Ethological Explanations forAggression

Ethological Explanations forAggression

1. Ethology

   • The study of animal behaviour in natural settings. Generally comes from an evolutionary point of view. Lorenz (geese) and Darwin were key advocates. In relation to aggression, it suggests it is innate, genetically determined and instinctual. Looking at aggression in animals and extrapolating to humans.

2. Adaptation

   • Beneficial for survival - adaptive. Defeated animal sometimes killed – but not always so there must be other advantages. Territory –defeated animals move to other territories which benefits all (less competition) Establishes hierarchy e.g. access to mates. And so aggression naturally selected - seen in chimps & human infants - again good for competition.

3. Rituals - part of the ethnological explanation of aggression

   • Set behaviours carried out in a set order. Most within species aggression usually just consist of displays of teeth, claws, dance - very rarely physical. At the end of attacks, there is usually a display of defeat - this prevents death and so is adaptive.

4. Innate Releasing Mechanisms (IRM) & Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)

   • FAP - a sequence of stereotyped preprogrammed behaviours triggered by an innate releasing mechanisms. Lea (1984) says there are 6 steps to FAPs: Stereotyped – unchanging. Universal – in all of the species. Unaffected by learning – same for each individual. Ballistic – Has to be seen through once started. Single Purpose. In response to a specific event.
   • IRMs – physiological processes e.g. a network of neurons. Seen as a circuit. Triggered by an event which in turn produces a certain set of behaviours. The sequence of behaviours are called FAPs

5. Research into IRMs & FAPs

   • Tinbergen (1951) - Stickleback Fish during mating season. Very aggressive and territorial. Males have red spots on their bellies. Presented male sticklebacks models that did or did not look like other males and did or did not have a red spot. For models with red spot – Fish acted aggressively – whether model looks realistic or not: The red spot activated an Innate Releasing Mechanism - they were unchanging and stereotyped and initiated Fixed Action Patterns. The behaviour always ran its course. Supports IRMs & FAP.

6. Evaluation

   • Support – The fact that there are biological underpinnings to human aggression supports the ethological explanation, easily relatable (MAOA, Limbic system etc.)– validity
   • Weakness – there is cultural variation in aggression e.g. white southern males is the US more likely to react aggressively than white northern males (homicide) (Nisbett, 1993)– the ethnological explanation would struggle to explain this – not universal. Weakness - of ritualistic behaviour – Chimpanzees in Tanzania did not submit to rituals – aggression was deadly (Goodall, 2010). Weakness – are FAPs actually ‘Fixed’? – vary from individual to individual in the species and even from encounter to encounter – more likely to be ‘modal action potential’ – most common action - environment and learning likely to play a role.
   • Extrapolation – Lorenz did not study higher processing animals & Tinbergen didn’t look at similar aggression to humans