the ethological explanation of aggression

• P: because the environment in which humans exist changes so rapidly, Eibi suggests FAPs such as aggression are no longer adaptive in modern times

  E: The flexibility of human aggression and the ability to respond to an ever changing environment has proved more effective than the production of stereotypical, fixed patterns of behaviour

  L: This suggests that, although non-human species may respond aggressively to specific sign stimuli, human behaviour is far more varied and less predictable
• P: Lehrman criticised Lorenz's explanation of aggressive behaviour. Lehram believed lorenz had underestimated the role of environmental factors in the development of species-typical aggressive behaviour patterns

  E: These environmental factors, largely the result of learning and experience, interact with innate factors in complex ways. Nowadays ther term 'FAP' tends not to be used within ethology has been replaced by the term 'behaviour pattern' to reflect the fact that these are not simply innate and can be modified by experience
• Link for Lehrman


  L: as there are subtle variations between members of the same species in the production of aggressive behaviours, this suggests that patterns of aggressive behaviour are not as fixed as lorenz claimed
• P: in non human species, main advantage of ritualised aggression is that it prevents conflicts escalating into potentially dangerous physical aggression

  E: anthropological evidence suggests that this advantage is also evident in human cultures. Chagnon describes how among Yanamamo people, chest pounding and club fighting contests can settle a conflict short of more extreme violence
• link for ritualised aggression

  L: this shows that, even in moderately to highly violent cultures such as Yanomamo, rituals have the effect of reducing actual aggression and preventing injury to, or death of, the combatants