Evolutionary Explanation of Aggression

  • Summary

Sexual Jealousy

Murder

Keywords: Reproductive challenges, sexual jealousy, MRS (mate-retention strategies), Negative inducements, Direct guarding, Reproductive success, Uxorocide, Cuckoldry

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  • Buss (1988)
  • Daly and Wilson (1998)

Keywords: Male-male killings, Last resort, Lack of resources, Lesson competition, Threat to status

  • Buss and Duntley (2006)
  • Focus on males using MRS making it androcentric. 
  • Research shows women use just as much as men
  • Beta Bias
  • Needs to be revised

- GENDER BIAS

  • Shackelford et al. (2005)
  • Positive correlation between use of MRS and the experience of female-directed violence
  • Supports use of MRS
  • More reliable

SUPPORTING RESEARCH +

  • Use of MRS (such as direct guarding) is an indication of abusive relationship.
  • Educating females to see the signs.
  • Pro-social consequences as useful to society.

+ PRACTICAL USE

  • Recalling stressful time in their life where they were abused (physically/emotionally) by partner.
  • Issue of psychological harm. 
  • Must be wary when conducting such studies.

ETHICS -

  • Cannot explain cultural differences in aggression.
  • !Kung San tribe children rarely show aggression.
  • Explanation cannot explain why they do if aggression is innate (result of evolution).
  • Limited because ignores factors such as cultural teachings that have effect on aggression.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES -

  • Daly et al. & Dell
  • Reviewed same sex killings in love triangle relationships.
  • 90% was male-male murders
  • More reliable

+ SUPPORTING RESEARCH

  • SLT (Social Learning Theory)
  • Expression of aggression is learnt through observation of perceived role models rather than a result of evolution.
  • Better theory as it can be used to explain cultural differences in aggression whereas evolutionary explanation cannot.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACH -

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