Chapter 10 Aggression and Warfare Lecia E. Wright Creighton University November 07 and 09, 2006

Overview Today: Aggression Today: Aggression Thursday: Warfare Thursday: Warfare We will have an open discussion for the majority of class on Thursday, so please come prepared to talk and share your thoughts on warfare as they relate to EP We will have an open discussion for the majority of class on Thursday, so please come prepared to talk and share your thoughts on warfare as they relate to EP I will be pointing out things to keep in mind

Aggression Why are people aggressive? Who is aggressive? Explanations? Why are people aggressive? Who is aggressive? Explanations? Humans and chimpanzees are unique in that they are the only two species that show male-initiated, territorial aggression Humans and chimpanzees are unique in that they are the only two species that show male-initiated, territorial aggression

Aggression as a Solution to Adaptive Problems Coopt the Resources of Other: Coopt the Resources of Other: humans have a lot of things that other humans might desire and aggressive behavior is one way of gaining access to those things humans have a lot of things that other humans might desire and aggressive behavior is one way of gaining access to those things Can happen at the group or the individual level Can happen at the group or the individual level Can be seen in at an early age through adulthood Can be seen in at an early age through adulthood Even the threat of aggression can be enough to get a resource desired Even the threat of aggression can be enough to get a resource desired

Aggression Warfare has frequently been used in order to coopt resources from others (something we shall discuss later) Warfare has frequently been used in order to coopt resources from others (something we shall discuss later) Question for Thursday? Is this idea applicable to today's warfare? Question for Thursday? Is this idea applicable to today's warfare?

Aggression Defend against attack: Defend against attack: Presence or threat of aggression is problematic for potential victims Presence or threat of aggression is problematic for potential victims In response, people become aggressive themselves to ward off attack In response, people become aggressive themselves to ward off attack Are there any problems with this? Are there any problems with this?

Aggression Inflict Costs on Intrasexual Rivals: Inflict Costs on Intrasexual Rivals: Same sex individuals are in competition for the same resources (women especially) Same sex individuals are in competition for the same resources (women especially) Cost to the rival is a benefit to the perp Cost to the rival is a benefit to the perp Aggression to disable the rival can take various forms Aggression to disable the rival can take various forms

Aggression Negotiate Status and Power Hierarchies: Negotiate Status and Power Hierarchies: Similar to ability to defend against attack Similar to ability to defend against attack Aggression functions to increase one’s status or power within his or her social hierarchy Aggression functions to increase one’s status or power within his or her social hierarchy Men seen as the gallant warrior: do you think it is sexy? Jordon, why do you think women think its sexy? Men seen as the gallant warrior: do you think it is sexy? Jordon, why do you think women think its sexy? Context specific (Sex and the City clip) Context specific (Sex and the City clip)

Aggression Deter Rivals from Future Aggression: Deter Rivals from Future Aggression: As other evolutionary hypothesis have already suggested, if you are tough, you will probably get left alone As other evolutionary hypothesis have already suggested, if you are tough, you will probably get left alone

Aggression Deter Long-Term Mates from Sexual Infidelity: Deter Long-Term Mates from Sexual Infidelity: Male sexual jealousy Male sexual jealousy Can women be effective at this? (Lorriane Bobbit) Can women be effective at this? (Lorriane Bobbit)

Aggression The Context-Specificity of Aggression: The Context-Specificity of Aggression: For the most part, people don’t get violent and aggressive at any old place For the most part, people don’t get violent and aggressive at any old place Males’ sexual jealousy and danger of violence is higher when the man feels threat that woman could cheat Males’ sexual jealousy and danger of violence is higher when the man feels threat that woman could cheat Costs: Beth and Tina from MTV. Costs: Beth and Tina from MTV. Threat of retaliation Threat of retaliation Reputation consequences Reputation consequences

Aggression Food for thought: Food for thought: The book says that if the relevant contexts that induce aggression are not encountered, then someone might not ever be aggressive (it would remain dormant). The book says that if the relevant contexts that induce aggression are not encountered, then someone might not ever be aggressive (it would remain dormant). Stan Tribble Stan Tribble What do you think? What do you think?

Why are Men More Violently Aggressive than Women? Theory of parental investment and sexual selection Theory of parental investment and sexual selection Males can only have access to females when females allow access Males can only have access to females when females allow access Dimorphism leads to more reproductive variance between the sexes Dimorphism leads to more reproductive variance between the sexes Some males get more than their “fair share” and some get left out completely Some males get more than their “fair share” and some get left out completely This leads to competition and aggression This leads to competition and aggression

Why are Men More Violently Aggressive than Women? Although unconscious, men want to increase their reproductive success Although unconscious, men want to increase their reproductive success “Males are more often the perpetrators of violence because they are the products of a long history of mild but sustained effective polygyny characterized by risky strategies of intrasexual competition for access to the high investing sex” (Buss, 2004, p.287) “Males are more often the perpetrators of violence because they are the products of a long history of mild but sustained effective polygyny characterized by risky strategies of intrasexual competition for access to the high investing sex” (Buss, 2004, p.287) Men victims more Men victims more

Empirical Evidence for Distinct Adaptive Patterns of Aggression Janet Hyde’s (1986) meta-analysis Janet Hyde’s (1986) meta-analysis Daly and Wilson (1988) Same sex homicides. Are women getting more violent? (Thelma and Louise) Daly and Wilson (1988) Same sex homicides. Are women getting more violent? (Thelma and Louise) Same-Sex Bullying in Schools (Ahmad & Smith, 1994 as cited in Buss, 2004). Differences in bullying (Mean Girls 3) Same-Sex Bullying in Schools (Ahmad & Smith, 1994 as cited in Buss, 2004). Differences in bullying (Mean Girls 3)

Why are Men More Violently Aggressive than Women? The Young Male Syndrome: The Young Male Syndrome: Engage in risky behavior at peak of physical prowess, disease lowest, etc Engage in risky behavior at peak of physical prowess, disease lowest, etc Dangerous but also builds reputation Dangerous but also builds reputation Other possible explanations for young males being “best predictors of violent aggression”? Other possible explanations for young males being “best predictors of violent aggression”?

Contexts Triggering Men’s Aggression against Men Marital and Employment Status (Sociological vs Evolutionary?) Marital and Employment Status (Sociological vs Evolutionary?) Status and Reputation: why can’t we back down? Status and Reputation: why can’t we back down? Mate guarding Mate guarding Warfare-coalitions of males aggressing other males. Never women (Uncle Erick) Warfare-coalitions of males aggressing other males. Never women (Uncle Erick)

Contexts Triggering Women’s Aggression Against Women Less frequent, less violent, and less showy Less frequent, less violent, and less showy Definitions: strictest sense, they are aggressive. Definitions: strictest sense, they are aggressive. Content is quite different, however Content is quite different, however Mean Girls 4 Mean Girls 4 Can they be aggressive for any other reason? Can they be aggressive for any other reason?

Contexts Triggering Men’s Aggression against Women Much of non-sexual aggression is directed at spouses, mates, or girlfriends, and sexual jealousy seems to be cause (how non-sexual is this?) Much of non-sexual aggression is directed at spouses, mates, or girlfriends, and sexual jealousy seems to be cause (how non-sexual is this?) Young women killed more (reproductive value) Young women killed more (reproductive value) What about defenseless/powerless men? What about defenseless/powerless men?

Contexts Triggering Women’s Aggression against Men Domestic violence men and women have similar rates Domestic violence men and women have similar rates Woman defending herself (Enough) Woman defending herself (Enough) Book does not offer anything more… can women be aggressive towards men for other reasons? Book does not offer anything more… can women be aggressive towards men for other reasons? What about nice guys? What about nice guys? What about rage-aholics? (Angry Man) What about rage-aholics? (Angry Man)

Concluding Remarks Aggression is evident in both males and females, in various forms and emerges in various contexts Aggression is evident in both males and females, in various forms and emerges in various contexts For Thursday, we will apply these thoughts to our discussion of warfare For Thursday, we will apply these thoughts to our discussion of warfare Please come prepared to talk away! Please come prepared to talk away!

Warfare Today we will start by going over some introductory information on warfare Today we will start by going over some introductory information on warfare Quick recap of Tuesday Quick recap of Tuesday Lets begin Lets begin (Video Clip of Iraq War) (Video Clip of Iraq War)

Warfare The idea mentioned Tuesday- war to coopt resources. What do you think? The idea mentioned Tuesday- war to coopt resources. What do you think?

Warfare It’s a man thing (Facebook profile) It’s a man thing (Facebook profile) EP benefit? More copulations EP benefit? More copulations Yanmamo Warfare (Box 10.1) made me think about men and meat Yanmamo Warfare (Box 10.1) made me think about men and meat

The Evolutionary Psychology of War Tooby and Cosmides (1988) addressed the frequently overlooked aspect of cooperation Tooby and Cosmides (1988) addressed the frequently overlooked aspect of cooperation War is costly, so what gets men to do it (and now women) War is costly, so what gets men to do it (and now women) 1. Avg long term resources must be large enough to outweigh the reproductive costs of engaging in warfare over evolutionary time (copulations) 1. Avg long term resources must be large enough to outweigh the reproductive costs of engaging in warfare over evolutionary time (copulations) So if we didn’t have sex, or babies, would we still have war? So if we didn’t have sex, or babies, would we still have war?

The Evolutionary Psychology of War 2. Members of coalitions must believe that their group will emerge victorious 2. Members of coalitions must believe that their group will emerge victorious So why do those who know they are going to lose still participate? (The Last Samurai) So why do those who know they are going to lose still participate? (The Last Samurai) 3. The risks each member takes must translate into benefits 3. The risks each member takes must translate into benefits Fanfare and return of soldiers Fanfare and return of soldiers

The Evolutionary Psychology of War 4. Men who go into battle must be ignorant of who will live or die 4. Men who go into battle must be ignorant of who will live or die Stress, anxiety, PTSD (CNN Sniper Video) Stress, anxiety, PTSD (CNN Sniper Video)

Warfare Men engage in war Men engage in war Men assess their fighting ability Men assess their fighting ability Men have adaptations designed for war (upper body strength, navigational abilities, coalitions with men to diminish the risk of women “interfering”? Men have adaptations designed for war (upper body strength, navigational abilities, coalitions with men to diminish the risk of women “interfering”? Sexual access Sexual access

Warfare Women in war Women in war Is it all sex? Is it all sex? Mind boggling Mind boggling Optional discussion: evolved psych mechanism to kill? Optional discussion: evolved psych mechanism to kill?

Conclusion Aggression and warfare go hand in hand Aggression and warfare go hand in hand The books suggests its all about sex and mating, which naturally coincides with EP The books suggests its all about sex and mating, which naturally coincides with EP Any other remarks/comments? Any other remarks/comments? Thank you! Thank you!

References All videos can be found through Youtube All videos can be found through Youtube (Iraq war) (The Last Samurai) (CNN Sniper Video) (Saving Private Ryan) You can find the other videos (Thelma and Louise, Mean Girls, Beth and Tina from the Real World/Road Rules, and Enough) by going to Youtube and searching for them The site below is for Randy Schutt and gives some Non-Violent Alternatives to War: The site below is from the National Center for PTSD: Please let me know if you would like any other info!!