Evolutionary explanations of human aggression

• Evolutionary explanation of sexual jealousy

  • Paternity uncertainty - Threat for male cuckoldry / Having to raise a child that not their own
  • Avoid cuckoldry - Being reproductively successful + Psychological mechanisms
  • Sexual jealousy more in males than females - Retain female partners from straying
• Evolutionary explanation of sexual jealousy - Mate retention strategies, Wilson + Daly

  Male retention strategies involving aggression and physical violence:

  • Directing guarding involved male vigilance over a partners behaviour
  • Negative inducements e.g. threats

  Wilson et al:

  • Women who reported mate retention strategies - Twice as likely to have suffered physical violence
  • 50% - Feared for lives
  • 70% - Medical attention
• Evolutionary explanation of sexual jealousy - Intimate partner violence, Shackelford et al

  Method: 100 Married couples carried out questionnaires

  • Less than one year married
  • Men - Mate retention inventory
  • Women - Spouse influences report - Extent of violence

  Findings:

  • Strong positive correlation with Men and women reports of physical violence
• Evolutionary explanation of bullying

  • Bullying - Maladaptive
  • Ancestors could have used bullying - Increasing chances of survival by promoting own health and chances for reproduction

  Volk et al: Characteristics associated with bullying is attractive to females

  • Suggest dominance and strength
  • Wards of rivals

  Women and bullying:

  • Secure partner fidelity
  • Continue to produce offspring
• Evaluation of the evolutionary explanation of aggression - Research support for aggression and sexual jealousy

  Shackelford et al: Guarding and negative inducements - Overwhelmingly used by males against females and some males

  • Link with greater risk of infidelity, cuckoldry and aggression

  Strength: Supports predictions derived from evolutionary explanation
• Evaluation of the evolutionary explanation of aggression - Evolutionary explanations account for gender differences

  Campbell: Females with offspring are motivated to be less aggressive - Put her and her child risk

  • Verbal aggression - More adaptive
  • Women more likely to use non-aggressive methods of resolving disputes

  Strength: Able to explain gender differences
• Evaluation of the evolutionary explanation of aggression - Real world applications

  • Acknowledges bullies bully because they stand to gain advantages for themselves
  • No sense to voluntarily give up the power they have without compensation

  Volk et: Anti-bullying interventions need to increase the costs of bully and rewards of alternatives

  • Encourage bullies to compete aggressively by fairly in sports - Channel negativity somewhere

  Strength: Helpful explanation