What does the evolutionary approach have to do with explaining aggressive behaviour?

WHY? Irresistible Impulse “Crime of Passion” Until 1974 a man would not be punished for killing his wife’s lover ‘while in the act’. Irresistible Impulse In 2002 a Thai court released a man after battering his wife to death with a golf club while in a jealous rage after she visited a former sweetheart. “Temporary Insanity”

Is Aggression Adaptive? Male sexual jealousy might be adaptive – something that developed for a purpose ..what might this be? might aim to reduce female infidelity and deal with paternal uncertainty This type of jealousy can lead to Violence and aggression.

Homocide & Evolution? Why do men kill men?

Evolution & Aggression The evolutionary approach explains aggression in terms of its ability to increase the chances of survival and reproductive potential of the individual.

Evolution & Aggression Lorenz (1966) – proposed a theory of aggression based on animal behaviour which he believed could be applied to humans. Aggression is innate and triggered by environmental stimuli. Aggression is an adaptive response – it would have helped males eliminate rivals for mates and therefore lead to a genetic tendency to aggress towards other males Aggression against females wouldn’t have been so adaptive – males who are aggressive towards females are too dangerous to them and their children & they would be rejected as mates – making male on female aggression less likely.

Kinsey (1948) 50% of married men 26% of married women Admitted to what? Having sex with someone else whilst married

Cheating is adaptive It enables men to increase the quantity of offspring carrying his genes For women it may improve the quality of her offspring But! Knowing you’ve been cheated on…

Leads to.. Jealous rage

Buss et al (1992) Cross –cultural questionnaire study Hypothetical situation Multiple choice

Imagine you are in a long-term relationship. You discover that your partner has formed a deep emotional and a passionate sexual relationship with another person. Which aspect of your partner’s involvement would make you more jealous? The deep emotional relationship The passionate sexual relationship Both forms of infidelity distress each sex but men are more distressed about sexual whereas females are more distressed by emotional.

Reported sexual infidelity more distressing than emotional infidelity Results 51% men 22% women Reported sexual infidelity more distressing than emotional infidelity

Is Aggressive Adaptive? Female emotional jealousy might be adaptive – something that developed for a purpose – might be aimed at the need to find a mate willing to invest resources in her and her children. Emotional infidelity may lead her partner to invest resources in another women and affect the children’s survival and her reproduction potential. This jealousy can lead to violence/ aggression.

Using research in your textbook write a statement you could make in court in defence of a male on trial for murder after his wife’s lover was killed.

Your task is to create a mind map which Explores the evolutionary explanation of aggression https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAUsZ9eiorY Ted X https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMZCghZ1hB4

evolutionary explanations of aggression mind map

Exam Question Outline infidelity and jealousy as an explanation for aggressive behaviour. (8 marks)