Warfare

• What is warfare?

  • This refers to the formation of a coalition to attack others within the same species.
  • It is only done by highly intelligent beings but it is likely to end in death or injury, which seems to contradict survival of the species.
  • It is then assumed that the benefits of war must outweigh the cost of it. 
• benefits of warfare?

  • The benefits can be a man achieving warrior status, which leads to more access to females, which increases reproductive success and have more offspring.
  • Status in warfare can also lead to more respect from peers and greater dominance within the group and can lead to benefits like leadership roles. 
• Further benefits of warfare?

  Displays of aggression and bravery in battle means they share the associated benefit of the status and this can lead to access to women with reproductive success.
• Supporting evidence for universal nature of warfare?

  • Hunter-gatherers fight for food, women and status. In the Yanomami tribe from the Amazon basin, 40% have undergone a ritual where they kill or participate in killing a young man.
  • ⅓ of young men are killed. Research found a correlation between killing and reproduction.
  • Those who had killed the most men had 2x as many wives and 3x as many children as non-killers.
  • This suggests aggression is good for reproductive success. 
• general evaluation?

  • Issue of biological determinism - which suggests we do not have free will over our behaviour.
  • This implies that people have no choice over their violent behaviour as it is determined by their genes.
  • The research is socially sensitive as it could be used to justify male aggression towards females  and warfare can be used to justify gang violence.
  • It stereotypes men as aggressive.
  • It can lead to unnecessary stereotypes of being violent and downplay the likelihood of males as domestic violence.