evolutionary explanations of human aggression

• P: Prinz argues that differences in the aggressive behaviour of males and females may also be the product of different socialisation experiences

  E: For example, Smetana found that parents are more likely to physically punish boys for bad conduct, whereas girls misbehave, parents tend to explain to them why their actions were wrong. This suggests prinz could increase male physical violence. As girls learn that they are less powerful than boys, this may lead them to adopt other more social forms of aggression rather than physical aggression.
• Link for Prinz


  L: This casts doubt on the claim that males alone have evolved aggression as a way of dealing with rivals, as females have simply developed a different form of aggressive behaviour
• P: evolutionary explanations for physical aggression in warfare demonstrate a gender bias as they do not adequately reflect the behaviour of women in this process

  E: Adams claimed that the idea of the woman warrior is almost unheard of within most societies. Even within those societies that allow women to participate in war, they are always the rare exception. Women would have less to gain from fighting in near certain death situations and more to lose. This is fundamental to women's exclusion from warfare, as women simply do not increase their fitness as much as men do
• Link for Adams


  L: our understanding of the physical aggressive displays is typically found in warfare. Therefore, is limited to the behaviour of males rather than females
• • If aggression were purely evolutionary, we would expect it to be universal. However, cultural differences in aggression levels suggest other influences.
  • For instance, the !Kung San people of the Kalahari have very low levels of aggression and discourage violent behavior, suggesting social and environmental factors play a significant role.
  • This undermines the view that aggression is purely a product of evolved mechanisms.