Evolutionary explanation of aggression

Evolutionary explanation of aggression

1. Introduction

   • In evolutionary terms success is measured by the production of offspring that survive to reproductive maturity. In the EEA, successful males, were physically bigger and stronger and so would be those most capable of providing food and protect their mates and their offspring - giving them a higher chance of success .

2. Evolution and male aggression

   • In the environment of evolutionary adaptation, successful males were physically bigger and so would be most capable of providing food and protecting their mates
   • Psychologically males, who were naturally more aggressive when their resources were threatened, or when out hunting would also have a natural adaptive advantage.
   • This gave them an advantage in terms of mate choice( sexual selection) - successful females would choose mates who provide good genes so big strong men were favoured
   • Thus, also creating aggressive tendencies between males as men have to compete with other males for both resources and mates known as intrasexual selection.

3. Evolution and female aggression

   • This theory also suggests that females would be less physically aggressive as it would be an evolutionary disadvantage as they spend long times pregnant thus this leading to female aggression being less physically and more verbal and emotional in nature.
     • Women tend to show verbal aggression against other females in order to make them seem less desirable to other potential mates.

4. Evolution and sexual jealously

   • Evolutionary psychologists argue that reproductive challenges faced by our ancestors can explain the aggressive behaviour seen in people today.
   • The evolutionary explanations say that aggression is driven by our need to reproduce with a suitable partner, when something such as infidelity or cuckoldry threatens this we act in an aggressive manner.
   • A man can never be certain that he is the father of his wife’s children unless he prevents her having relationships with other men.
     • This can explain why male sexual jealousy is often cited as a cause of domestic violence.

5. Supporting studies

   • David Buss (1988) identified two mate retention strategies used by males to control their partners: direct guarding of the female restricts her movements; negative inducements to prevent her straying include things like financial control or the threat of violence. .
   • Shackleton et al. (2005) surveyed 461 men and 560 women in committed relationships. They found a positive correlation between men who used mate retention techniques (direct guarding and negative inducements) and their use of violence. The women’s results confirmed this correlation. Men also tended to use emotional manipulation as a mate retention technique – a form of non-physical aggression

6. Evaluation