  22 women
• What are some evaluations of the key study?

  • Consistent access across cultures, but lacks detail
  • Suggests innate rather than learned behavior
  • Validity is questionable
  • No qualitative data used
• What did Daly & Wilson analyze in their 1989 research?

  Crime data of male on female murders
• What did Daly & Wilson find regarding aggression and infidelity?

  Aggression related to likelihood of partner's infidelity
• In what type of couples was wife murder higher according to Daly & Wilson?

  Estranged couples
• How does the likelihood of infidelity relate to aggression in cohabiting couples?

  Lower likelihood of aggression compared to estranged couples