ethological explanation

• the ethological explanation suggests that the main function of aggression is adaptive
• Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour
• studying reasons for animal aggression could be used to understand human aggression
• 3 ways aggression in animals is thought to provide evolutionary advantage:

  1. to stay on top of the hierarchy
  2. to protect it from threats
  3. to attract mates
• Animal aggression is ritualistic which means members of the same species will respond to threats/stimuli with the same set of behaviours
• Appeasement displays are when animals show signs of submission
• Lorenz argues aggressive energy builds up within animals but innate releasing mechanisms stop aggression being expressed
• innate releasing mechanisms are triggered by a stimulus in the environment and then the animal performs predictable aggressive behaviours (Fixed action patterns)
• innate releasing mechanisms are a set of inherited neural circuits
• Fixed action patterns are though to be innate
• all members of the same species perform the same behaviours without having to learn from other members which is why fixed action patterns are thought to be innate
• Stages of FAPs:

  1. Stereotyped - behaviour follows a certain pattern each time
  2. Universal - all the animals in that species use the same type of threat
  3. Innate - all the animals in that species seem to be born with it and do not have to learn it
  4. Ballistic - once it starts it cannot simply be stopped
  5. Specific triggers seem to set it off
• Research by Tinbergen shows that regardless the shape, if the model had a red spot the male stickleback would aggressively attack